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): March 15, 2017

 

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Texas   001-32743   74-1492779

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

12377 Merit Drive

Suite 1700, LB 82

Dallas, Texas

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

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

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Section 1 – Registrant’s Business and Operations

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Overview of Restructuring Transaction

On March 15, 2017, EXCO Resources, Inc. (the “ Company ”) completed a series of transactions to improve its capital structure, including the issuance of $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ 1.5 Lien Notes ”) and the exchange of an aggregate of approximately $682.8 million principal amount of its outstanding indebtedness under (i) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. (“ Hamblin Watsa ”), as administrative agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee (the “ Fairfax Term Loan ”), and (ii) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee (the “ Exchange Term Loan ,” and together with the Fairfax Term Loan, the “ Second Lien Term Loans ”), for approximately $682.8 million in aggregate principal amount of new 1.75 Lien Term Loans (such term loans, the “ 1.75 Lien Term Loans ,” and such exchange, the “ Second Lien Term Loan Exchange ”). As a result of the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Fairfax Term Loan was deemed satisfied and paid in full and was terminated. In connection with the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the credit agreement governing the Exchange Term Loan was amended to eliminate substantially all of the covenants and events of default included therein.

The 1.5 Lien Notes were issued to certain affiliates of Hamblin Watsa and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“ Fairfax ”), Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC (“ ESAS ”), certain affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management, LP (“ Oaktree ”) and Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC and certain of its affiliates (“ Gen IV ,” and collectively with Hamblin Watsa, Fairfax, ESAS and Oaktree, the “ Commitment Parties ”). Certain affiliates of Hamblin Watsa and Fairfax, ESAS, and Gen IV and certain of its affiliates, as lenders of the Second Lien Term Loans, also participated in the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange. For additional information, see “Related Party Information” below.

The proceeds from the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes were utilized to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013, as amended (the “ EXCO Resources Credit Agreement ”), as well as to pay transaction fees and expenses and for other general corporate purposes.

In addition, in connection with these transactions, the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement was amended to reduce the borrowing base to $150.0 million, permit the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans and modify certain financial covenants.

1.5 Lien Notes Offering

On March 15, 2017, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and certain purchasers named therein (the “ Purchasers ”), pursuant to which the Company issued for cash to the Purchasers $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary representation and warranties by the Company and the Purchasers and customary indemnification obligations of the Company and the subsidiary guarantors named therein to the Purchasers.

 

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In connection with the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes, on March 15, 2017, the Company also issued to the Purchasers warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 322,580,645 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), at an exercise price of $0.93 per share (representing a 33.3% premium to the trailing 30-day volume weighted average price of the Common Stock ending on February 28, 2017) (the “ 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants ”). In addition, the Company issued the Commitment Parties, as parties who agreed to backstop the offering of the 1.5 Lien Notes, a backstop commitment fee of 3% of the aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes in the form of either (i) warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 6,471,433 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (the “ Commitment Fee Warrants ”) (with the per share value of the Common Stock based on $0.70, which was the 30 day volume weighted average price of the Common Stock ending on February 28, 2017) or (ii) an aggregate of approximately $4.5 million in cash. The backstop commitment fee was paid in connection with a Backstop Commitment Fee Election Letter and Preemptive Right (each, a “ Backstop Fee Letter ”) with each of the Commitment Parties, pursuant to which the Commitment Parties each made an election to receive the backstop fee in the form of Commitment Fee Warrants or cash.

Under the terms of the Backstop Fee Letters, each Commitment Party was also granted a contractual preemptive right that provides each Commitment Party with the right, so long as such Commitment Party is the holder of any 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants, to purchase all or any portion of Common Stock that the Company proposes to issue in an offering for cash in the future (other than shares to be issued to directors, officers, employees and consultants in connection with their service as such), pro rata in proportion to their ownership stake in the Company based on the amount of Common Stock they would own as if their respective 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants had been exercised immediately prior to such offering (such rights, the “ Preemptive Rights ”). The Commitment Parties may not exercise their respective Preemptive Rights to the extent that it would result in the offering of Common Stock requiring the Company to seek any regulatory approvals prior to such offering (excluding approvals required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) but including approvals required by the New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”)); provided , however , that if the Preemptive Rights cannot be fully exercised as a result of such limitation, the Company must use reasonable best efforts to obtain such regulatory approvals.

The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $300.0 million from the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes. The Company used the proceeds to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement, which was approximately $253.6 million, as well as to pay for transaction fees and expenses and for other general corporate purposes.

The foregoing description of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Backstop Fee Letters does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Note Purchase Agreement and the form of Backstop Fee Letter, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

1.5 Lien Notes Indenture

The 1.5 Lien Notes are governed by an Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral trustee (the “ Indenture ”). The Indenture provides that the 1.5 Lien Notes will mature on March 20, 2022. Pursuant to the Indenture, interest accrues at a cash interest rate of 8% per annum and interest will be payable on March 20 and September 20 of each year, commencing on

 

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September 20, 2017. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company may, at its discretion prior to December 31, 2018 and subject to certain limitations thereafter, make payment-in-kind (“ PIK ”) interest payments on the 1.5 Lien Notes in shares of its Common Stock or in issuances of additional 1.5 Lien Notes at a PIK interest rate of 11% per annum, as further described below under “PIK Payments.” The cash interest rate of the 1.5 Lien Notes will increase from 8% per annum to 15% per annum, and the PIK interest rate will increase from 11% per annum to 20% per annum, if, by September 30, 2017 (or by November 30, 2017, in the event the Proxy Statement (as defined below) is reviewed by the SEC), the Company does not obtain shareholder approval of (i) the issuance of its Common Stock as PIK interest payments and the issuance of the Common Stock underlying the Warrants for purposes of Section 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, to the extent that the Common Stock remains listed on the NYSE and such approval is required for such issuances, and (ii) an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation to (a) increase the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue or (b) effect a reverse stock split; provided , however , that the Company may waive, in its sole discretion, the requirement to obtain approval of the amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation (such approvals, the “ Requisite Shareholder Approval ”).

The 1.5 Lien Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by all of the Company’s subsidiaries that guarantee the Company’s indebtedness under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement and the indebtedness under the Second Lien Term Loans, and are secured by second priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company and such guarantors. The 1.5 Lien Notes rank pari passu in right of payment with one another and all of the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Company’s debt under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement, the 1.75 Lien Term Loans (as defined below), the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan and the Company’s 7.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due September 15, 2018 (“ 2018 Notes ”) and 8.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due April 15, 2022 (“ 2022 Notes ”). However, because the debt under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement has a priority claim to the collateral securing the 1.5 Lien Notes pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below), the 1.5 Lien Notes will rank (i) contractually junior to the Company’s debt under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement and any other first lien obligations (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement described below), (ii) pari passu with one another, (iii) contractually senior to the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan and any future third lien obligations and (iv) structurally senior to all of the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, including the Company’s 2018 Notes and 2022 Notes, in each case to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the 1.5 Lien Notes.

The foregoing description of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

1.75 Lien Term Loans and Second Lien Term Loan Exchange

In connection with the offering of the 1.5 Lien Notes, on March 15, 2017, the Company completed the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange whereby approximately $682.8 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Second Lien Term Loans, consisting of all of the outstanding indebtedness under the Fairfax Term Loan and approximately $382.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Term Loan, were exchanged for approximately $682.8 million in aggregate principal amount of new 1.75 Lien Term Loans, pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated March 15, 2017, by and among the Company, Hamblin Watsa, as administrative agent under the Fairfax Term Loan, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent under the Exchange Term Loan, and each of the exchanging lenders party thereto (the “ Exchange Agreement ”). The 1.75 Lien Term Loans were issued pursuant to a 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wilmington Trust, National

 

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Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee (the “ 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement ”). Certain affiliates of Hamblin Watsa and Fairfax, ESAS and Gen IV and certain of its affiliates, as lenders of the Second Lien Term Loans, participated in the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange. For additional information, see “Related Party Information” below.

Under the terms of the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, each exchanging Second Lien Term Loan lender received $1,000 in aggregate principal amount of 1.75 Lien Term Loans for every $1,000 in aggregate principal amount of Second Lien Term Loans tendered by such exchanging lender. In addition, the Company issued the exchanging Second Lien Term Loan lenders, at their election, either (i) warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 19,883,077 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (the “ Amendment Fee Warrants ,” and collectively with the 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants and Commitment Fee Warrants, the “ Warrants ”) (with the number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Amendment Fee Warrants based on 10% of the Company’s fully-diluted outstanding Common Stock on March 15, 2017 after giving effect to the issuance of Common Stock underlying the Amendment Fee Warrants and the Commitment Fee Warrants, but prior to giving effect to the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants and any PIK interest payments in Common Stock and subject to pro rata reduction for any lender who elects to receive cash instead of Amendment Fee Warrants) or (ii) approximately $8.6 million in cash as a consent fee for agreeing to certain amendments to the agreements governing the Exchange Term Loan (as further described below).

As a result of the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Fairfax Term Loan was deemed satisfied and paid in full and was terminated. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, each exchanging lender of the Exchange Term Loan consented to the entry into an amendment to the agreement governing the Exchange Term Loan to eliminate substantially all of the covenants and events of default included therein (the “ Exchange Term Loan Amendment ”). The Exchange Term Loan Amendment became effective on March 15, 2017 in connection with the closing of the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange. Following the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Company has approximately $17.2 million in aggregate principal amount of Second Lien Term Loans outstanding, consisting entirely of the remaining portion of the Exchange Term Loan.

The terms of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans are governed by the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, which provides that the 1.75 Lien Term Loans will mature on October 26, 2020. Pursuant to the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, interest accrues at a cash interest rate of 12.5% per annum and interest will be payable March 20, June 20, September 20 and December 20 of each year, commencing on June 20, 2017. Under the terms of the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Company may, at its discretion prior to December 31, 2018 and subject to certain limitations thereafter, make PIK interest payments on the 1.75 Lien Term Loans in shares of its Common Stock or in issuances of additional 1.75 Lien Term Loans at a PIK interest rate of 15% per annum, as further described below under “PIK Payments.”

The 1.75 Lien Term Loans are jointly and severally guaranteed by all of the Company’s subsidiaries that guarantee the Company’s indebtedness under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement and the Second Lien Term Loans, and are secured by third priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company and such guarantors. The 1.75 Lien Term Loans rank pari passu in right of payment with one another and all of the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Company’s debt under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement, the 1.5 Lien Notes, the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan and the 2018 Notes and 2022 Notes. However, because the debt under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement and the 1.5 Lien Notes have a priority claim to the collateral securing the 1.75 Lien Term Loans pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below), the 1.75 Lien Term Loans rank (i) contractually junior to the Company’s debt under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement, the 1.5 Lien Notes and any other priority lien or second lien obligations (subject to the

 

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terms of the Intercreditor Agreement described below), (ii) pari passu with one another, (iii) contractually senior to the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan and any future third lien obligations and (iv) structurally senior to all of the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, including the Company’s 2018 Notes and 2022 Notes, in each case to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the 1.75 Lien Term Loans.

The foregoing description of the Exchange Agreement, 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Exchange Term Loan Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Exchange Agreement, 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Exchange Term Loan Amendment, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

PIK Payments

Each of the Indenture and the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement allow the Company, on the terms and conditions described below, to make PIK interest payments on the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable, in shares of the Company’s Common Stock, or, in certain circumstances, additional 1.5 Lien Notes or 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable.

Under the Indenture and the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, the price of the Company’s Common Stock for determining PIK payments is based on the trailing 20-day volume weighted average price as at the end of the Determination Date (as defined in the Indenture or the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, as applicable).

The Company’s ability to make PIK payments in Common Stock under the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans is subject to the following conditions: (i) the Company shall have received the Requisite Shareholder Approval, (ii) the issuance of Common Stock as a PIK payment shall not result in a beneficial owner of the 1.5 Lien Notes or 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable, such beneficial owner’s affiliates and any person subject to aggregation with such beneficial owner or its affiliates under Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), beneficially owning (as defined in Rules 13d-3 or 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause (ii) such holder shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting capital stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent entities (or their successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets) (such limitation on beneficial ownership, the “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ”), (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock issued as a PIK payment shall not exceed the amount of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue under its Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation, (iv) the Common Stock issued as a PIK payment shall be (a) listed on the NYSE or any other exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or the over the counter market and (b) duly authorized, validly issued and non-assessable, and the issuance of such PIK Common Stock shall not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights and (v) the Company’s Resale Registration Statement (as defined in the Indenture or 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, as applicable) shall have been declared effective by the SEC subject to the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below). If the foregoing conditions are not met and the Company otherwise has the ability to elect to make PIK interest payments, the Company may make PIK interest payments in additional 1.5 Lien Notes or 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable.

Prior to December 31, 2018, the Company may make PIK payments in its Common Stock on the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans in its sole discretion, subject to the receipt of the Requisite Shareholder Approval. After December 31, 2018, the Company is permitted to make PIK payments only

 

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in the following percentages of interest due based on its liquidity, which is defined as (i) the sum of (a) the Company’s unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and (b) any amounts available to be borrowed under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement (to the extent then available) less (ii) the face amount of any letters of credit outstanding under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement (“ Liquidity ”):

 

Liquidity Level

   PIK Payment Percentage  

Less than $150 million

     100

$150 million or greater but less than $175 million

     75

$175 million or greater but less than $200 million

     50

$200 million or greater but less than $225 million

     25

$225 million or greater

     0

Covenants, Events of Default and Other Material Provisions of the Indenture and 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement

Subject to certain exceptions, the covenants under the Indenture and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans limit the ability of the Company and the ability of its subsidiary guarantors to, among other things:

 

    pay dividends or make other distributions or redeem or repurchase the Company’s capital stock;

 

    prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt;

 

    enter into agreements restricting the subsidiary guarantors’ ability to pay dividends to the Company or another subsidiary guarantor, make loans or advances to the Company or transfer assets to the Company;

 

    engage in asset sales or substantially alter the business that the Company conducts;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    consolidate, merge or dispose of assets;

 

    incur indebtedness and liens; and

 

    enter into sale/leaseback transactions.

In addition, under the Indenture, the Company may only incur secured indebtedness senior to the 1.5 Lien Notes in excess of $150.0 million if the Company obtains consent from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes. Certain affiliates of Hamblin Watsa and Fairfax currently hold a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes.

The Indenture provides that, prior to March 20, 2018 the Company may redeem the 1.5 Lien Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes redeemed plus an applicable make-whole premium. After March 20, 2018, the Company may redeem the 1.5 Lien Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption rates set forth in the Indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest. Under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, the portion of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans that were originally derived from the exchange of the Fairfax Term Loan (the “ Fairfax Tranche ”)

 

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may not be voluntarily prepaid in whole or in part. However, the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement allows the portion of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans that were originally derived from the exchange of the Exchange Term Loan (the “ Exchange Tranche ”) to be voluntarily prepaid, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of amount of such repaid portion of 1.75 Lien Term Loans plus an applicable make-whole amount or premium, depending on whether such prepayment occurs prior to or after October 26, 2018.

Under the Indenture, an “Event of Default” shall give the holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of 1.5 Lien Notes then outstanding the right to declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all of the 1.5 Lien Notes to be due and payable immediately. In addition, an “Event of Default” under the Indenture would cause both the cash interest rate and PIK payment interest rate of the 1.5 Lien Notes to increase by 2% per annum. An “Event of Default” under the Indenture includes, among other things, a failure to make payments when they are due and the failure of the Company or the subsidiary guarantors, under certain circumstances, to comply with the obligations, covenants or agreements under the Indenture.

Under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, an “Event of Default” shall give the administrative agent, at the request of the majority of the lenders thereunder, the ability to (i) terminate the lenders’ commitments under the 1.75 Lien Term Loans and (ii) declare the outstanding indebtedness under the 1.75 Lien Term Loans due and payable in whole, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon. An “Event of Default” under the 1.75 Lien Term Loans includes, among other things, the failure to make payments when they are due, the material incorrectness of a representation or warranty made by the Company or its subsidiary guarantors at the time such representation or warranty was made and the failure to comply with restrictive covenants.

Pursuant to the Indenture, a “Change of Control” gives the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes the right to require the Company to repurchase the 1.5 Lien Notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of the repurchase. In addition, under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, a “Change of Control” constitutes an “Event of Default,” which, subject to certain limitations, may allow the 1.75 Lien Term Loan lenders to declare the 1.75 Lien Term Loans to be due and payable, in whole or in part, including accrued but unpaid interest thereon, plus a make-whole payment with respect to the Fairfax Tranche.

Each of the Indenture and the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement also contain certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to engage in certain asset sales. In the event of such sales, the Company must generally either invest the net cash proceeds from such sales in its business within 360 days or make an offer to repay a portion of the 1.5 Lien Notes or 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable, plus, in the case of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, a make-whole payment (with respect to the Fairfax Tranche) or a premium (with respect to the Exchange Tranche).

Under the terms of the Indenture, the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes agree not to sell, assign, transfer or dispose of 1.5 Lien Notes without the consent of Eligible Holders (as defined in the Indenture) holding a majority of the principal amount of 1.5 Lien Notes held by such Eligible Holders (which consent may be withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the Eligible Holders) at any time prior to March 20, 2019. The Indenture also provides that a proposed transfer at any time on or after March 20, 2019 would be subject to a customary right of first refusal and tag-along right held by the Eligible Holders. Under the terms of the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, any proposed transfer of 1.75 Lien Term Loans would be subject to a right of first refusal held by the Commitment Parties.

The Indenture also provides that the Company must meet certain Liquidity thresholds at the time that certain of its other outstanding indebtedness matures or it will incur an “Event of Default” under the

 

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Indenture. On September 15, 2018, unless all of the 2018 Notes have been redeemed, repurchased or refinanced, then prior to any payment at maturity of the 2018 Notes, the Company must have Liquidity of at least $200.0 million. On October 26, 2020, unless all of the indebtedness under the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan and/or the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement shall have been redeemed, repurchased or refinanced, then prior to any payment at maturity of such indebtedness, the Company must have Liquidity of at least $200.0 million.

Warrants

In connection with the offering of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Company issued the 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants, the Commitment Fee Warrants and the Amendment Fee Warrants, with the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Warrants and the exercise price of such Warrants as follows:

 

Warrant Series

   Aggregate Number of Shares of
Common Stock Underlying Warrants
     Per Share Exercise
Price of Warrants
 

1.5 Lien Notes Warrants

     322,580,645      $ 0.93  

Commitment Fee Warrants

     6,471,433      $ 0.01  

Amendment Fee Warrants

     19,883,077      $ 0.01  

Of the total number of Warrants issued:

 

    certain affiliates of Fairfax and Hamblin Watsa were issued 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 162,365,599 shares of Common Stock, Commitment Fee Warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 6,471,433 shares of Common Stock and Amendment Fee Warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 19,412,035 shares of Common Stock;

 

    ESAS was issued 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 75,268,818 shares of Common Stock, a cash commitment fee of $2.1 million and a cash amendment fee of approximately $1.6 million; and

 

    certain affiliates of Oaktree were issued 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 42,473,119 shares of Common Stock and a cash commitment fee of approximately $1.2 million.

Each series of Warrants was issued under a different form of warrant agreement, but other than the per share exercise price of the Warrants and the persons to whom the Warrants were issued, the terms and conditions of the Warrants are substantially the same among all three series.

Subject to certain exceptions, no Warrants may be exercised unless and until the Company receives the Requisite Shareholder Approval. In addition, subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Warrants may not be exercised if, as a result of such exercise, the beneficial ownership of such holder of such Warrant or its affiliates and any other person subject to aggregation with such holder or its affiliates under Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act would exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

Each of the Warrants has an exercise term of 5 years from the date that the Requisite Shareholder Approval is obtained and may be exercised by cash or cashless exercise, provided that the Company may require cashless exercise if the cash exercise of any Warrant would negatively impact the Company’s ability to utilize net operating losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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The 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants are subject to an anti-dilution adjustment in the event that the Company issues shares of Common Stock or Common Stock equivalents at an effective price per share less than the applicable exercise price of the 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants. The Commitment Fee Warrants and the Amendment Fee Warrants are subject to an anti-dilution adjustment in the event that the Company issues shares of Common Stock or Common Stock equivalents at an effective price per share less than $0.70 per share. In addition, all of the Warrants are subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments in the event of stock splits, dividends, subdivisions, combinations, reclassifications and other similar events.

The foregoing description of the 1.5 Lien Notes Warrants, Commitment Fee Warrants and Amendment Fee Warrants does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Financing Warrant, form of Commitment Fee Warrant and form of Amendment Fee Warrant, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

Intercreditor Agreement

In connection with the 1.5 Lien Notes Offering and the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Company entered into an amended and restated Intercreditor Agreement among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as original priority lien agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as second lien collateral trustee and original third lien collateral agent, dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). The Intercreditor Agreement governs the relationship amongst the lenders under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement, the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Term Loans and the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan with respect to the collateral securing such obligations and certain other matters. Pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, the lenders of the remaining outstanding portion of the Exchange Term Loan agreed to subordinate their security interest in the collateral to the interests of the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Term Loans and the lenders under EXCO Resources Credit Agreement. In addition, the lenders of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans agreed to subordinate their security interest in the collateral to the interests of the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the lenders under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement, and the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes agreed to subordinate their security interest in the collateral to the lenders under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Intercreditor Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Intercreditor Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.9 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Collateral Trust Agreement

On March 15, 2017, in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture, the Company entered into a Collateral Trust Agreement, by and among the Company, the grantors and guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture and as collateral trustee and the other parity lien debt representatives from time to time party thereto (the “ 1.5 Lien Notes Collateral Trust Agreement ”). In addition, in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Company entered into Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among the Company, the grantors and guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement and collateral trustee, and the other parity lien debt representatives from time to time party thereto (the “ Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement ”), which amended and restated the Company’s prior Collateral Trust Agreement, dated October 26, 2015, in its entirety.

 

9


The 1.5 Lien Notes Collateral Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement each set forth the terms on which the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes or 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable, appointed the collateral trustee to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral (as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Collateral Trust Agreement or Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement, as applicable) and to enforce the terms of the 1.5 Lien Notes or the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, as applicable, for the benefit of the current and future holders of the Company’s secured obligations.

The foregoing description of the 1.5 Lien Notes Collateral Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 1.5 Lien Notes Collateral Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.10 and 10.11, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein.

Registration Rights Agreement

Simultaneously with the closing of the 1.5 Lien Notes Offering and the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Term Loans and Warrants, dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Company agreed, upon certain terms and conditions, to register the resale of the Common Stock that the Company may issue pursuant to the PIK payment provisions in the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans and the Common Stock underlying the Warrants by September 10, 2017 (or, if the Company has not obtained the Requisite Shareholder Approvals by that date, within 30 days of obtaining the Requisite Shareholder Approvals). In addition, the Registration Rights Agreement provides certain incidental “piggy-back” registration rights, which generally allow the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Term Loans and Warrants to participate in registered offerings of the Company’s Common Stock that are initiated by the Company or on behalf of other holders of the Company’s securities.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.12 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Borrowing Base Redetermination

On March 8, 2017, the lenders under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement completed their regular semi-annual redetermination of the borrowing base under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement and determined to reduce the borrowing base from $325.0 million to $285.0 million. As previously disclosed, the Company had previously entered into limited consents under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement to delay the regularly scheduled redeterminations of the borrowing base in the third and fourth quarters of 2016. As a result of these limited consents, the Company was limited to borrowing a maximum of $285.0 million under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement but was permitted to rely on the $325.0 million borrowing base for purposes of complying with certain financial covenants in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement.

Amendment to EXCO Resources Credit Agreement

On March 15, 2017, in connection with the 1.5 Lien Notes offering and the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, the Company entered into the Seventh Amendment to the EXCO Resources Credit

 

10


Agreement (the “ Seventh Amendment ”), effective as of March 15, 2017. The Seventh Amendment amended the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement to, among other things, permit the 1.5 Lien Notes offering and the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange and the transactions related thereto, as well as amend certain restrictive covenants to provide the Company with additional financial flexibility. In addition, the Seventh Amendment decreased the amount of the borrowing base under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement from $285.0 million to $150.0 million. The Seventh Amendment also provides that, upon certain asset sales, the borrowing base under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement shall be automatically reduced by an amount equal to (i) at any time prior to the Asset Sale Termination Date (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement), the net cash proceeds received by any credit party with respect to the asset sale, and (ii) at all other times, the Engineered Value of the Oil and Gas Interests (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement) disposed of; provided , that with respect to an asset sale involving the disposition of the South Texas Properties (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement), the borrowing base shall not be reduced to an amount less than $100.0 million.

The Seventh Amendment also included modifications to the Company’s financial covenants. Under the Seventh Amendment, the Company’s financial covenants include:

 

    the Company’s Cash (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement) plus unused commitments under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement cannot be less than (i) $50.0 million as of the end of a fiscal month and (ii) $70.0 million as of the end of a fiscal quarter;

 

    the Company’s Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement) must exceed a minimum of 1.75 to 1.0 for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017 and 2.0 to 1.0 for fiscal quarters thereafter. The Consolidated EBITDAX (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement) and Consolidated Interest Expense (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement) utilized in this ratio are based on the most recent fiscal quarter ended multiplied by 4.0 as of September 30, 2017, the most recent two fiscal quarters ended multiplied by 2.0 as of December 31, 2017, the most recent three fiscal quarters ended multiplied by 4/3 as of March 31, 2018 and the trailing twelve month period for fiscal quarters ending thereafter. Under the Seventh Amendment, the definition of Consolidated Interest Expense was modified to include cash interest payments that are accounted for as reductions in the principal amount of indebtedness in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-60. Consolidated Interest Expense is limited to payments in cash, and excludes payments in equity or additional indebtedness on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans; and

 

    the Company’s ratio of Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure (as defined in the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement) to Consolidated EBITDAX cannot exceed 1.2 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. Aggregate revolving credit exposure utilized in the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure Ratio includes borrowings and letters of credit under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement.

In addition, the Seventh Amendment waived the requirement under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement that the Company furnish its audited financial statements for the 2016 fiscal year within 90 days after the fiscal year end without a going concern or like qualification.

Under the terms of the Seventh Amendment, the borrowing base under the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement will remain subject to semi-annual review and redetermination by the lenders pursuant to the terms of the EXCO Resources Credit Agreement and the next redetermination of the borrowing base is scheduled to occur on or about November 1, 2017.

 

11


The foregoing description of the Seventh Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Seventh Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.13 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Related Party Information

Samuel A. Mitchell, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, serves as a Managing Director of Hamblin Watsa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax. Fairfax is the beneficial owner of approximately 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.

C. John Wilder, the Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, serves as the sole manager and has the power to direct the affairs of Bluescape Energy Partners III GP LLC, which serves as the general partner of and directs Bluescape Energy Recapitalization and Restructuring Fund III LP, the owner of ESAS. ESAS is the beneficial owner of approximately 6.5% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock and the party to a services and investment agreement with the Company.

B. James Ford, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, serves as a Senior Advisor of Oaktree. Oaktree is the beneficial owner of approximately 10.9% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K related to the repayment and termination of the Fairfax Term Loan is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

Section 2 – Financial Information

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 15, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the 1.5 Lien Notes offering and the Second Lien Term Loan Exchange, as well as certain pro forma estimates of the impact of such transactions on the Company’s financial condition (the “ Press Release ”). A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 (including the information in Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

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

The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K related to the 1.5 Lien Notes, the Indenture, the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Seventh Amendment is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

12


Section 3 – Securities and Trading Markets

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K related to the issuance of the Warrants is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. To the extent required by this Item 3.02, the information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K related to the possible future issuances of Common Stock as PIK interest payments under the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

The Warrants were issued, and any shares of Common Stock issued as PIK interest payments under the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans will be issued, pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation S and Rule 506 of Regulation D thereunder.

Section 7 – Regulation FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

The information provided in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K related to the Press Release is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

* * * * *

 

13


Important Information for Investors and Shareholders

This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.

The Requisite Shareholder Approval matters are expected to be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for their consideration pursuant to a Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (the “ Proxy Statement ”) that will be filed by the Company with the SEC and mailed to the Company’s shareholders. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN THAT ARE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE REQUISITE SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL MATTERS. Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents containing important information about the Company, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The Company will make available free of charge at www.excoresources.com (in the “Investor Relations” section), copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the SEC, or investors and shareholders may contact the Company at (214) 368-2084 to receive copies of documents that it files with or furnishes to the SEC.

Participants in the Proxy Solicitation

The Company and certain of its respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Requisite Shareholder Approval matters. Information about the directors and officers of the Company is set forth in its Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 6, 2016, as well as its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2016, May 24, 2016, August 22, 2016, October 25, 2016, February 2, 2017 and March 3, 2017. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

Forward-Looking Statements

In accordance with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company cautions that statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are forward-looking and that provide information other than historical fact involve risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company’s results of operations. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted as a result of factors over which the Company has no control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to obtain the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, the filing of the Proxy Statement with the SEC, future issuances of Common Stock as PIK interest payments and the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the covenants in the Indenture and 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Company’s other debt agreements. A discussion of the risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company is set forth in its filings with the SEC. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

 

14


Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.    

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., as issuer, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral trustee.
10.1    Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, and the purchaser signatories thereto.
10.2    Form of Backstop Commitment Fee Election Letter.
10.3    Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent under the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent under the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement, and each of the other undersigned parties thereto.
10.4    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., as borrower, certain subsidiaries of borrower, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee.
10.5    First Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., as borrower, certain subsidiaries of borrower, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee.
10.6    Form of Financing Warrant.
10.7    Form of Commitment Fee Warrant.
10.8    Form of Amendment Fee Warrant.
10.9    Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as original priority lien agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as second lien collateral trustee and original third lien collateral agent.
10.10    Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., the grantors and guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the second lien indenture and collateral trustee, and the other parity lien debt representatives from time to time party thereto.
10.11    Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., the grantors and guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee, and the other parity lien debt representatives from time to time party thereto.
10.12    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc. and the investors specified on the signatures thereto.
10.13    Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, among EXCO Resources, Inc., as borrower, certain subsidiaries of borrower, as guarantors, the lender parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
99.1    Press release, dated March 15, 2017, issued by EXCO Resources, Inc.

 

15


SIGNATURES

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

 

  EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
Date: March 15, 2017     By:  

/s/ Heather Lamparter

    Name:   Heather Lamparter
    Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., as issuer, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral trustee.
10.1    Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, and the purchaser signatories thereto.
10.2    Form of Backstop Commitment Fee Election Letter.
10.3    Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent under the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent under the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement, and each of the other undersigned parties thereto.
10.4    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., as borrower, certain subsidiaries of borrower, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee.
10.5    First Amendment to Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., as borrower, certain subsidiaries of borrower, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee.
10.6    Form of Financing Warrant.
10.7    Form of Commitment Fee Warrant.
10.8    Form of Amendment Fee Warrant.
10.9    Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as original priority lien agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as second lien collateral trustee and original third lien collateral agent.
10.10    Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., the grantors and guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the second lien indenture and collateral trustee, and the other parity lien debt representatives from time to time party thereto.
10.11    Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., the grantors and guarantors from time to time party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee, and the other parity lien debt representatives from time to time party thereto.
10.12    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc. and the investors specified on the signatures thereto.
10.13    Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, among EXCO Resources, Inc., as borrower, certain subsidiaries of borrower, as guarantors, the lender parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
99.1    Press release, dated March 15, 2017, issued by EXCO Resources, Inc.

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of March 15, 2017

among

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

as Issuer

GUARANTORS,

as Guarantors

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee

8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 LIEN SENIOR SECURED PIK TOGGLE NOTES DUE 2022

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  

Section 1.01.

 

Definitions

     1  

Section 1.02.

 

Other Definitions

     52  

Section 1.03.

 

Rules of Construction

     53  

Section 1.04.

 

Acts of Holders

     54  
ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES  

Section 2.01.

 

Form and Dating; Terms

     55  

Section 2.02.

 

Execution and Authentication

     59  

Section 2.03.

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     60  

Section 2.04.

 

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     60  

Section 2.05.

 

Holder Lists

     60  

Section 2.06.

 

Transfer and Exchange

     61  

Section 2.07.

 

Replacement Notes

     65  

Section 2.08.

 

Outstanding Notes

     65  

Section 2.09.

 

Treasury Notes

     65  

Section 2.10.

 

Temporary Notes

     65  

Section 2.11.

 

Cancellation

     66  

Section 2.12.

 

Defaulted Interest

     66  

Section 2.13.

 

Consent Right; Right of First Refusal; Tag-Along Rights

     66  
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION  

Section 3.01.

 

Notices to Trustee

     68  

Section 3.02.

 

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased

     68  

Section 3.03.

 

Notice of Redemption

     69  

Section 3.04.

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     69  

Section 3.05.

 

Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price

     70  

Section 3.06.

 

Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part

     70  

Section 3.07.

 

Optional Redemption

     70  

Section 3.08.

 

Mandatory Redemption

     71  

Section 3.09.

 

Offer to Repurchase by Application of Net Cash Proceeds

     71  
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS  

Section 4.01.

 

Payment of Notes

     73  

Section 4.02.

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     74  

Section 4.03.

 

Reports and Other Information

     74  

Section 4.04.

 

Compliance Certificate

     75  

Section 4.05.

 

Taxes

     76  

Section 4.06.

 

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     76  

Section 4.07.

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     76  

Section 4.08.

 

Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries

     80  

Section 4.09.

 

Limitation on Indebtedness

     82  

Section 4.10.

 

Fundamental Changes and Dispositions

     86  

 

-i-


Section 4.11.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     89  

Section 4.12.

 

Liens

     91  

Section 4.13.

 

Corporate Existence

     91  

Section 4.14.

 

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

     91  

Section 4.15.

 

Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries

     93  

Section 4.16.

 

Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transaction

     94  

Section 4.17.

 

Payment for Consent

     94  

Section 4.18.

 

Existence; Conduct of Business

     95  

Section 4.19.

 

Insurance

     95  

Section 4.20.

 

Operation and Maintenance of Properties

     95  

Section 4.21.

 

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

     96  

Section 4.22.

 

Compliance with Laws

     96  

Section 4.23.

 

Reserve Reports

     96  

Section 4.24.

 

Liens on Collateral and Additional Property

     96  

Section 4.25.

 

Title Data

     98  

Section 4.26.

 

Liquidity Covenant

     99  
ARTICLE 5 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES  

Section 5.01.

 

Events of Default

     99  

Section 5.02.

 

Acceleration

     101  

Section 5.03.

 

Other Remedies

     102  

Section 5.04.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     102  

Section 5.05.

 

Control by Majority

     102  

Section 5.06.

 

Limitation on Suits

     103  

Section 5.07.

 

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

     103  

Section 5.08.

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

     103  

Section 5.09.

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     103  

Section 5.10.

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     104  

Section 5.11.

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     104  

Section 5.12.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     104  

Section 5.13.

 

Priorities

     104  

Section 5.14.

 

Undertaking for Costs

     105  
ARTICLE 6 TRUSTEE  

Section 6.01.

 

Duties of Trustee

     105  

Section 6.02.

 

Rights of Trustee

     106  

Section 6.03.

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

     108  

Section 6.04.

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     108  

Section 6.05.

 

Notice of Defaults

     108  

Section 6.06.

 

Compensation and Indemnity

     108  

Section 6.07.

 

Replacement of Trustee

     109  

Section 6.08.

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc

     110  

Section 6.09.

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     110  
ARTICLE 7 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE  

Section 7.01.

 

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     110  

Section 7.02.

 

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     110  

Section 7.03.

 

Covenant Defeasance

     111  

 

-ii-


Section 7.04.

 

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     111  

Section 7.05.

 

Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     113  

Section 7.06.

 

Repayment to Issuer

     113  

Section 7.07.

 

Reinstatement

     113  
ARTICLE 8 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER  

Section 8.01.

 

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

     114  

Section 8.02.

 

With Consent of Holders of Notes

     115  

Section 8.03.

 

Effect of Supplemental Indentures; Revocation and Effect of Consents

     117  

Section 8.04.

 

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     117  

Section 8.05.

 

Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc

     117  
ARTICLE 9 GUARANTEES  

Section 9.01.

 

Guarantee

     118  

Section 9.02.

 

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     119  

Section 9.03.

 

Execution and Delivery

     119  

Section 9.04.

 

Subrogation

     120  

Section 9.05.

 

Benefits Acknowledged

     120  

Section 9.06.

 

Release of Guarantees

     120  
ARTICLE 10 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY  

Section 10.01.

 

The Collateral Trustee

     121  

Section 10.02.

 

Authority of Collateral Trustee to Release Collateral and Liens

     125  

Section 10.03.

 

Security Instruments

     125  

Section 10.04.

 

Intercreditor Agreement

     126  

Section 10.05.

 

Further Assurances

     127  

Section 10.06.

 

Release of Collateral

     127  
ARTICLE 11 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE  

Section 11.01.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

     128  

Section 11.02.

 

Application of Trust Money

     129  
ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS  

Section 12.01.

 

Notices

     129  

Section 12.02.

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     131  

Section 12.03.

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     131  

Section 12.04.

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     131  

Section 12.05.

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

     131  

Section 12.06.

 

Governing Law

     132  

Section 12.07.

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     132  

Section 12.08.

 

Force Majeure

     132  

Section 12.09.

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     132  

Section 12.10.

 

Successors

     132  

Section 12.11.

 

Severability

     132  

Section 12.12.

 

Counterpart Originals

     132  

 

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Section 12.13.

 

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc

     133  

Section 12.14.

 

Consent to Jurisdiction

     133  

Section 12.15.

 

Business Days

     133  

Section 12.16.

 

USA Patriot Act

     133  

Section 12.17.

 

Calculations

     133  

Section 12.18.

 

Intercreditor Agreement

     134  

EXHIBITS

    

Exhibit A

 

Form of Note

  

Exhibit B

 

Form of Certificate of Transfer

  

Exhibit C

 

Form of Certificate of Exchange

  

Exhibit D

 

Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

  

Exhibit E

 

Notice Addresses of Eligible Holders

  

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of March 15, 2017, among EXCO RESOURCES, INC., a Texas corporation (the “ Issuer ”), the GUARANTORS (as defined below) from time to time party hereto and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and as Collateral Trustee (as defined below).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of (i) $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ Initial Notes ” and together with any PIK Notes (as defined below) issued from time to time as permitted hereby, the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Notes shall be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Guarantors;

WHEREAS, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary (i) to make the Notes, when executed and duly issued by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors, and (ii) to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer and the Guarantors have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Notes.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01.     Definitions .

1.75 Lien Credit Agreement ” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement effective as of the Issue Date among the Issuer, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent thereunder, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Issue Date in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that any increase in the principal amount of the Loans or Letters of Credit (each as defined in the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement) together with any other borrowings or other extensions of credit thereunder is permitted solely under Section 4.09(b)(3)(x) .

Additional Secured Debt Designation ” means the written agreement of the Priority Lien Representative of holders of any Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Junior Priority Lien Representative of holders of any Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or the Junior Lien Representative of holders of any Series of Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or Series of Junior Lien Debt, for the benefit of (a) all holders of existing and future Senior Priority Lien Debt, the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent and each existing and future holder of Senior Priority Liens, (b) if applicable, all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Collateral Trustee and each existing and future holder of Priority Liens, (c) if applicable, all holders of each existing and future Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt, the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent and each existing and future holder of Junior Priority Liens, and (d) if applicable, all holders of each existing and future Series of


Junior Lien Debt, the Junior Lien Collateral Agent and each existing and future holder of Junior Liens, in each case:

(1)    that all Priority Lien Obligations, Junior Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations, as applicable, will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Priority Liens, Junior Priority Liens or Junior Liens, as applicable, at any time granted by the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or Series of Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, whether or not upon Property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or Series of Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, and that all such Priority Liens, Junior Priority Liens or Junior Liens, as applicable, will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee, the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent or Junior Lien Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations, Junior Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations, as applicable, equally and ratably;

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

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

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Agent ” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

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

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:

(1)    1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and

(2)    the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at March 20, 2018 (such redemption price being set forth in Section  3.07 hereof), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through March 20, 2018 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date, and assuming the rate of interest on the Notes for the period from the Redemption Date to but excluding March 20, 2018 will be the rate for Cash Interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

 

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Approved Bank ” means any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks.

Approved Petroleum Engineer ” means Lee Keeling & Associates, Netherland Sewell & Associates, Inc., Ryder Scott Petroleum Consultants or any other reputable firm of independent petroleum engineers selected by the Issuer.

Asset Sale ” means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “ disposition ”) of (a) 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 Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary), (b) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (c) any other assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that none of the following shall constitute an “Asset Sale” for purposes of this Indenture:

(a)    a disposition by (i) a Guarantor to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Guarantor to a Guarantor, (ii) a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Guarantor and (iii) a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary to a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary;

(b)    for purposes of Section  4.10 only, a disposition that constitutes a Restricted Payment (or would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusions from the definition thereof) and that is not prohibited by Section  4.10 ;

(c)    a disposition of Crude Oil, Natural Gas or other Hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business of the oil and gas production operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (but, excluding, among other things and for the avoidance of doubt, the disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole);

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

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

(f)    the trade or exchange by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Oil and Gas Property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary for any Oil and Gas Properties of another Person or for the Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, including any de minimis amount of cash or Cash Equivalents necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value (but, excluding, among other things and for the avoidance of doubt, the disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole); provided , however , that the value of the Oil and Gas Properties therein received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such trade or exchange (including any cash or Cash Equivalents) is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an executive officer of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with the

 

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responsibility for such transaction (if the Board of Directors has delegated such determination to such executive officer, which delegation may occur for Oil and Gas Properties for which the fair market value is less than $25,000,000), which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) of the Oil and Gas Properties or Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business (including any cash or Cash Equivalents) so traded or exchanged; provided , further, that any Net Cash Proceeds are applied pursuant to the requirements of Section  4.10 ;

(g)    the creation or perfection of a Lien permitted pursuant to this Indenture;

(h)    the abandonment, farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business;

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

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

(k)    the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property (including without limitation the licensing of seismic data) or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property (other than any Oil and Gas Properties or other interest in real property) in the Issuer’s ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(m)     the following transactions:

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

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

(n)    a disposition of assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions with a fair market value of less than $5,000,000.

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

 

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Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereinafter in effect, or any successor statute.

Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Trustee, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of (i) any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person or any parent thereof by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof or (ii) in the case of a solvent Person, the precautionary appointment of an administrator, guardian, custodian or other similar official by a Governmental Authority under or based on the law of the country where such Person is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment not be publicly disclosed where such action does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States of America or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality), to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

Bankruptcy Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code and any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law.

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

BG Joint Development Agreement ” means that certain Joint Development Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2009 (as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified or restated), by and among BG US Production Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and EOC, pursuant to which the parties thereto entered into a joint development agreement to develop and operate certain oil and gas properties located in the East Texas/North Louisiana Area.

BG JV Documents ” means the BG Joint Development Agreement and any other documents, instruments, agreements or certificates contemplated by or executed in connection therewith.

Bluescape Agreement ” means that certain Services and Investment Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2015, between the Issuer and Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time.

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Board of Directors ” means: (a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; (b) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership; (c) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and (d) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

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Business Day ” means each day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, in the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located or at a place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of Section 4.12 , a Capital Lease Obligation will be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased.

Capital Stock ” means: (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation; (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be Capital Stock unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following:

(a)    Dollars;

(b)    securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition;

(c)    certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of three years or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with an Approved Bank;

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

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

(f)    marketable short-term money market and similar liquid funds having a rating of at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Issuer);

 

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

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

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

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

Cash Management Obligations ” means any obligations in respect of treasury management arrangements, depositary or other cash management services, including commercial credit card and merchant card services.

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

(a)    any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any Permitted Investor, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause (a)  such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (or its successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets);

(b)    the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer;

(c)    the merger or consolidation of the Issuer with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Issuer, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than, in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, a transaction in which holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Issuer immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such merger or consolidation transaction) become the beneficial owners directly or indirectly of at least a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction; or

(d)    the occurrence of any “Change of Control” (or similar term) as such term is defined under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or under any Senior Priority Lien Document, Priority Lien Document, Junior Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document.

 

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Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.

Collateral ” means all assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or any Guarantor, in which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee or the Holders as security for any Obligation.

Collateral Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) the sum of (without duplication) (i) the PV-10 of Proved Reserves and Unproved Reserves of the Mortgaged Properties and other Oil and Gas Properties as evaluated in the most recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report, and (ii) the value for net undeveloped acres that do not have scheduled locations within the Collateral Coverage Reserve Report derived from the Issuer’s land records and recent leasing activity for comparable acreage, to (b) the aggregate outstanding Secured Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date.

Collateral Coverage Reserve Report ” means a report setting forth, as of the end of the Issuer’s most recent fiscal year, (i) the PV-10 of the Proved Reserves, as evaluated in the Reserve Report most recently delivered pursuant to Section  4.23 , based upon the economic assumptions consistent with the RBL Agent’s lending requirements at the time, (ii) the PV-10 of the Unproved Reserves of the Mortgaged Properties and other Oil and Gas Properties, and (iii) the value for net undeveloped acres that do not have scheduled locations within the Proved Reserves and Unproved Reserves derived from Issuer’s land records and recent leasing activity for comparable acreage attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, based upon NYMEX Prices as of the report date.

Collateral Trust Agreement ” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Guarantors party thereto, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or otherwise modified from time to time.

Collateral Trust Joinder Agreement ” means (x) in the case of additional debt, a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Collateral Trust Agreement or (y) in the case of an additional Guarantor, a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C to the Collateral Trust Agreement.

Collateral Trustee ” means the collateral trustee for the holders of Notes under the Indenture and the holders of other Priority Lien Debt in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement. Wilmington Trust, National Association will initially serve as the Collateral Trustee.

Commodity Agreement ” means any oil or natural gas hedging agreement and other agreement or arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business and designed to protect the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary against fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices.

Common Stock ” means shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Issuer.

Consolidated Coverage Ratio ” as of any date of determination means the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters; provided , that:

(a)    if the Issuer 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

 

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calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, or both, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period;

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

(c)    if since the beginning of such period the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale, EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Sale 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 Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Issuer and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale 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 Issuer and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

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

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

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

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness Incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. 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 twelve (12) months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof).

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

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

(a)    PIK interest (including PIK Interest) and interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations;

(b)    capitalized interest;

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

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

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

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

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

(h)    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 Issuer) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense (1) Consolidated Interest Expense with respect to any Production Payments to the extent such Production Payments are excluded from the definition of “Indebtedness” and (2) noncash interest expense incurred in connection with interest rate caps and other interest rate and currency options that, at the time entered into, resulted in the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries being either neutral or net payors as to future payouts under such caps or options.

 

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

(a)    any net income of any Person (other than the Issuer) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except that:

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

(2)    the Issuer’s cash contributions (net of cash contributions or other cash distributions from such Person) in connection with a net loss of any such Person for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

(b)    any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the Issuer or a consolidated Restricted 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;

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

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

(2)    the Issuer’s cash contributions in connection with a net loss of any such consolidated Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

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

 

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(e)    any impairment losses on Oil and Gas Properties;

(f)    extraordinary or non-recurring gains or losses;

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

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

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

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

(k)    to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, any non-cash or non-recurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded, in each case, for such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section  4.07 only (but not the calculation of the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for purposes of determining compliance with such covenant), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any repurchases, repayments or redemptions of Investments, proceeds realized on the sale of Investments or return of capital to the Issuer 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 4.07.(a)(i)(3)(ii) . In addition, for purposes of this definition, the term “ non-recurring ” means any charge, expense, loss or gain as of any date that is not reasonably likely to recur within the two years following the date of occurrence of such charge, expense, loss or gain; provided that if there is a charge, expense, loss or gain similar to such expense, loss or gain within the two years preceding such date, such expense, loss or gain shall not be deemed non-recurring and; provided further , that severance payments shall be considered “non-recurring” regardless of the frequency of the payment of such payments.

Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means, for any Person, any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(a)    to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(b)    to advance or supply funds:

(1)    for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

(2)    to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

 

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(c)    to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

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

Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement and the Second Lien Credit Agreement), capital markets financings or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, bankers acceptances, notes or other long-term indebtedness, including any mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, supplemental or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof or adds additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

Crude Oil ” means all crude oil and condensate.

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

Default ” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06(a) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit  A hereto.

Deposit Account Control Agreement ” means a deposit account control agreement to be executed and delivered among the Issuer, any Guarantor, the RBL Agent, the Collateral Trustee and each bank at which the Issuer or any Guarantor maintains any deposit account, in each case, in accordance with such bank’s standard form of control agreement and acceptable to the Collateral Trustee as to its rights and obligations, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Determination Date ” means February 28 (or February 29, in the event of a leap year) and August 31 of each year.

 

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DIP Financing ” means any post-petition financing under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of any other Bankruptcy Law.

Discharge of Senior Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

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

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, conveyance, license, lease, farm-out, exchange or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest 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:

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

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

(c)    is mandatorily redeemable or must be purchased upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise, in whole or in part; in each case on or prior to the 181st day after the Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided , however , that any Equity Interest that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring prior to the 181st day after the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if:

(1)    the “asset sale” or “change of control” provisions applicable to such Equity Interest are not more favorable to the holders of such Equity Interest than the terms applicable to the Notes in Sections 4.10 and 4.14 ; and

(2)    any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the Notes, including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto. The amount of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date on which the amount of such Disqualified Stock is to be determined pursuant to 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 will be the book value of such Disqualified Stock as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person.

 

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

Dollar Equivalent ” means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than Dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the amount of Dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “Exchange Rates” column under the heading “Currency Trading” on the date two (2) Business Days prior to such determination. Except as described in Section  4.09 , whenever it is necessary to determine whether the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has complied with any covenant in this Indenture or a Default has occurred and an amount is expressed in a currency other than Dollars, such amount will be treated as the Dollar Equivalent determined as of the date such amount is initially determined in such currency.

Dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person that is incorporated or formed under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

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

EBG Resources ” means EBG Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

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

(a)    all income tax expense of the Issuer and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b)    Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c)    depreciation, depletion, exploration and amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) expense of the Issuer and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding amortization of expenses attributable to a prepaid operating activity item that was paid in cash in a prior period);

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

(e)    unrealized non-cash foreign exchange losses of the Issuer and the consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

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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:

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

(2)    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 noncash charges of, a consolidated 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 Issuer 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.

Eligible Holders ” means each Lead Holder that is a Holder on the date that any Transfer Notice is delivered or, as applicable, at the time that the Issuer seeks consent in connection with an election to be made by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(vi)(5) .

Environmental Laws ” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

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

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock;  provided  that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be an Equity Interest unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged, except, solely for purposes of a pledge of Equity Interests in connection with this Indenture, to the extent such instrument could be treated as “stock” of a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.956-2(c)(2).

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Issuer or any Guarantor, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day

 

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notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the Incurrence by any the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Issuer or any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Issuer or any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Issuer or any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

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

EXCO PA ” means EXCO Production Company (PA), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

EXCO WV ” means EXCO Production Company (WV), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Existing Unsecured Notes ” means, collectively, the Issuer’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “ 2018 Notes ”) and 8.500% Senior Notes due 2022, in each case, as outstanding on the Issue Date.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Disinterested Members of the Issuer’s Board of Directors in good faith.

Fairfax ” means Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

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

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

First Lien RBL Credit Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 2013 among the Issuer, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder, as the same was amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced on or prior to the Issue Date and as may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Issue Date in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that any increase in the principal amount of the Loans or Letters of Credit (each as defined in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement) together with any other borrowings or other extensions of credit thereunder is permitted solely under Section 4.09(b)(1) .

 

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First Lien RBL Documents ” means, collectively, the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and each security document, mortgage, note, guarantee, instrument and other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement) executed or delivered in connection with the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement at any time.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the Issue Date.

Gen IV ” means Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC and its Affiliate Vega Asset Partners, LP.

Governing Body ” means, as to any Person, the Board of Directors or, if such Person is managed by a single entity and not a Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the managing entity of such Person.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Requirement ” means any applicable law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization or other directive or requirement, whether now or hereinafter in effect, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy and public utility laws and regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any Governmental Authority.

Government Securities ” means, with respect to a federal government, securities that are:

(3)    direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, such federal government for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

(4)    obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such federal government, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such federal government,

which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (in this definition, the “ guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether

 

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directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided , that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Guarantor ” means each Restricted Subsidiary that is a party hereto or hereafter executes and delivers to the Trustee, a supplemental indenture to this Indenture.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any Swap Agreement, including Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and Commodity Agreements.

holder ” means, with reference to any Indebtedness or other Obligations, any holder or lender of, or trustee or collateral or administrative agent or other authorized representative with respect to, such Indebtedness or Obligations, and, in the case of Hedging Obligations, any counter-party to such Hedging Obligations.

Holder ” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered to on the applicable registrar’s books.

Hydrocarbons ” means all Crude Oil and Natural Gas produced from or attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Issuer and the Guarantors.

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

Solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section  4.09 of this Indenture the following will not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness:

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

(b)    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;

 

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

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

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

(a)    the principal in respect of (1) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (2) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due and payable;

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

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

(d)    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 (a)  through (c) 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);

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

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

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

(h)    to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations (after giving effect to any netting obligations) of such Person; and

(i)    any warranties or guaranties by such Person of production or payment with respect to a Production Payment;

 

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provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations (other than of a type (x) referenced in clause (b)(2) of the definition thereof, (y) the primary obligation (as referenced in such definition) of which constitutes damages (of any kind whatsoever, including actual, special, direct, consequential or punitive) or a claim therefor as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination (but excluding any such damages or claims with respect to which the applicable third party insurance provider has not denied coverage) or (z) in accordance with GAAP, that would be required to be shown on the balance sheet of any obligor as indebtedness) Incurred in the ordinary course of business ( provided that this clause (1)  shall not apply for purposes of determining what constitutes a “primary obligation” for purposes of the definition of Contingent Obligations); (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) any obligation (but excluding any obligation constituting debt for borrowed money, including under obligations referenced under immediately preceding clauses (a)  and (b) ) of a Person in respect of a Farm-In Agreement, Farm-Out Agreement, joint development arrangements or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an Oil and Gas Property; (5) in-kind obligations relating to net oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business; (6) in the case of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations between and among the Issuer and any Guarantors; (7) any obligations in respect of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto; (8) non-compete or consulting obligations Incurred in connection with any acquisition; (9) reserves for deferred income taxes; and (10) obligations with respect to prepayments received in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, development agreements, offtake agreements or similar arrangements.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

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

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

Initial Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain amended and restated Intercreditor Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015, among (after giving effect to the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment) the Senior Priority Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee (and acknowledged and agreed by the Issuer and the Guarantors), as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) modified or restated in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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Intercreditor Agreement Amendment ” means the Amendment, dated as of March 15, 2017, to the Intercreditor Agreement, among the Senior Priority Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement) (and acknowledged and agreed by the Credit Parties, the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee and the Collateral Trustee).

Interest Payment Date ” means March 20 and September 20 of each year to stated maturity.

Interest Period ” means the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending on and including the day immediately preceding the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, with the exception that the first interest period shall commence on and include the Issue Date and end on and exclude September 20, 2017.

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

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P or any equivalent rating by any Rating Agency.

Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, credit card and debit card receivables, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, manufacturers and consultants, in each case, made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section  4.07 :

(a)    “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (1) the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (2) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation;

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

(c)    the amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any subsequent dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date ” means March 15, 2017.

 

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Issuer ” means EXCO Resources, Inc., until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Issuer Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

Junior Lien ” means a Lien junior in priority to the Senior Priority Liens and the Priority Liens and equal in priority to the Junior Priority Liens, but which is junior in right of the payment waterfall (as provided in the collateral trust agreement governing the Junior Priority Lien Debt) as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, granted by the Issuer or any Guarantor in favor of holders of Junior Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith) at any time, upon any Property of the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Junior Lien Obligations ( provided that, in all events, such Property shall also be subject to Liens securing such aforementioned Senior Priority Liens, Priority Liens and Junior Priority Liens).

Junior Lien Collateral Agent ” means the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, together with its successors and assigns.

Junior Lien Debt ” means (a) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the Second Lien Credit Agreement and (b) any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries) of the Issuer or any Guarantor permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(3)(y) or (z) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Junior Lien Debt with other Junior Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) that is secured by a Junior Lien and that is permitted to be Incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (b)  of this definition:

(1)    (i) such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to one-hundred eighty (180) days after the maturity date of the Notes (except as a result of a customary change of control, events of loss or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

(2)    on or before the date on which any such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Issuer or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Issuer, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Lien Collateral Agent and Collateral Trustee, as “Junior Lien Debt,” and such Officers’ Certificate also certifies that such Indebtedness is permitted and with respect to any other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3)    a Junior Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers an Additional Secured Debt Designation on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness;

(4)    all relevant filings and recordations necessary to ensure that such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable security documents are authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded in each appropriate jurisdiction ( provided that this clause (4)  may be satisfied on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Junior Lien Representative); and

(5)    all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement and in any applicable security documents as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Lien Debt to secure such Indebtedness or obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

 

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

Junior Lien Obligations ” means Junior Lien Debt and all other principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof.

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

Junior Priority Lien ” means a Lien junior in priority to the Senior Priority Liens and the Priority Liens and equal in priority to the Junior Liens, but which is senior in right of the payment waterfall (as provided in the collateral trust agreement governing the Junior Priority Lien Debt), in each case, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, granted by the Issuer or any Guarantor in favor of holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith) at any time, upon any Property of the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Junior Priority Lien Obligations ( provided that, in all events, such Property shall also be subject to Liens securing such aforementioned Senior Priority Liens and Priority Liens).

Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, together with its successors and assigns.

Junior Priority Lien Debt ” means (a) the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement and (b) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries) of the Issuer or any Guarantor permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(3)(x) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Junior Priority Lien Debt with other Junior Priority Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) that is secured by a Junior Priority Lien and that is permitted to be Incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (b)  of this definition:

(1)    (i) such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to one-hundred eighty (180) days after the maturity date of the Notes (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior Priority Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

 

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(2)    on or before the date on which any such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Issuer or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Issuer, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Trustee, as “Junior Priority Lien Debt,” and such Officers’ Certificate also certifies that such Indebtedness is permitted and with respect to any other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3)    a Junior Priority Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers an Additional Secured Debt Designation on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness;

(4)    all relevant filings and recordations necessary to ensure that such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable security documents are authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded in each appropriate jurisdiction ( provided that this clause (4)  may be satisfied on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Junior Priority Lien Representative); and

(5)    all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement and in any applicable security documents as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt to secure such Indebtedness or obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

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

Junior Priority Lien Obligations ” means Junior Priority Lien Debt and all other principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof.

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

Lead Holders ” means Fairfax, ESAS, OCM EXCO Holdings LLC and Gen IV and, in each case, their respective Affiliates (excluding, in each case, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries).

liabilities ” means, as to any Person, all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of such Person, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, primary or secondary, direct or indirect, absolute, fixed or contingent, and whether or not required to be considered pursuant to GAAP.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

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Liquidity ,” means an amount equal to (a) the sum of (1) the Issuer’s Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and (2) any amounts available to be borrowed under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement (to the extent then available) less (b) the face amount of any letters of credit outstanding under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement. With respect to any Interest Payment Date, Liquidity shall be calculated as of the applicable Determination Date after giving effect to any cash interest on the 1.75 Lien Term Loan which has been paid during the relevant interest period and on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any payment of Cash Interest on the Notes and payment of cash interest on the 1.75 Lien Term Loan expected to be paid on the relevant Interest Payment Date. With respect to any determination of Liquidity required under Section  4.07 or Section 4.26(a) of this Indenture, Liquidity shall be calculated as of the date of the making of such Restricted Payment or September 15, 2018, as applicable, before giving effect to any Restricted Payment of the 2018 Notes or any payment of the 2018 Notes at maturity, as applicable. With respect to any determination required under Section 4.26(b) of this Indenture, Liquidity shall be calculated as of October 26, 2020 after giving effect to any payment of any obligations under the Second Lien Credit Agreement and/or the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement at maturity, as applicable.

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

Marcellus Holding Companies ” means one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries formed in connection with the Marcellus Joint Venture to facilitate the transfer of an undivided 49.75% interest in the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets to the Marcellus JV Partner.

Marcellus Joint Development Agreement ” means that certain Joint Development Agreement dated as of June 1, 2010, among one or more of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries, the Marcellus JV Partner, the Marcellus Holding Companies and the Marcellus JV Operator with respect to the Marcellus Joint Venture.

Marcellus Joint Venture ” means that certain joint venture arrangement between the Issuer and one or more of its Subsidiaries and an unrelated third party (the “ Marcellus JV Partner ”) and one or more of its Subsidiaries to develop and operate the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets.

Marcellus JV Closing Date ” means June 1, 2010.

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

Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Subject Oil and Gas Assets” in the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement as in effect on the Marcellus JV Closing Date and as amended or restated thereafter.

Marcellus JV Operator ” means the operator of the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets located in the Appalachian Area.

Marcellus JV Partner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Marcellus Joint Venture”.

 

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

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

Marcellus Midstream Owner ” means the direct or indirect owner of the Marcellus Midstream Assets.

Marcellus Operator LLC Agreement ” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Marcellus JV Operator dated as of June 1, 2010.

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

Marcellus Transfer Agreement ” means that certain Membership Interest Transfer Agreement dated as of June 1, 2010, among the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the Marcellus JV Partner pursuant to which the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries transfers to the Marcellus JV Partner (a) 100% of the Equity Interests of the Marcellus Holding Companies and (b) 50% of the Equity Interests of each of the Marcellus JV Operator and the Marcellus Midstream Owner.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the assets or properties, financial condition, businesses or operations of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Issuer or any Guarantor to carry out its business as of the date of this Indenture or as proposed at the date of this Indenture to be conducted, (c) the ability of the Issuer or any Guarantor to perform fully and on a timely basis its respective obligations under any of the Note Documents to which it is a party, or (d) the validity or enforceability of any of the Note Documents or the rights and remedies of the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee or the Holders under this Indenture and the other Note Documents.

Material Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer that owns or holds, directly or indirectly, assets, properties or interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) with an aggregate fair market value, on a consolidated basis, greater than five percent (5%) of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets, properties and interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; provided that if the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets, properties and interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) of all Domestic Subsidiaries that would not constitute Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds 5% of the

 

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aggregate fair market value of all of the assets, properties and interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, then one or more of such excluded Domestic Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Indenture be deemed to be Material Domestic Subsidiaries in descending order based on the aggregate fair market value of their assets, properties or interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) until such excess has been eliminated.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness under the First Lien RBL Documents, the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the Existing Unsecured Notes (and, in each case, any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) and any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Issuer or any one or more of the Restricted Subsidiaries that in each case is in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor in respect of any Hedging Obligations at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Issuer or such Guarantor would be required to pay if the agreements with respect to such Hedging Obligations were terminated at such time.

Material Sales Contract ” means, as of any date of determination, any agreement for the sale of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties to which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party if the aggregate volume of Hydrocarbons sold pursuant to such agreement during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding such date equals or exceeds ten percent (10%) of the aggregate volume of Hydrocarbons sold by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, from the Oil and Gas Properties during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding such date.

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

Mortgaged Properties ” means the Oil and Gas Properties described in one or more duly executed, delivered and filed Mortgages evidencing a Lien prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent) in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and subject only to the Liens permitted pursuant to Section  4.12 .

Mortgages ” means all mortgages, deeds of trust, amendments to mortgages, security agreements, assignments of production, pledge agreements, collateral mortgages, collateral chattel mortgages, collateral assignments, financing statements and other documents, instruments and agreements evidencing, creating, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens required by Section  4.24 .

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

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

Net Cash Proceeds ” means:

(a)    with respect to any issuance, Incurrence or Disposition of Capital Stock or Indebtedness, the cash proceeds of such issuance Incurrence or Disposition net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance, Incurrence or Disposition and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; and

 

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

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

(2)    all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale, 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 Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale;

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

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

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

provided that, with respect to proceeds of any Asset Sale that are not applied or invested as provided in Section  4.10 , no such unapplied or uninvested proceeds shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds until the aggregate amount of all such unapplied or uninvested proceeds shall exceed $20,000,000, and then all of such unapplied or uninvested proceeds shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds.

Net Working Capital ” means (a) all current assets of the Issuer and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries excluding current assets under any Commodity Agreements less (b) all current liabilities of the Issuer and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries, excluding (1) the current liabilities included in Indebtedness and (ii) any current liabilities under any Commodity Agreements, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor.

 

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Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

(a)    as to which neither the Issuer nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (2) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor, surety or otherwise or (3) constitutes a lender;

(b)    as to which the lenders thereof will not have any recourse to the Equity Interests or Property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (to the extent such Unrestricted Subsidiary is the borrower or guarantor of such Non-Recourse Debt)); and

(c)    no default or event of default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default or event of default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to any scheduled principal payment, scheduled sinking fund payment or stated maturity.

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

(a)    the holders of such Indebtedness agree that they will look solely to the fixed assets so acquired which secure such Indebtedness, and neither the Issuer nor any Restricted Subsidiary (1) is directly or indirectly liable for such Indebtedness (whether as a guarantor, surety or otherwise) or (2) provides credit support, including any undertaking, Guarantee, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness (other than the grant of a Lien on such acquired fixed assets); and

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

Note Documents ” means this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Instruments, the Purchase Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Issuer or any Guarantor to, or in favor of, the Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Notes ” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Notes authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. The Initial Notes and any PIK Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any PIK Notes.

NYMEX ” means the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

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NYMEX Prices ” means, as of any date of determination, the forward month prices for the most comparable hydrocarbon commodity applicable to such future production month for a sixty (60) month period (or such shorter period if forward month prices are not quoted for a reasonably comparable hydrocarbon commodity for the full sixty (60) month period), with such prices increased by five percent (5%) of the last quoted forward month price of such period for the sixty first (61st) month and then held constant thereafter, as such prices are (a) quoted on the NYMEX (or its successor) calculated as of a date not more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of determination (the “ calculation date ”) and (b) adjusted for energy content, quality and basis differentials; provided that with respect to estimated future production for which prices are defined, within the meaning of SEC guidelines, by contractual arrangements excluding escalations based upon future conditions, then such contract prices shall be applied to future production subject to such arrangements.

Obligations ” means any and all obligations of every nature, contingent or otherwise, whether now existing or hereafter arising, of the Issuer or any Guarantor from time to time owed under any Note Document, whether for principal, interest, funding indemnification amounts, fees, premium, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, agents and advisors), indemnification or otherwise.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Issuer or any other Person, as the case may be.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by any two Officers of the Issuer, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

OID Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture.

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

(a)    the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, operation and disposition of interests in Hydrocarbons;

(b)    the gathering, marketing, distribution, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and the marketing of Hydrocarbons obtained from unrelated Persons;

(c)    any business relating to or arising from exploration for or exploitation, development, production, treatment, processing, storage, refining, transportation, gathering or marketing of Hydrocarbons and products produced in association therewith;

(d)    any other related energy business, including power generation and electrical transmission business where fuel required by such business is supplied, directly or indirectly, from Hydrocarbons produced substantially from properties in which the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, participate;

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

 

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(f)    any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the preceding clauses (a)  through (e) of this definition.

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

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

Organizational Documents ” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as amended, and (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its certificate of formation or articles of organization, as amended, and its limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, as amended.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $50,000,000 ( less the aggregate principal amount outstanding pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(7) to the extent constituting Refinancing Indebtedness of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness) (the foregoing cap, the “ Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness Dollar Cap ”) any time and solely to the extent such Indebtedness was Indebtedness of:

(a)    an acquired Person Incurred prior to the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of having been acquired and not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, or

(b)    a Person that was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and was not Incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation.

 

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provided on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, if, after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio either (x) equals or exceeds 2.25 to 1.00 or (y) is greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such transaction.

Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments and expenditures in respect of Unproved Reserves made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business as means of actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including:

(a)    ownership interests in Oil and Gas Properties or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems; and

(b)    entry into, and Investments and expenditures in the form of or pursuant to, operating agreements, joint venture agreements (including, without limitation, those relating to the Marcellus Midstream Owner), partnership agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, Farm-In Agreements, Farm-Out Agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of Hydrocarbons, production sharing agreements, development agreements (including without limitation the BG Joint Development Agreement and the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement), area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts and other similar agreements with third parties (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries), excluding, however, Investments in any corporation or publicly traded partnership or limited liability company.

Permitted Investment ” means:

(a)    Investments by (i) the Issuer in any Guarantor, by any Guarantor in another Guarantor, by any Guarantor in the Issuer or by the Issuer or any Guarantor in a Person that will, together with all of such Person’s Subsidiaries, upon the making of such Investment, become a Guarantor (other than any of such Person’s Subsidiaries that are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this Indenture), (ii) by a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary in another Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) by a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary in the Issuer or any Guarantor, and (iv) by the Issuer or any Guarantor in a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount, together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (a)(iv) since the Issue Date, not in excess of $25,000,000; provided , that to the extent constituting Indebtedness, any such Investment under this clause (a)  shall be made in accordance with Section 4.09(b)(4) ;

(b)    Investments in another Person (1) 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 Issuer or any Guarantor (and so long as (A) the Issuer or such Guarantor is the survivor of any such merger or consolidation and (B) in connection with any such Investment all of such Person’s Subsidiaries, upon the making of such Investment, will become a Guarantor (other than any of such Person’s Subsidiaries that are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this Indenture)) or (2) for consideration consisting solely of Capital Stock of the Issuer; provided , that, in both cases, such Person’s primary business is a Related Business and provided, further, the aggregate amount of all such Investments shall not exceed $25,000,000 during the term of the Notes;

 

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(c)    Investments in cash and Temporary Cash Investments;

(d)    receivables owing to the Issuer 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 Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

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

(f)    loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary but in any event not to exceed $2,500,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

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

(h)    Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for (1) an Asset Sale as permitted pursuant to Section  4.10 or (2) a disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(i)    Investments in any Person where such Investment was acquired by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (1) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer 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 (2) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

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

(k)    Investments in any Person to the extent such Investments consist of Hedging Obligations otherwise permitted under Section  4.09 ;

(l)    Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment (1) exists on the Issue Date or (2) is an extension, modification or renewal of any such Investments described under the immediately preceding clause (1)  but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments of cash or other assets or other increases thereof (other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such Investment as in effect on the Issue Date);

(m)    Permitted Business Investments;

(n)    Guarantees issued in accordance with Sections 4.09 and 4.15 ;

 

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(o)    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;

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

(q)    other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (q)  since the Issue Date, do not exceed $50,000,000.

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

Permitted Investors ” means (a) ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c) any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants, (d) Fairfax, (e) any Holder or lender under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement and (f) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) and (e)  of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Issuer that is owned by such group.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(a)    Senior Priority Liens securing Senior Priority Lien Debt (i) under Credit Facilities Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(1) and Senior Priority Liens securing Cash Management Obligations constituting Senior Priority Lien Obligations, in each case to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding (when added to the amount of all other outstanding Senior Priority Lien Obligations) not exceeding the Senior Priority Lien Cap and (ii) under Hedging Obligations constituting Senior Priority Lien Debt;

(b)    Liens securing the Notes and any PIK Notes in respect thereof and the Guarantees thereof and (y) to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, Priority Liens securing other Priority Lien Debt Incurred under Section 4.09.(b)(i)(2) ;

(c)    Junior Priority Liens securing the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement and any increase in the principal amount as a result of a PIK payment in respect thereof and to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Priority Liens securing other Junior Priority Debt Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(3)(x) and (y)  Junior Liens securing the Second Lien Credit Agreement and to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Liens securing other Junior Debt Incurred, in each case, under Section 4.09(b)(3)(y) or (z) ;

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

 

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(e)    Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review and Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided, however, that (1) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Issuer in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (2) such deposit account is not intended by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

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

(g)    Liens in favor of issuers of performance, bid or surety bonds, completion guarantees or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however, that such performance, bid or surety bonds, completion guarantees or letters of credit do not constitute, or secure, any Indebtedness in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 (in addition to and not in limitation of any letters of credit which may be issued pursuant to Credit Facilities permitted under clause (a) above);

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

(i)    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 of any other property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether at the time the Lien is Incurred or otherwise) (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto), and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon) secured by the Lien may not be Incurred more than one-hundred eighty (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; provided, further, that after giving effect to the Incurrence of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

(j)    Liens securing Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness granted in connection with the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business of fixed assets used in the Oil and Gas Business (including the office buildings and other real property used by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in conducting its operations); provided that (1) such Liens attach only to the fixed assets acquired with the proceeds of such Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness and (2) such Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness is not in excess of the purchase price of such fixed assets; provided, further, that after giving effect to the Incurrence of the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

 

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(k)    Liens existing on the Issue Date other than as described under clause (a), (b) and (c) of this definition;

(l)    Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of another Person at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of such Person (and not incurred in anticipation of or in connection with such transaction); provided, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto); provided, further, that at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

(m)    Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person (and not Incurred in anticipation of or in connection with such transaction); provided, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any other property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto; provided, further, that at the time of such acquisition, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

(n)    (x) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor owing to the Issuer or any Guarantor (provided that such Liens and Indebtedness and other obligations are subject to a subordinated intercompany note), (y) Liens on the property of any Subsidiary of the Issuer securing Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary of the Issuer owing to the Issuer or any Guarantor of the Issuer (provided that such Liens and Indebtedness and other obligations are subject to a subordinated intercompany note) and (z) Liens on the property of any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor owing to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(o)    Liens on, or related to, assets to secure all or part of the costs (not constituting Indebtedness for borrowed money) Incurred in the ordinary course of a Related Business for the surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair, improvement, processing, transportation, marketing, storage or operation thereof;

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

(q)    Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbon and mineral leases, Farm-Out Agreements or Farm-In Agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil or natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, master limited partnership agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, re-pressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas

 

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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; provided , further , that such Liens do not secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $5,000,000 at any time outstanding);

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

(s)    Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clause (i), (k), (l) or (m); provided, however, that (1) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to such property or proceeds or distributions thereof) and (2) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clause (i), (k), (l) or (m) above at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such Refinancing.

(t)    judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 5.01(i) (but excluding judgments in respect of debt for borrowed money);

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

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

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

(x)    preferential rights to purchase, and provisions requiring a third party’s consent prior to assignment and similar restraints on alienation, in each case, granted pursuant to an oil and gas operating agreement and arising in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties; provided such right, requirement or restraint does not materially affect the value of such Oil and Gas Properties;

provided that in each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include Liens on all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and all products and proceeds thereof; provided , further , that for purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

Permitted Marketing Obligations ” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary under letter of credit or borrowed money obligations or, in lieu of or in addition to such letters of credit or borrowed money, Guarantees of such Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary by any other Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, related to the purchase by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Hydrocarbons for which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary has contracts to

 

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sell; provided , however , that in the event that such Indebtedness or obligations are guaranteed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, then either: (a) the Person with which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary has contracts to sell has an Investment Grade Rating or, in lieu thereof, a Person guaranteeing the payment of such obligated Person has an Investment Grade Rating or (b) such Person posts, or has posted for it, a letter of credit (issued by a Person that has an Investment Grade Rating and is not an Affiliate of the Issuer) in favor of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to all such Person’s obligations to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary under such contracts.

Permitted Prior Liens ” means Liens Incurred pursuant to clauses (d) , (e) , (f) , (g) , (h) , (j), (p) and (q)  of the definition of “Permitted Liens”.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which any the Issuer, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Pledge Agreement ” means a Pledge and Security Agreement in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the other holders of Priority Lien Obligations covering, among other things, the rights and interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Equity Interest of each Restricted Subsidiary and of each Affiliate that is an operator of any Oil and Gas Properties (other than the Equity Interests of the Issuer).

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.

Priority Lien means a Lien junior in priority to the Senior Priority Liens and senior in priority to the Junior Priority Liens and Junior Liens granted by the Issuer or any Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Priority Lien Document at any time, upon any Property of the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Replacement Credit Facility).

Priority Lien Debt ” means (a) the Notes and other Obligations; and (b) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries) of the Issuer or any Guarantor permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(2) (including Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Priority Lien Debt with other Priority Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) that is secured equally and ratably with the Obligations by a Priority Lien and that is permitted to be Incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (b)  of this definition:

(1)    (i) such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations on or prior to ninety-one (91) days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Priority Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

 

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(2)    on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Issuer or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Issuer in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt,” and such Officers’ Certificate also certifies that such Indebtedness is permitted and with respect to any other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3)    a Priority Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers an Additional Secured Debt Designation on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness;

(4)    all relevant filings and recordations necessary to ensure that such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Security Documents are authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded in each appropriate jurisdiction ( provided that this clause (4)  may be satisfied on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Priority Lien Representative with respect to such Indebtedness); and

(5)    requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (5)  will be conclusively established if the Issuer delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”);

provided that all such Indebtedness (other than any DIP Financing that is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) shall be pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, but the principal amount of Indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment. Any such Indebtedness (other than any such DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing condition for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the Notes under the Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Priority Lien Debt.

Priority Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Note Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Priority Lien Debt and the Priority Lien Security Documents (other than any Priority Lien Security Documents that do not secure Priority Lien Obligations).

Priority Lien Obligations ” means Priority Lien Debt and all other principal (including reimbursement obligations), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof.

Priority Lien Representative ” means (a) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee and (b) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who (1) is appointed as a Priority Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Priority Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (2) has become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement by executing and delivering an Additional Secured Debt Designation.

 

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Priority Lien Security Documents means the Intercreditor Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Issuer or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Priority Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms.

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

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

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Proved Reserves ” means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved (in accordance with SEC rules and regulations) in the Reserve Report most recently delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section  4.03 .

PV-10 ” means, as of any date of determination, the present value of future cash flows from the Proved Reserves and Unproved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties, as set forth in the most recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section  4.23 or a more a recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report, utilizing a 10% discount rate and using NYMEX Prices.

QIB ” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Rating Agency ” means each of S&P and Moody’s or if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the applicable obligations publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer (as certified by a resolution of the Governing Body of the Issuer) which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

RBL Agent ” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

Record Date ” for the interest, if any, payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means February 20 or August 20 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

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

Refinancing Indebtedness ” means (a) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or (c) Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, which, in each case, serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance,

 

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renew or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, including Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as:

(1)    the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness, the amount of such new Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed (i) the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid PIK or cash interest on, the Indebtedness, the amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Preferred Stock, or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the “ Applicable Refinanced Debt ”), plus (ii) an amount equal to the sum of (A) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Applicable Refinanced Debt and (B) any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such Applicable Refinanced Debt;

(2)    such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased;

(3)    such Refinancing Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (A) the final scheduled maturity date of the Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased and (B) the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the latest Stated Maturity date of the Notes;

(4)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (a) Subordinated Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the obligations at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased, (b) the Existing Unsecured Notes, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall, if secured, constitute Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (subject, in each case to the Intercreditor Agreement) or, if initially unsecured, shall be unsecured at all times and, in each case, no Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than a Guarantor) shall, directly or indirectly, be an obligor (whether a borrower or otherwise), guarantor or surety under, or for, such Refinancing Indebtedness and shall not provide any Guarantee of any such Refinancing Indebtedness or (c) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and

(5)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases the Existing Unsecured Notes, Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, the covenants (affirmative and negative), default and event of default provisions, interest rate (including interest rate floor and default rate), repayment, prepayment, repurchase and/or sinking fund provisions, reporting provisions, and other material provisions of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be no more favorable to the creditors thereunder, or more burdensome to the debtors or guarantors thereunder, than the correlative and/or corresponding provisions under the Note Documents ( provided , further , that, in all events, for the avoidance of doubt, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not contain any financial maintenance covenants not otherwise contained in the Indebtedness being refinanced).

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:

(1)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer;

(2)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

(3)    Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

In addition, with respect to any Refinancing Indebtedness of Refinancing Indebtedness, all limitations, restrictions, qualifying criteria and other standards set forth in this definition shall equally apply.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the registration rights agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer and the holders of the Issuer’s common stock.

Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

Replacement Credit Facility ” means any Credit Facility that refunds, refinances or replaces the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or any other Replacement Credit Facility, in each case, in whole and with all commitments thereunder terminated; provided that (i) the terms and conditions of, and documentation for, any such Credit Facility are reasonably satisfactory to the Requisite Lead Holders, (ii) the total yield, covenants and defaults and events of default specified in such Credit Facility are the same in all material respects as the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, (iii) such Credit Facility does not provide for the incurrence of incremental facilities or incremental indebtedness (or incremental equivalent facilities or indebtedness) (or analogous extensions of credit), (iv) such Credit Facility contains no prepayment penalties or premiums (other than customary breakage for LIBOR interest periods) or contain any make-whole, or any other provision similar to the foregoing in this clause (iv) and (v) such Credit Facility does not change the waterfall provisions or similar order of payment provisions from those provisions set forth in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or create or otherwise establish layers of Indebtedness or other subordinated tranches (or sub-tranches) of Indebtedness.

Requisite Lead Holders ” means on any date of determination, with respect to only those Lead Holders who, respectively, are Holders, such Lead Holders which constitute at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes held by all such Lead Holders on such date of determination.

Requisite Shareholder Approvals ” means the Issuer’s receipt of the requisite votes or consents of the holders of its shares of Common Stock, (1) to the issuances of Common Stock represented by the Warrants, the PIK Shares and the PIK payments under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement for purposes of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE Approval ”) to the extent the Common Stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange and such approval is required for the issuances of the Warrants, the PIK Shares and the PIK payments under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement and (2) with

 

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respect to the amendment of the Issuer’s existing charter to (a) increase its authorized Common Stock or (b) effect a reverse stock split, in each case under applicable Texas law (the “ Charter Amendment Approval ”); provided , that the Issuer may waive, in its sole discretion, the Charter Amendment Approval.

Requisite Shareholder Approval Deadline ” means September 30, 2017; provided that if the proxy statement relating to the special meeting of the shareholders called for purposes of obtaining the Requisite Shareholder Approvals is selected for review by the SEC, the Requisite Shareholder Approval Deadline shall mean November 30, 2017.

Resale Registration Statement ” mean a registration statement filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act on Form S-3 under the Securities Act (or in the event that the Issuer is ineligible to use such form, such other form as the Issuer is eligible to use under the Securities Act provided that such other form shall be converted into a Form S-3 promptly after Form S-3 becomes available to the Issuer) covering resales by the Holders as selling shareholders (not underwriters) of any PIK Shares received as payment of interest on the Notes.

Reserve Report ” means a report setting forth, as of the end of the Issuer’s most recent fiscal year, the Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions consistent with SEC reporting requirements at the time.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer or a Guarantor shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable.

Restricted Definitive Note ” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Payment ” means:

(a)    the declaration or payment of any dividends or any other distributions of any sort in respect of the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (other than (1) dividends made or distributions payable solely in the Issuer’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), (2) dividends made or distributions payable solely to the Issuer or (to the extent made to all equity-holders on a pro rata basis) a Restricted Subsidiary and (3) pro rata dividends or other distributions made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the holders of its common Equity Interests on a pro rata basis);

(b)    the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interest of (1) the Issuer or (2) a Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Issuer (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary), including in connection with any merger or consolidation and including the exercise of any option to exchange any Equity Interest (other than into Equity Interests of the Issuer that are not Disqualified Stock);

 

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(c)    the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any Existing Unsecured Notes, Junior Priority Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Senior Debt (other than, except with respect to the Existing Unsecured Notes (1) from the Issuer or a Guarantor or (2) in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or payment due at final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition); or

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

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

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 903 ” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904 ” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to Property owned by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such Property to a Person and the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

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

Second Lien Credit Agreement ” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015 among the Issuer, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, as the same was amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced on or prior to the Issue Date and as may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Issue Date in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that any increase in the principal amount of the Loans or Letters of Credit (each as defined in the each of the Second Lien Credit Agreement) together with any other borrowings or other extensions of credit thereunder is permitted solely under Section 4.09(b)(3) .

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

Secured Indebtedness ” means, as of any date, any Indebtedness for borrowed money secured as (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured as) Senior Priority Lien Debt or Priority Lien Debt (or any Replacement Credit Facility) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by a Lien which is not expressly subordinated to the Notes and the obligations in respect of the Senior Priority Lien Debt.

 

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Secured Party ” means the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee, any Holder and any other holder of Obligations.

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

Security Agreement ” means a Security Agreement in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the other holders of Priority Lien Obligations covering, among other things, the rights and interests of Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the property of such Restricted Subsidiary.

Security Instruments ” means collectively, the Collateral Trust Agreement, all Collateral Trust Joinder Agreements, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Deposit Account Control Agreements, all Guarantees of the Obligations evidenced by the Note Documents and all mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments and other collateral documents covering the Oil and Gas Properties of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Equity Interests of the Restricted Subsidiaries and other personal property, equipment, oil and gas inventory and proceeds of the foregoing.

Senior Debt ” means unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is Incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and all Obligations with respect to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

(a)    any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates; or

(b)    any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries.

Senior Priority Lien means a Lien granted by the Issuer or any Guarantor in favor of the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent at any time, upon any Property of the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Senior Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Replacement Credit Facility).

Senior Priority Lien Cap ” means $200,000,000.

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

Senior Priority Lien Debt ” means (1) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement (including letters of credit (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) or any Replacement Credit Facility, in each case, that is subject to the Intercreditor

 

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Agreement and permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(1) and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided , in the case of Indebtedness under any Replacement Credit Facility, that:

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

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

(c)    the aggregate outstanding amount of the Senior Priority Lien Obligations, after giving effect to such Replacement Credit Facility, shall not exceed the Senior Priority Lien Cap; and

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

(2)    Cash Management Obligations permitted to be secured by Priority Liens pursuant to clause (a)  of the definition of “Permitted Liens;” and

(3)    Hedging Obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to the extent that Eligible Holders representing a majority of the principal amount of Notes held by such Eligible Holders have provided their prior written consent to the Issuer’s program pursuant to which such Hedging Obligations were incurred and subject to any limitations (including in amount) contained therein.

For purposes of this definition, all letters of credit will be valued at the face amount thereof, whether or not drawn.

Senior Priority Lien Documents ” means the First Lien RBL Documents, the Replacement Credit Facility and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Replacement Credit Facility.

Senior Priority Lien Obligations ” means (a) the “Obligations” as defined in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and (b) all other Senior Priority Lien Debt and principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof, including any make-whole payments, together with any Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Obligations, in each case, to the extent that such obligations are secured by Senior Priority Liens. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations shall only constitute Senior Priority Lien Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations are secured under the terms of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and the security documents creating Senior Priority Liens. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Senior Priority Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees and costs

 

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incurred under any Senior Priority Lien Document, whether incurred before or after commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, and whether or not allowable in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding. To the extent that any payment with respect to the Senior Priority Lien Obligations (whether by or on behalf of any Guarantor, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

Senior Priority Lien Representative ” means (a) the RBL Agent or (b) in the case of any Replacement Credit Facility, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Senior Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Senior Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Senior Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents related to such Senior Priority Lien Debt) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Senior Priority Lien Debt.

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

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

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

Series of Secured Debt ” means the Senior Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each series of Junior Priority Lien Debt and each Series of Junior Lien Debt.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

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).

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the other Obligations and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantor’s guarantee of the Note and other Obligations under the Note Documents.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date,

 

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otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a “Subsidiary” refer to a Subsidiary of the Issuer.

Swap Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that in no event shall any (a) phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) near term spot market purchase and sale of a commodity in the ordinary course of business based on a price determined by a rate quoted on an organized exchange for actual physical delivery, be a Swap Agreement.

Temporary Cash Investments ” means any of the following:

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

(b)    investments in demand and time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 270 days after the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated “A” (or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

(c)    investments in deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank that is organized under the laws of any country in which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an office or is engaged in the Oil and Gas Business; provided , however , that (1) all such deposits have been made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business and (2) such deposits do not at any one time exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

(d)    repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a)  above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b)  above;

(e)    investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than ninety (90) days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P;

(f)    investments in securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A” by S&P or “A” by Moody’s; and

 

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(g)    investments in money market funds that invest 95% or more of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a)  through (f) above.

Trading Day ” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or other exchange or the over-the-counter-market if the Common Stock is not then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is open for trading.

Transactions ” means (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer and the Guarantors of this Indenture and the Note Documents and the issuance of the Notes thereunder and the use of proceeds thereof, (ii) the amendment of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, the execution of the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, the amendment of the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the settlement of certain amounts outstanding under the Second Lien Credit Agreement with the proceeds of the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, each, as in effect on the Issue Date and (iii) the grant of Liens by the Issuer and the Guarantors on the Mortgaged Properties and the other Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to March 20, 2018; provided , however , that if the period from the Redemption Date to March 20, 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Trust Officer ” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee with direct responsibility for performing the Trustee’s duties under this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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

Unproved Reserves ” means probable reserves and/or possible reserves as defined in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X.

Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents ” means, as of any date of determination, that portion of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ aggregate cash and Cash Equivalents that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer, (y) is maintained with a depositary bank in the United States and is subject to perfected Lien in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and (z) that is not encumbered by or subject to any Lien (including, without limitation, any Lien permitted hereunder, other than (a) Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee securing Junior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt and Senior Priority Lien Debt, (b) Liens securing Junior Lien Debt and (c) bankers’ liens), setoff (other than ordinary course setoff rights of a depository bank arising under a bank depository agreement for customary fees, charges and other account-related expenses due to such depository bank thereunder), counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right in favor of any Person.

 

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Unrestricted Definitive Note ” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in the manner provided below, (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) EBG Resources and any of its Subsidiaries, (d) Bonchasse Land Company, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company and any of its Subsidiaries, (e) the Marcellus JV Operator and any of its Subsidiaries (f) the Marcellus Midstream Owner and any of its Subsidiaries, and (g) PCMWL, LLC, Moran Minerals, LLC and Moran Land Company, LLC. The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries at the time of such designation or at any time thereafter (i) is a Material Domestic Subsidiary or owns, directly or indirectly, a Material Domestic Subsidiary, (ii) owns Oil and Gas Properties or owns, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary that owns Oil and Gas Properties or (iii) guarantees, or is a primary obligor of, any indebtedness, liabilities or other obligations under any Senior Debt (including the Existing Unsecured Notes), Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any of the foregoing) or owns, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary that provides such a guarantee, or is such a primary obligor.

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

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.

Warrant Agreement ” means that certain agreement with respect to the Warrants dated as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

Warrants ” means those warrants issued to the Holders as of the Issue Date to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (1) the amount of each then remaining scheduled installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payments of principal, including payment at final scheduled maturity, in respect thereof by (2) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that the effects of any prepayments made on such Indebtedness shall be disregarded in making such calculation.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary, all the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Issuer or one or more other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

 

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Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Section 1.02.     Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in
Section
Affiliate Transaction    4.11(a)(1)
Application Period    4.10(b)
Asset Sale Offer    4.10(b)(2)
Authentication Order    2.02
Cash Interest    2.01(c)(i)
Cash Interest Rate    2.01(c)(iv)
Change of Control Offer    4.14(a)
Change of Control Payment    4.14(a)
Change of Control Payment Date    4.14(a)(2)
Confirmation Notice    2.13(d)
Covenant Defeasance    7.03
Event of Default    5.01
Issuer Transfer    2.13(b)
Legal Defeasance    7.02
Minimum Mortgaged Value    4.24(d)
Note Register    2.03
Notice Period    2.13(d)
Offer Amount    3.09(b)
Offered Notes    2.13(c)
Offered Price    2.13(c)
Offer Period    3.09(b)
Paying Agent    2.03
Permitted Indebtedness    4.09(b)
PIK Note Payments    2.01(c)(ii)
PIK Notes    2.01(b)
PIK Interest    2.01(b)
PIK Interest Rate    2.01(c)(v)
PIK Share Payments    2.01(c)(ii)
PIK Shares    2.01(b)
Proposed Transferee    2.13(c)
Purchase Date    3.09(b)
Redemption Date    3.07(a)
Registrar    2.03
Related Proceedings    12.15
Right of First Refusal    2.13(b)
replacement assets    4.10(b)(1)
Specified Courts    12.15
Tag-Along Holders    2.13(f)
Tag-Along Rights    2.13(b)
Transfer    2.13(a)
Transfer Notice    2.13(c)
Transferor    2.13(b)
Unexercised Notes    2.13(g)

 

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Section 1.03.     Rules of Construction .

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c)    “or” is not exclusive;

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

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

(f)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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

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

(j)    the words “asset” and “property” or “Property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights;

(k)    any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time;

(l)    this Indenture shall not be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the rules and regulation promulgated thereunder, including any requirements to deliver annual opinions with respect to perfection of security interests or opinions with respect to release of Collateral in accordance with this Indenture, the Collateral Trust Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement;

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

 

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

(o)    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;

(p)    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

(q)    all references to the date the Notes were originally issued or the date of this Indenture shall refer to the Issue Date.

Section 1.04.     Acts of Holders .

(a)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section  6.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section  1.04 .

(b)    The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c)    The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

(d)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

(e)    The Issuer may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of

 

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any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of thirty (30) days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f)    Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01.     Form and Dating; Terms .

(a)     General . The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes will only be issued as Definitive Notes. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof).

(b)     Terms . The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $300,000,000.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

If the Issuer is permitted to pay PIK Interest in respect of the Notes (upon the terms and conditions set forth in clause (c)  below), and the Issuer elects to pay such PIK Interest through the issuance of Notes, the Issuer will issue new Notes (the “ PIK Notes ”). The Initial Notes and any PIK Notes shall be substantially identical other than the issuance dates, offering price, minimum denominations, transfer restrictions and, if applicable, the date from which interest shall accrue. The payment of interest on the Notes through PIK Note Payments or through the issuance of Common Stock (the “ PIK Shares ”) is herein referred to as “ PIK Interest .”

The Initial Notes and any PIK Notes will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

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(c)     Payment and Computation of Interest .

(i)     Cash Interest Payments . Except as provided in this Section 2.01(c) , interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Notes shall be payable entirely in cash (such interest, “ Cash Interest ”) on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(ii)     PIK Interest Payments . Subject to the restrictions in clause (iii)  below, the Issuer may elect, at its option, to pay all or a portion of the interest due on the Notes on the applicable Interest Payment Date by (1) issuing PIK Shares to the Holders (such payments, “ PIK Share Payments ”) or (2) issuing PIK Notes (such payments, “ PIK Note Payments ”) and, in each case, notifying the Trustee of such election pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(viii). The Issuer’s ability to elect to pay PIK Interest as PIK Share Payments is subject to the following conditions: (A) the Issuer shall have received the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, (B) the PIK Share Payment shall not result in a beneficial owner of the Notes, such beneficial owner’s Affiliates and any person subject to aggregation with such beneficial owner or its Affiliates under Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), beneficially owning (as defined in Rules 13d-3 or 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause (B) such holder shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent entities (or their successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets), (C) the number of PIK Shares to be issued shall not be in excess of the authorized amount of Common Stock available under the Issuer’s charter therefor, (D) the PIK Shares shall be (x) listed on the New York Stock Exchange or any other exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or the over the counter market and (y) duly authorized, validly issued and non-assessable, and the issuance of such PIK Shares shall not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights and (E) the Issuer’s Resale Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC subject to the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement. If the foregoing conditions are not met and the Issuer otherwise has the ability to elect to pay PIK Interest, the Issuer may pay such PIK Interest as PIK Note Payments.

(iii)    For any Interest Payment Date on or prior to December 31, 2018, the Issuer shall be permitted to pay PIK Interest in its sole discretion. For any Interest Payment Date after December 31, 2018, if the Liquidity for such Interest Period shall:

(1)    equal or exceed $225.0 million, then the Issuer must pay Cash Interest on 100% of the principal amount of Notes outstanding, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate, and no PIK Interest may be paid;

(2)    equal or exceed $200.0 million but be less than $225.0 million, then the Issuer may, at its option, elect to pay interest on (x) 25% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes as PIK Interest, payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate, and (y) 75% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate;

(3)    equal or exceed $175.0 million but be less than $200.0 million, then the Issuer may, at its option, elect to pay interest on (x) 50% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes as PIK Interest, payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate, and (y) 50% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate;

 

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(4)    equal or exceed $150.0 million but be less than $175.0 million, then the Issuer may, at its option, elect to pay interest on (x) 75% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes as PIK Interest, payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate, and (y) 25% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate; or

(5)    be less than $150.0 million, then the Issuer shall be permitted to pay PIK Interest on 100% of the principal amount of Notes outstanding, payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate.

(iv)     Cash Interest Rate . Cash Interest on the Notes shall accrue at a rate of 8.0% per annum and be payable in cash; provided that if the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are not obtained on or prior to the Requisite Shareholder Approval Deadline, Cash Interest on the Notes shall accrue at a rate of 15.0% per annum and be payable in cash; provided further that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the rate at which Cash Interest on the Notes accrues shall increase by an additional 2.0% per annum (the “ Cash Interest Rate ”). In the event the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are not obtained on or prior to the Requisite Shareholder Approval Deadline, the Issuer shall promptly provide written notice of such event to the Trustee and the Paying Agent.

(v)     PIK Interest Rate . Any PIK Interest on the Notes shall accrue at a rate of 11.0% per annum; provided that if the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are not obtained on or prior to the Requisite Shareholder Approval Deadline, PIK Interest on the Notes shall accrue at a rate of 20.0% per annum; provided further that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the rate at which PIK Interest on the Notes accrues shall increase by an additional 2.0% per annum (the “ PIK Interest Rate ”). In the event the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are not obtained on or prior to the Requisite Shareholder Approval Deadline, the Issuer shall promptly provide written notice of such event to the Trustee and the Paying Agent.

(vi)     Payment of PIK Interest .

(1)    PIK Interest shall be payable in PIK Shares in an amount calculated by the Issuer by dividing the outstanding balance of the accrued PIK Interest after giving effect to any interest to be paid in Cash Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Notes by the 20-day volume weighted average price per share of the Issuer’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or the over-the-counter market or other exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed) calculated as at the end of the three Trading Days prior to the Determination Date, rounded up to the nearest share of Common Stock. With respect to any PIK Share Payments, the Issuer shall deliver such PIK Shares in payment of PIK Interest to the Holders on the relevant Interest Payment Date. On the relevant Interest Payment Date, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the issuance of PIK Shares as payment of all or a portion of PIK Interest on such Interest Payment Date has been made in accordance with the Indenture and Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee with respect to such Interest Payment Date pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(viii) .

 

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(2)    PIK Note Payments shall be effected by issuing PIK Notes in certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the percentage of PIK Interest to be paid on the principal amount of Notes held by each Holder on the relevant Record Date, after giving effect to any interest to be paid in Cash Interest, less any PIK Share Payment to be made on such Interest Payment Date (rounded up to the nearest $1.00), and the Trustee will, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes on the Interest Payment Date in certificated form for original issuance to the Holders of record on the relevant Record Date, as shown in the Note Register.

(3)    Any PIK Notes will be dated as of the applicable Interest Payment Date and will bear interest from and after such date. All Notes issued pursuant to a PIK Note Payment will mature on March 20, 2022 and will be governed by, and subject to, the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture and shall have the same rights and benefits as the Initial Notes. Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes as a result of a PIK Note Payment, the Notes shall accrue interest on such increased principal amount from and after the related Interest Payment Date on which such PIK Notes were issued.

(4)    PIK Share Payments shall be made by the Issuer to the respective Holders and certified to the Trustee in accordance with Sections 2.01(c)(vi)(1).

(5)    In the event that the Issuer is permitted to and elects to pay a portion of the interest on the Notes as Cash Interest and a portion as PIK Interest, such Cash Interest and PIK Interest shall be paid to Holders pro rata in accordance with their interests; provided that if the Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that any PIK Share Payment would cause the condition in clause (c)(ii)(B) above to not be met, then the Issuer may elect, upon the prior written consent of the Eligible Holders representing a majority of the principal amount of Notes held by such Eligible Holders, to issue the maximum PIK Share Payments to the Holders of Notes (which need not be on a pro rata basis) such that the condition in clause (c)(ii)(B) would continue to be satisfied following the issuance of such PIK Shares and any remaining interest due after giving effect to such election shall be paid by the Issuer in PIK Notes. The Issuer shall provide the Trustee and the Holders with notice of any election pursuant to this Section 2.01(c)(vi)(5) at least five (5) Business Days’ prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Issuer shall not make PIK Payments on the Notes if any cash interest is paid pursuant to the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement; provided , however , that the Issuer will be permitted to pay Cash Interest under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement solely to the extent any payment of interest in shares of Common Stock under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement would cause the condition in the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement analogous to the condition set forth in clause (c)(ii)(B) not to be met and provided , further , however , that the Issuer shall be permitted to pay cash interest on the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement for the interest payment due on June 20, 2017 and will not be required to pay cash interest on the Notes for the initial Interest Payment Date as a result thereof.

 

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(vii)    The insufficiency or lack of funds available to the Issuer to pay Cash Interest as required pursuant to this Section 2.01(c) shall not permit the Issuer to pay PIK Interest in respect of any Interest Payment Date and the sole right of the Issuer to elect to pay PIK Interest shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(c)(ii) and (iii) .

(viii)    No later than the twentieth (20th) day prior to each Interest Payment Date, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) an Officers’ Certificate certifying (i) that the Issuer is permitted to pay PIK Interest in the amounts set forth in the notice on the Next Interest Payment Date in accordance with the Indenture and is electing to pay PIK Interest on the next Interest Payment Date, (ii) the amount of interest to be paid on the next Interest Payment Date, (iii) the amount of PIK Interest to be paid as PIK Notes, if any, on the next Interest Payment Date, (iv) the amount of PIK Interest to be paid as PIK Shares, if any, on the next Interest Payment Date and the number of PIK Shares, if any, to be issued in connection therewith and (v) if Cash Interest and PIK Interest will not be paid to the Holders on a pro rata basis, that the Issuer is electing to make such payments in accordance with Section 2.01(c)(vi)(5) hereof and the amount of Cash Interest, amount of PIK Notes and number of PIK Shares (and the amount of PIK Interest represented by such PIK Shares), as applicable, to be paid to each Holder on the next Interest Payment Date. The Trustee shall promptly deliver a copy of such notice to the Holders.

(ix)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the payment of accrued and unpaid interest through the redemption or repurchase date in connection with any redemption or repurchase of the Notes as described under Sections 3.07 , 4.10 and 4.14 shall be payable solely in cash at the applicable interest rate for such Interest Period or portion thereof.

(x)    In the event that any PIK Share Payment is made, the Issuer shall use its best efforts to keep a Resale Registration Statement continuously effective until such time as no PIK Shares are held by any Holder, subject to any rights to delay or suspend or limit such registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

(xi)    Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve (12) 30-day months.

Section 2.02.     Execution and Authentication .

At least one Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit  A attached hereto by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

 

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On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes.

In addition, in connection with the election to pay PIK Interest (upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Notes), the Issuer may deliver PIK Notes executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, together with an Authentication Order for authentication and delivery of PIK Notes, specifying the principal amount of and Holder of each Note, directing the Trustee to authenticate the PIK Notes and deliver the same to the persons in such order certifying the issuance of such Notes is permitted under this Indenture and the Trustee in accordance with such Authentication Order shall authenticate and deliver such PIK Notes.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes 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 an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer.

Section 2.03.     Registrar and Paying Agent .

The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (including the name and address of each Holder, and such Holder’s right to the principal of, and sated interest on, the Notes) (“ Note Register ”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

Section 2.04.     Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05.     Holder Lists .

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. Upon request by the Issuer in respect of an

 

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Interest Payment Date, the Trustee shall furnish to the Issuer no later than two Business Days after the related Record Date, a list of names, addresses, federal tax identification numbers and principal amounts of Notes held by the Holders as of such Record Date. Upon request by the Issuer, in respect of any date that is not an Interest Payment Date, the Trustee shall furnish such information to the Issuer within two Business Days of such request. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, upon request the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least two 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 require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes.

Section 2.06.     Transfer and Exchange .

(a)    Upon request by a Holder and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(a) and Section  2.13 (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Registrar of a Confirmation Notice consenting to any Transfer subject to Section  2.13 ), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(a) :

(i)     Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes . Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(1)    if the transfer shall be made pursuant to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit  B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(2)    if the transfer shall be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit  B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

(3)    if the transfer shall be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit  B hereto, including the certifications required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(ii)     Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

(1)    the Registrar receives the following:

(i)    if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit  C hereto; or

 

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(ii)    if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit  B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (ii), an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii)     Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(b)     Legends .

(i)    The following legends (the “ Private Placement Legend ”) shall appear on the face of all Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:

“THIS NOTE (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 NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EXCO RESOURCES, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (II) 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, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE U.S. STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND IN CASE (IV) SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (B) THE HOLDER SHALL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

 

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THIS NOTE IS SUBJECT TO AND MAY ONLY BE SOLD, DISPOSED OF OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL.

THIS LEGEND CAN ONLY BE REMOVED IN THE DISCRETION OF THE ISSUER.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section  2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii)    The following legends shall appear on the face of the Notes issued under this Indenture:

“THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1273 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”)) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, AND THIS LEGEND IS REQUIRED BY SECTION 1275(c) OF THE CODE. UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, THE COMPANY WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO ANY HOLDER OF THIS NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND DATE OF THE NOTE, (2) THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THE NOTE AND (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE NOTE. HOLDERS SHOULD CONTACT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT EXCO RESOURCES, INC. 12377 MERIT DRIVE, SUITE 1700 DALLAS, TEXAS.”

(iii)    Any PIK Shares shall, if required by applicable law be issued with such restrictive legends as the Issuer shall determine are required; provided , that no legends shall be required if such PIK Shares are issued pursuant to an effective Resale Registration Statement.

(c)     General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section  2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

(ii)    No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07 , 2.10 , 3.06 , 3.09 , 4.10 , 4.14 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii)    Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

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(iv)    All Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v)    The Issuer shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section  3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, an Asset Sale Offer or other tender offer, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(vi)    Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii)    Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section  4.02 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii)    At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section  2.02 hereof.

(ix)    All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section  2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(x)    Each Holder of a Note agrees to indemnify the Issuer, the Trustee and the Registrar against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder’s Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities laws.

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture (including Section  2.13 hereof) or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note 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.

 

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Section 2.07.     Replacement Notes .

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuer and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuer and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08.     Outstanding Notes .

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section  2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section  2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section  2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receive proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

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

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09.     Treasury Notes .

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, or by any Subsidiary of the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Trust Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Issuer or of such other obligor.

Section 2.10.     Temporary Notes .

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders of Notes under this Indenture.

 

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Section 2.11.     Cancellation .

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Notes in accordance with its standard procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuer, upon the Issuer’s written request. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12.     Defaulted Interest .

If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section  4.01 hereof. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section  2.12 . The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than ten (10) days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of such special record date. At least fifteen (15) days before the special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written request of the Issuer, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section  2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

Section 2.13.     Consent Right; Right of First Refusal ; Tag-Along Rights .

(a)    Each Holder agrees that it shall not, without the prior written consent of Eligible Holders representing a majority of the principal amount of Notes held by such Eligible Holders (which consent may be withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the Eligible Holders), sell, assign or otherwise transfer or dispose of Notes (such sale, assignment or other transfer or disposition of any kind (other than a sale, assignment or other transfer or disposition of any kind to an Affiliate of such Holder), a “ Transfer ”) at any time prior to March 20, 2019. Each Holder, by accepting or purchasing any Notes, is deemed to acknowledge, and agree to be bound by, the provisions of this Section  2.13 .

(b)    In the event that any Holder (a “ Transferor ”) proposes to Transfer any of its Notes at any time on or after March 20, 2019, Eligible Holders shall have (i) a right to purchase all or any portion of such Holder’s Notes subject to such Transfer (a “ Right of First Refusal ”); or

 

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(ii) the Tag-Along Rights as defined below; provided that in the event of a Transfer to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (an “ Issuer Transfer ”), the foregoing shall not apply but the Issuer or such Subsidiary shall only be permitted to complete the Issuer Transfer if the Issuer or such Subsidiary repurchases Notes from any Eligible Holders that elect to have their Notes purchased on a pro rata basis in connection with the proposed Issuer Transfer at the same price such Notes are proposed to be purchased in the Issuer Transfer (which price, for the avoidance of doubt may be at below par and/or below the redemption price which may be applicable at such time). The Eligible Holders shall have the right to elect to Transfer Notes to the Proposed Transferee (as defined herein) on the same terms as the Transferor’s proposed Transfer in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Notes the Proposed Transferee (as defined herein) actually proposes to purchase as set forth in the Transfer Notice (as defined herein) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by such Transferor and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by the Transferor and the Eligible Holders electing to exercise their Tag-Along Rights (the “ Tag-Along Rights ”) and such Transferor shall have the amount of its Offered Notes Transferred to such Proposed Transferee reduced by such amount.

(c)    In the event of any proposed Transfer pursuant to clause (a)  or (b) above, the Transferor shall deliver to the Eligible Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) a written notice (the “ Transfer Notice ”) stating: (i) the Transferor’s intention to Transfer such Notes (the “ Offered Notes ”); (ii) the name, address and phone number of each proposed purchaser or other transferee (the “ Proposed Transferee ”); (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Offered Notes to be Transferred to each Proposed Transferee; and (iv) the bona fide cash price for which the Transferor proposes to Transfer the Offered Notes (the “ Offered Price ”); and (v) a request that the Eligible Holders make an election, if any, to exercise their Right of First Refusal or Tag-Along Rights. Any Transfer Notice to the Eligible Holders shall be delivered to each of the Eligible Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) at their respective addresses set forth in Exhibit E hereto.

(d)    Within ten (10) Business Days (the “ Notice Period ”) after the Eligible Holders receive a Transfer Notice, the Eligible Holders shall deliver to the Transferor (with a copy to the Trustee) a written notice (a “ Confirmation Notice ”) stating whether the Eligible Holders are electing to exercise their Right of First Refusal or Tag-Along Rights.

(e)    If any Eligible Holders elect to exercise their Right of First Refusal, participating Eligible Holders shall be entitled to purchase, at the Offered Price, their pro rata share of Offered Notes based on the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by each Eligible Holder as of the Issue Date. Payment of the purchase price for the Offered Notes purchased by an Eligible Holder exercising its Right of First Refusal shall be made directly to the Transferor within five (5) Business Days after the end of the Notice Period.

(f)    If any Eligible Holders elect to exercise their Tag-Along Rights, participating Eligible Holders (“ Tag-Along Holders ”) shall be entitled to Transfer, at the Offered Price, their pro rata share of Offered Notes in accordance with clause (b)  above. To the extent that any Proposed Transferee refuses to purchase Notes from a Tag-Along Holder exercising its Tag-Along Rights hereunder, such Transferor shall not Transfer to such Proposed Transferee any Notes unless and until, simultaneously with such Transfer, such Proposed Transferee shall purchase such Notes from such a Tag-Along Holder on the same terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice.

 

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(g)    If the Eligible Holders decline to exercise their Right of First Refusal with respect to all or any portion of the Offered Notes (the “ Unexercised Notes ”), then the Transferor shall be permitted to Transfer such Unexercised Notes to the Proposed Transferee, subject to any Tag-Along Rights, at the Offered Price provided that such Transfer (i) is consummated within five (5) Business Days after the end of the Refusal Period; (ii) is on terms no more favorable than the terms proposed in the Transfer Notice; and (iii) is otherwise completed in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof. If the Offered Notes are not so Transferred during such five (5) Business Day period, then the Transferor may not Transfer any of such Offered Notes without complying again in full with the provisions of this Indenture.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01.     Notices to Trustee .

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section  3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter time period as the Trustee may agree) before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section  3.03 hereof but not more than sixty (60) days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.02.     Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased .

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (a) if the Issuer notifies the Trustee that the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed, (b) on a pro rata basis or (c) to the extent that selection on a pro rata basis is not practicable by lot or by such other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of at least $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, Notes may be redeemed in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof). No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes may be redeemed in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple in excess thereof). Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

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Section 3.03.     Notice of Redemption .

Subject to Section  3.09 hereof, the Issuer shall deliver electronically or mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least thirty (30) days but not more than sixty (60) days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), except that redemption notices may be mailed more than sixty (60) days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 7 or Article 11 hereof. Except as set forth in Section  3.07 hereof, notices of redemption may not be conditional.

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

(a)    the redemption date;

(b)    the redemption price;

(c)    if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed shall be issued in the name of the Holder of the Notes upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

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

(f)    that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(g)    the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(h)    if in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section  3.07 hereof, any condition to such redemption.

At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as the Trustee may agree) before notice of redemption is required to be delivered or mailed to Holders pursuant to this Section  3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04.     Effect of Notice of Redemption .

Once notice of redemption is delivered or mailed in accordance with Section  3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date, unless such redemption is conditioned on the happening of a future event at the redemption price. The notice, if delivered or mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section  3.05 hereof, on and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.05.     Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price .

Prior to 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the redemption or purchase date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date (including any PIK Notes). The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section  4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06.     Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part .

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note shall be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof). It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officers’ Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

Section 3.07.     Optional Redemption .

(a)    At any time prior to March 20, 2018, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice as described under Section  3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding the date of redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b)    On and after March 20, 2018, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice as described under Section  3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant

 

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Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 20 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     108.000

2019

     104.000

2020

     102.000

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

(c)    Any redemption or notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section  3.07 may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an offering or other corporate transaction or event.

(d)    Any redemption pursuant to this Section  3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof and shall be made on a pro rata basis between the Initial Notes and PIK Notes, subject to adjustment in a manner that most nearly approximates a pro rata basis.

Section 3.08.     Mandatory Redemption .

The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

Section 3.09.     Offer to Repurchase by Application of Net Cash Proceeds .

(a)    In the event that, pursuant to Section  4.10 hereof, the Issuer shall be required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified below.

(b)    The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than five (5) Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Issuer shall apply all Net Cash Proceeds, as applicable (the “ Offer Amount ”), to the purchase of Notes and, if required pursuant to Section 4.10(c) , or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes, Senior Priority Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c)    If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to but excluding the Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

(d)    Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer shall send, by first-class mail, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and holders of Senior Priority Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt, if required. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

(i)    that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section  3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

 

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(ii)    the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(iii)    that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(iv)    that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(v)    that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof only (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes may be purchased in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof);

(vi)    that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Note completed to the Issuer or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

(vii)    that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(viii)    that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes, Senior Priority Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Issuer shall select the Notes, the Senior Priority Lien Debt and the Priority Lien Debt to be purchased pursuant to Section  4.10 (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof); provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased) (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof); and

(ix)    that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased.

(e)    On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

 

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(f)    The Issuer or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officers’ Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased; provided , that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof). Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section  3.09 , the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3.09 by virtue thereof.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section  3.09 or Section  4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section  3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01.     Payment of Notes .

The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and cash interest or issue PIK Notes or PIK Shares, if applicable, to pay the PIK Interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, cash interest or any PIK Notes or PIK Shares sufficient to pay all PIK Interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date due if (i) the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary, in the case of cash payments, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date, money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due, (ii) if PIK Interest is payable in the form of PIK Notes, the Trustee has received delivery of an Authentication Order on or prior to the date the payment is due of any PIK Notes to be authenticated and delivered sufficient to pay all PIK Interest then due and (iii) if PIK Interest is payable in the form of PIK Shares, the Trustee has received an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(vi)(1) .

The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

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Section 4.02.     Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

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

The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section  2.03 hereof; provided that the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall not be an office or agency of the Issuer for the purpose of effecting service of legal process on the Issuer.

Section 4.03.     Reports and Other Information .

So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee and, upon request, to Holders a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (a)  and (b) below:

(a)    within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, the audited consolidated (and unaudited consolidating) balance sheet and related consolidated (and with respect to statements of operations, consolidating) statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by a firm of independent public accountants registered with the PCAOB (and following the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated and consolidating financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; provided , that if the Issuer has established any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, such consolidated statements shall be accompanied by a balance sheet as of such date, and a statement of income and cash flows for such period, reflecting on a combined basis, for Restricted Subsidiaries and on a combined basis for Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the consolidating entries for each of such types of Subsidiaries;

(b)    within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Issuer, the consolidated (and unaudited consolidating) balance sheet and related consolidated (and with respect to statements of operations, consolidating) statements of operations and cash flows of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP

 

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consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; provided , that if the Issuer has established any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, such consolidated statements shall be accompanied by a balance sheet as of such date, and a statement of income and cash flows for such period, reflecting on a combined basis, for Restricted Subsidiaries and on a combined basis for Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the consolidating entries for each of such types of Subsidiaries;

(c)    concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause  (a) or (b)  above, an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(d)    promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Issuer or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Issuer to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; provided , however that this clause (d)  shall be deemed satisfied by the filing with the SEC of the documentation required within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC;

(e)    as soon as available, the Reserve Report required pursuant to Section  4.23 together with an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto; and

(f)    promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the designation thereof, any designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Concurrently with the distribution of the financial statements required under clause (a)  and (b) , the Issuer shall provide notice of the date and time of a conference call with Holders to discuss such financial information, which conference calls the Issuer shall host not later than ten (10) Business Days after such distribution ( provided that any conference call hosted by the Issuer which is generally available to holders of its debt or equity securities shall satisfy this covenant).

In addition, the Issuer shall furnish to prospective investors, upon their request, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the Notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act or contain a restricted Securities Act legend.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the receipt by any Trustee of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.04.     Compliance Certificate .

(a)    The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under

 

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the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge).

(b)    When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary give any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than five (5) Business Days) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by facsimile transmission an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default and the action which the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05.     Taxes .

The Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 4.06.     Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .

The Issuer and each of the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, 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 has been enacted.

Section 4.07.     Limitation on Restricted Payments .

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

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

(2)    immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is equal to or less than 2.25 to 1.0; or

 

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(3)    the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments since the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (3) , (5) , (6) , (7) , (8) , (9) , (10) and (13) (other than, in the case of such  clause (13) , Restricted Payments in the form of dividends) of Section 4.07.(b) ) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

(i)    100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and 100% of the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) of property other than cash received by the Issuer from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock or of debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for such Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to the Issue Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Issuer and other than an issuance or sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) and 100% of any cash capital contribution received by the Issuer from its shareholders subsequent to the Issue Date; plus

(ii)    the amount by which Indebtedness is reduced on the Issuer’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Issuer) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (plus the amount of any accrued interest then outstanding on such Indebtedness to the extent the obligation to pay such interest is extinguished less the amount of any cash, or the fair market value of any other property, distributed by the Issuer upon such conversion or exchange) provided , that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Indebtedness (excluding Net Cash Proceeds from sales to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or, in the case of a sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness, to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees); plus

(iii)    an amount equal to the sum of (A) the net reduction in the Investments (other than Permitted Investments) made subsequent to the Issue Date by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person resulting from repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such Investments by such Person, proceeds realized on the sale of such Investment and proceeds representing the return of capital (excluding dividends and distributions), in each case received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that such amount shall not exceed the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person, and (B) to the extent such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary or is sold; provided , that (x) such amount shall not exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary other than the Marcellus Midstream Owner, the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary and (y) in the case of the Marcellus Midstream Owner, the amount of any Permitted Investments made since the Issue Date by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Marcellus Midstream Owner shall be deducted from such amount; and provided , further , that such amounts under this clause (iii)  may not be applied toward Restricted Payments of the types described in clauses (a)  and (b) of the definition thereof.

 

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(b)    The provisions of Section 4.07 .( a) shall not prohibit:

(1)    the payment of any dividends by the Issuer within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this Section  4.07 (and such payment shall be deemed to be paid on the date of payment for purposes of any calculation required by this Section  4.07 ;

(2)    any Restricted Payment made out of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or a cash capital contribution received by the Issuer from its shareholders; provided , that 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 4.07(a)(3)(i) ;

(3)    the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, Existing Unsecured Notes, Senior Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, in each case with the Net Cash Proceeds from or in exchange for Indebtedness constituting Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under Section  4.09 or in exchange for an issuance of Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock);

(4)    the payment of any dividend or other distribution by a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or another wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary;

(5)    so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Restricted Payments to effect the repurchase or other acquisition of shares of Capital Stock of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees, directors or former directors of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (or heirs, estates or other permitted transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to the terms of the agreements (including employment agreements or management equity subscription agreements), stock options or plans (or amendments thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell, shares of such Capital Stock; provided , that the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other acquisitions (excluding amounts representing cancelation of Indebtedness) shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any 12-month period plus any unused amount permitted under this clause (5)  for the immediately preceding year, but not to exceed $3,000,000 in any 12-month period;

(6) (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof and (ii) repurchases or other acquisitions of Capital Stock made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any such exercise or exchange; provided that the aggregate amount of such repurchases, redemptions or acquisitions to satisfy federal income tax obligations shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any 12-month period;

(7)    cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Issuer; provided , that any such cash payment shall not be for the purpose of evading this Section  4.07 (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors);

 

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(8)    payments of intercompany Indebtedness that was permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result therefrom;

(9)    payments to dissenting stockholders (i) pursuant to applicable law or (ii) 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;

(10)    repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of value of Existing Unsecured Notes in exchange for Junior Lien Debt to the extent permitted to be Incurred under Section  4.09 (b)(3) and/or with the Net Cash Proceeds of any such Junior Lien Debt; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom;

(11)    repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or other acquisitions of value of Existing Unsecured Notes for consideration for all such repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or acquisitions not exceeding $70,000,000 in the aggregate since the Issue Date; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom; provided further that before giving effect to such repurchase, exchange, redemption or other acquisition for value, the Issuer shall have Liquidity of at least $200,000,000;

(12)    repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or other acquisitions of value of the 2018 Notes for consideration for all such repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or acquisitions not exceeding $25,000,000 in the aggregate since the Issue Date; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom; or

(13)    other Restricted Payments not to exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom.

(c)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  4.07 , at the time a Restricted Payment is made, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide and classify such Restricted Payment in more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described above. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred by the Issuer or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The amount of any Restricted Payment paid in cash shall be equal to its face amount. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued at the time of such Restricted Payment by this Section  4.07 shall be evidenced by the certificate of a Responsible Officer which shall be delivered to the Trustee not later than ten (10) Business Days following the date of the making of any Restricted Payment. Such certificate shall state that such Restricted Payment is permitted together with a copy of any related resolutions of the Board of Directors.

 

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(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to (1) repurchase, exchange, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or Refinance any Existing Unsecured Notes in exchange for, or with the Net Cash Proceeds of, any Indebtedness other than (i) Junior Lien Debt in reliance on Section 4.07(b)(3) , (ii) additional unsecured Indebtedness ( provided that such unsecured Indebtedness does not mature prior to ninety-one (91) days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes) (in the case of each of clauses ( i )  and (ii) , to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture) or (iii) with the issuance of Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or (2) repurchase, exchange, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or Refinance any Junior Priority Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Senior Debt (other than the Existing Unsecured Notes) in exchange for, or with the Net Cash Proceeds of, any Senior Priority Lien Debt or Priority Lien Debt. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this clause (d)  shall prohibit repurchases of any Existing Unsecured Notes otherwise permitted under this Section  4.07 for cash; provided , however , that any such repurchase shall also comply with Section  4.26 hereof.

Section 4.08.     Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries .

The Issuer 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 Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer; provided that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction of the ability to make distributions of Capital Stock;

(b)    make any loans or advances to the Issuer; provided that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction of the ability to make loans or advances; or

(c)    transfer any of its Property or assets to the Issuer,

except with respect to clauses (a) , (b) and (c)  above:

(1)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date including, for the avoidance of doubt, the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees thereof, the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the Existing Unsecured Notes;

(2)    any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary, or otherwise binding on such Restricted Subsidiary, on or prior to the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or was so designated by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, and other than any encumbrance or restriction entered into in contemplation of, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Issuer) and outstanding on such date;

 

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(3)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (1)  or (2) above; provided , that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such Refinancing agreement or amendment are no more restrictive than the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreements;

(4)    any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary (or any of its Property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Property or assets subject to such restrictions) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(5)    customary encumbrances and restrictions contained in agreements of the type described in the definition of the term “Permitted Business Investments”;

(6)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement relating to any Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money Indebtedness, in each case not Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided , that with respect to purchase money Indebtedness or Capital Lease Obligations, such restrictions relate only to the Property financed with such Indebtedness;

(7)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to provisions in agreements or instruments which prohibit the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions with respect to any Capital Stock of a Person other than on a pro rata basis;

(8)    any encumbrance or restriction existing pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

(9)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to supermajority voting requirements under corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders agreements and similar documents and agreements; and

(10)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an instrument or agreement governing Indebtedness permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary to fund, in whole or in part, the acquisition of any Property or assets; provided such Indebtedness is repaid or otherwise refinanced in full with Refinancing Indebtedness on or prior to the date twelve (12) months after the date such Indebtedness was initially Incurred; and

and except, with respect to clause (c)  only:

(1)    any encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary non-assignment provisions (including provisions forbidding subletting) in leases governing leasehold interests or Farm-In Agreements or Farm-Out Agreements to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the Property leased thereunder;

(2)    any encumbrance or restriction contained in Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the Property (including Capital Stock) subject to such Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments;

 

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(3)    Permitted Liens or Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section  4.12 that limit the right of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of the assets subject to such Lien;

(4)    customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale;

(5)    customary restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any Property or asset that is subject to a lease, license, sub-license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease, license, sub-license or other contract;

(6)    encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value of, Property or assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(7)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or Property in operating agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, joint venture agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business and entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.09.     Limitation on Indebtedness .

(a)    The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness, and the Issuer will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided , however , that the Issuer shall be entitled to Incur Indebtedness and issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness, issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 4.09(b) .

(b)     Section 4.09.(a) shall not prohibit the Incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Indebtedness ”):

(1)    the Incurrence of Senior Priority Lien Debt by the Issuer or any Guarantor, including Senior Priority Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace any such Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that immediately after giving effect to such Incurrence (and the application of proceeds therefrom) the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1)  and then outstanding (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof), when combined with the aggregate amount of all other Senior Priority Lien Obligations then outstanding, does not exceed $200,000,000 plus any Hedging Obligations constituting Senior Priority Lien Debt; provided , further , that immediately after giving effect to such Incurrence (and the application of proceeds

 

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therefrom) the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1) and then outstanding (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof), when combined with the aggregate amount of all other Senior Priority Lien Obligations then outstanding, with respect to the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement (including letters of credit (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) and any Replacement Credit Facility, without the prior written consent of the Requisite Lead Holders, does not exceed $150,000,000 plus any Hedging Obligations constituting Senior Priority Lien Debt;

(2)    the Incurrence by the Issuer and the Guarantors of (x) the Indebtedness represented by the Initial Notes and any Guarantee thereof Incurred on the Issue Date or any PIK Notes issued from time to time in respect of any PIK Interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, including any Guarantee thereof, and (y) to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, other Priority Lien Debt, including Priority Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (2) , in an aggregate amount outstanding (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) under this clause (2)  not to exceed $300,000,000 plus the aggregate principal amount of any PIK Notes issued from time to time in respect of any PIK Interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(3)    the Incurrence by the Issuer or any Guarantor of (x) Junior Priority Lien Debt represented by the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement Incurred on the Issue Date and, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Priority Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (x) , (y) Junior Lien Debt represented by the Second Lien Credit Agreement after giving effect to the Transactions and, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (x)  or this clause (y)  and (z) Junior Lien Debt, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, or Senior Debt, in each case, consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance the Existing Unsecured Notes;

(4)    Indebtedness of the Issuer owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Equity Interests which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon not permitted by this clause  (4) , (ii) if the obligor with respect to such Indebtedness is not the Issuer nor a Guarantor and the Issuer or any Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness shall be subject to the limitation set forth in clause (a)(iv) of the definition of “Permitted Investment” and (iii) if the Issuer or a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness shall be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations of such obligor pursuant to a subordinated intercompany note;

 

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(5)    Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (1) , (2) or (3)  of this Section 4.09(b) ) outstanding on the Issue Date after giving effect to the Transactions;

(6)    Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(7)    Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (5) , (6) or (12)  of this Section 4.09.(b) or this clause  (7) ; provided , that to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to clause  (6) , such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Incurred only by such Subsidiary;

(8)    Hedging Obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of limiting risks that arise in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(9)    the Incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with health or other types of social security benefits, unemployment or other insurance or self-insurance obligations, reclamation, statutory obligations, banks’ acceptances and obligations in respect of performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(10)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) 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 and (ii) pursuant to Cash Management Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(11)    Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness at any time outstanding not to exceed $25,000,000;

(12)    any Guarantee by the Issuer or any Guarantor of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or such Guarantor is permitted to be Incurred under this covenant, or any Guarantee by the Issuer or any Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Issuer so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Issuer is permitted under this covenant;

(13)    in-kind obligations relating to net oil or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business

(14)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations Incurred to finance all or any part of the design, development, installation, construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not more than one-hundred eighty (180) days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of such property, plant or equipment, in an aggregate principal amount which, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding, taken together with all Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, not to exceed at any time outstanding $20,000,000;

 

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(15)    Permitted Marketing Obligations;

(16)    Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(17)    Guarantees by the Issuer of the obligations of EOC to pay the BG Development Costs under Section 2.3 of the BG Joint Development Agreement with respect to Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Issuer or the Guarantors or any of the Issuer’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(18)    Guarantees by the Issuer of the obligations of certain of its Subsidiaries to pay such Subsidiaries’ share of the Marcellus Development Costs with respect to the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets in accordance with the terms of the Marcellus JV Documents;

(19)    Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business or assets of the Issuer or any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that:

(i)    the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds, including non-cash proceeds (the Fair Market Value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), actually received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition; and

(ii)    such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause  (19) ); and

(20)    Indebtedness of, or Disqualified Stock issued by, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted pursuant to this clause (b) , in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding $20,000,000; and

(21)    Indebtedness arising from Guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness Incurred in connection with Permitted Business Investments at any time outstanding not to exceed $60,000,000;

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor shall Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09.(b) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or

 

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indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Indebtedness or to the applicable Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness.

(d)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  4.09 : (1) all Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or under any Replacement Credit Facility shall be deemed Incurred under Section 4.09.(b)(i)(1) ; (2) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) at the time of Incurrence and may later reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section  4.09 and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses; (3) at the time of Incurrence, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide and classify (or later classify, reclassify or re-divide in whole or in part in its sole discretion) an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above; (4) Guarantees of or obligations in respect of letters or credit relating to Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included; (5) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and are being treated as Incurred pursuant to Section 4.09.(b)(i)(1) and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included; (6) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; and (7) Indebtedness of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been Incurred by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary.

(e)    For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness where the Indebtedness Incurred is denominated in a different currency, the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided , however , that if any such Indebtedness denominated in a different currency is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to Dollars covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness expressed in Dollars shall be as provided in such Currency Agreement. The principal amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness being Refinanced shall be the Dollar Equivalent of the Indebtedness Refinanced, except to the extent that (1) such Dollar Equivalent was determined based on a Currency Agreement, in which case the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and (2) the principal amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds the principal amount of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, in which case the Dollar Equivalent of such excess shall be determined on the date such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred.

Section 4.10.     Fundamental Changes and Dispositions .

(a)    The Issuer will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or Dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions, including any Asset Sale) all or any substantial part of its assets, or any of its Oil and Gas Properties or any of the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell Hydrocarbons produced from its Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business, and if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(1)    any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into the Issuer in a transaction in which the Issuer is the surviving entity;

 

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(2)    (i) the Issuer may merge into any Guarantor or any Guarantor may merge into any other Guarantor ( provided that, in the case of the Issuer, the Issuer shall be the surviving entity); (ii) any Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary may merge into any other Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may merge into the Issuer or any Guarantor in a transaction in which the surviving entity is the Issuer or such Guarantor;

(3)    any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of by the Issuer or any Guarantor, other than to the Issuer or any other Guarantor, during the term of this Indenture pursuant to this clause (3)  shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

(4)    the Issuer may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to any Guarantor;

(5)    any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Issuer determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Issuer and such Restricted Subsidiary and is not materially disadvantageous to interests of the Holders;

(6)    the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of equipment and related items in the ordinary course of business, that are obsolete or no longer necessary in the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that is being replaced by equipment of comparable value and utility;

(7)    subject to clause (b)  below, to the extent permitted under the terms of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and the other Senior Priority Lien Documents, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of Oil and Gas Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of all, but not less than all, of the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise) so long as:

(i)     the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any Person assuming responsibilities for any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (including as to the value of all non-cash consideration), as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an executive officer of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with the responsibility for such transaction, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Sale; and

(ii)     unless such Disposition is in connection with a joint development arrangement, drilling agreement or similar arrangement contemplating a contribution or conveyance of Oil and Gas Properties in exchange for a commitment to bear future development costs in respect of such Oil and Gas Properties, at least 85% of the consideration thereof received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the following are deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents: (i) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent

 

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balance sheet) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than (1) liabilities that are subordinated to the Obligations, (2) Junior Priority Lien Obligations, (3) Junior Lien Obligations or (4) Senior Debt) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement or similar agreement that releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from all further liability; (ii) securities received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted within one-hundred eighty (180) days by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of cash received in that conversion; and (iii) accounts receivable of a business retained by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, following the sale of such business, provided that such accounts receivable (c) are not past due more than thirty (30) days and (y) do not have a payment greater than ninety (90) days from the date of the invoice creating such accounts receivable.

provided , that for purposes of this clause (a)(7) , the Issuer or any Guarantor may not sell, transfer, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise Dispose of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of the Oil and Gas Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise) without the prior written consent of all of the Holders.

(8)    the Issuer may consummate the following Dispositions:

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

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

(b)    Within three hundred sixty (360) days after the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary receives Net Cash Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale or Disposition of any Oil and Gas Properties at any time (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary permitted pursuant to clause (a)  above or otherwise) (the “ Application Period ”), the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply such Net Cash Proceeds to:

(1)    acquire property, plant and equipment or any business entity used or useful in carrying on the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or to improve or replace any existing property of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries used or useful in carrying on the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the foregoing, collectively, “ replacement assets ”), or to make capital expenditures in Oil and Gas Properties; provided , that any Net Cash Proceeds attributable to a Disposition of an asset owned by the Issuer or any Guarantor must be reinvested in replacement assets owned by the Issuer or one or more Guarantors or to make capital expenditures in Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Issuer or one or more Guarantors;

 

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(2)    make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) an offer to all Holders of the Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section  3.09 hereof, and, if required by the terms of any Senior Priority Lien Debt and any other Priority Lien Debt, to the holders of such Senior Priority Lien Debt and any Priority Lien Debt, to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Senior Priority Lien Debt and any Priority Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Net Cash Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date fixed for the closing of such offer, on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and, if applicable, the other documents governing the applicable Senior Priority Lien Debt and any Priority Lien Debt.;

(3)    to permanently repay, redeem or repurchase (and permanently reduce the commitments with respect to) any Senior Priority Lien Debt and other outstanding Senior Priority Lien Obligations; or

(4)    any combination of the foregoing.

(c)    The Issuer will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Indenture and businesses reasonably related thereto.

Section 4.11.     Transactions with Affiliates .

(a)    The Issuer will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates (an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), (1) except (i) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (ii) transactions between or among the Issuer and any Guarantor not involving any other Affiliate, (iii) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section  4.07 or (iv) Permitted Investments of the kind referred to in clauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of the definition thereof, (2) unless (i) the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are no less favorable to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained at the time of the Affiliate Transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate and if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, such Affiliate Transaction is commercially reasonable and otherwise fair to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and (ii) (x) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $10,000,000, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with the requirements of clause (1)  above, and (y) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $25,000,000, a majority of the Disinterested Members of the Board of Directors (or, if there is only one Disinterested Member, such Disinterested Member) have determined that the criteria set forth in clause (1)  are satisfied with respect to such Affiliate Transaction(s) and have approved such Affiliate Transaction(s), as evidenced by a resolution delivered to the Trustee and certified by an Officers’ Certificate as having been adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

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(b)     Section 4.11.(a) shall not prohibit or apply to:

(1)    any Investment by the Issuer in any Guarantor, by any Guarantor in the Issuer or by any Guarantor in another Guarantor or other Restricted Payment between the Issuer or any Guarantor or between any Guarantor and another Guarantor;

(2)    any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors;

(3)    loans or advances to officers or employees in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, only as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

(4)    the payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by, directors of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries in attending meetings of such directors and indemnification payments made to officers, directors and employees of the Issuer or any Subsidiary pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions;

(5)    the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to, or the receipt by the Issuer of any capital contribution from, its stockholders or Affiliates;

(6)    any agreement as in effect on the Issue Date (including each of the agreements in respect of the Transactions) or any amendments or other modifications, renewals or extensions of any such agreement (so long as such amendments or other modifications, renewals or extensions are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries) and the transactions evidenced thereby;

(7)    transactions contemplated by the Marcellus JV Documents, the BG JV Documents or the Bluescape Agreement, in each case as in effect on the Issue Date, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, an executive officer of the Issuer or an executive officer of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction (whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) and amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions or renewals of such agreements from time to time, so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement, extension or renewal is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, when taken as a whole, than the terms of such agreements in effect on the Issue Date;

(8)    transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with this Indenture, which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, an executive officer of the Issuer or an executive officer of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction (whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(9)    transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer and such director is the sole cause for

 

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such Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided , however , that such director shall abstain from voting as a director of the Issuer on any matter involving such other Person;

(10)    any transaction in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a written opinion from an Independent Qualified Party to the effect that such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries or is not less favorable to the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries than could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a Person who was not an Affiliate;

(11)    guarantees of performance by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money; or

(12)    if such Affiliate Transaction is with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary where such Person is treated no more favorably than the holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 4.12.     Liens .

The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur or permit to exist any Lien of any nature whatsoever on any of its Properties (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens.

Section 4.13.     Corporate Existence .

Subject to Section  4.10 hereof, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its company existence (for the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer may convert into a limited liability company, provided that there is a corporate co-issuer entity), and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective Organizational Documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Issuer in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 4.14.     Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control .

(a)    If a Change of Control occurs after the Issue Date, unless, prior to or concurrently with the time the Issuer is required to make a Change of Control Offer, the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Section  3.07 or Section  11.01 hereof, the Issuer shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “ Change of Control Offer ”) at a price in cash (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof (including any PIK Notes) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record

 

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Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. No later than thirty (30) days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the applicable Note Register, with the following information:

(1)    that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section  4.14 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer shall be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

(2)    the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 20 Business Days nor later than sixty (60) days from the date such notice is mailed (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”);

(3)    that any Note not properly tendered shall remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(4)    that unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5)    that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6)     that Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes, provided that the applicable paying agent receives, not later than the expiration time of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(7)    that if the Issuer is redeeming less than all of the Notes, the Holders of the remaining Notes shall be issued new Notes and such new Notes shall be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof (or if a PIK Note Payment has been made, the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple of $1.00 in excess thereof);

(8)    if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control; and

(9)    the other instructions, as determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section  4.14 , that a Holder must follow.

The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the

 

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provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section  4.14 , the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section  4.14 by virtue thereof.

(b)    On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent permitted by law,

(1)    accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,

(2)    deposit with the applicable Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and

(3)    deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

(c)    The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer 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  4.14 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, 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.

(d)    If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described in clause (c)  above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party shall have the right, upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ prior notice, given not more than thirty (30) days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption.

(e)    Other than as specifically provided in this Section  4.14 , any purchase pursuant to this Section  4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 , 3.05 and 3.06 hereof.

Section 4.15.     Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries .

If the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) acquires or creates any wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) (y) acquires or creates a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date and, for purposes of this clause (y), that Subsidiary (a) guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility or (b) is a Domestic Subsidiary and becomes an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility, then, in the case of either of the foregoing clauses (x)  or (y) , within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Subsidiary was acquired or created or on which it became obligated with respect to such Indebtedness, the Issuer shall (1) cause that Subsidiary to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which

 

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is attached as Exhibit D hereto, providing for a Guarantee of the Notes by such Subsidiary, (2) following the Discharge of Senior Priority Lien Obligations, deliver to the Collateral Trustee stock certificates or other instruments representing all the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary and stock powers and instruments of transfer, endorsed in blank, with respect to such stock certificates or other instruments, or, if any Equity Interests pledged pursuant to such Security Instrument are uncertificated securities, confirmation and evidence satisfactory to the Trustee that the security interest in such uncertificated securities has been transferred to and perfected by the Trustee in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code, (3) deliver to the Collateral Trustee all agreements, deeds of trust, mortgages, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements (Form UCC-1), required by law or reasonably requested by the Trustee to be executed, filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the Liens on the Property of such Subsidiary (except to the extent not required under the applicable Security Instrument), (4) deliver to the Trustee Uniform Commercial Code searches, all dated reasonably close to the date of the Collateral Trust Joinder Agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that any Liens indicated in such Uniform Commercial Code searches are Liens permitted pursuant to Section  4.12 or have been released, (5) deliver to the Trustee the corporate resolutions or similar approval documents of such Restricted Subsidiary approving the execution and delivery of the Collateral Trust Joinder Agreement and the performance by such Restricted Subsidiary of the Security Instruments, the Guarantee and any other Note Document to which it is a party and (6) deliver to the Trustee a legal opinion reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, opining favorably on the execution, delivery and enforceability of the Note Documents to which such Restricted Subsidiary is a party, and the grant and perfection of the security interest or trust lien purported to be made or effected by any such Note Document and otherwise being in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and its counsel. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer shall cause any Subsidiary which Guarantees obligations under any Senior Priority Lien Document to contemporaneously become a Guarantor hereunder. The Issuer and each Guarantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Guarantor hereunder. This Indenture shall be fully effective as to any Guarantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Guarantor hereunder.

Section 4.16.     Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transaction .

The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any Property unless (a) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to (1) Incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section  4.09 and (2) create a Lien on such Property securing such Attributable Debt; (b) the net proceeds received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Sale/Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of such Property and (c) the Issuer applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with Section  4.10 .

Section 4.17.     Payment for Consent .

The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of any Note Document unless in the case of any consent, waiver or amendment of this Indenture or the Notes, such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders that are QIBs, who, upon request, confirm that they are QIBs, that consent, waive or agree to amend any comparable provisions of this Indenture and the Notes.

 

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Section 4.18.     Existence; Conduct of Business .

The Issuer will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution that is otherwise permitted under this Indenture.

Section 4.19.     Insurance .

The Issuer will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each operator of Oil and Gas Properties to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. The Issuer will cause any insurance policies covering any such property to be endorsed to include the Collateral Trustee as loss payee with respect to all property/casualty policies and additional insured with respect to all liability policies. Within ten (10) days after the Issue Date, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall deliver to the Trustee, insurance certificates and endorsements as contemplated by Section  4.19 .

Section 4.20.     Operation and Maintenance of Properties .

The Issuer will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

(i)    operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, applicable pro ration requirements and Environmental Laws, and all applicable laws, rules and regulations of every other Governmental Authority from time to time constituted to regulate the development and operation of its Oil and Gas Properties and the production and sale of Hydrocarbons and other minerals therefrom, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii)    keep and maintain all Property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted); preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear and obsolescence excepted) all of its material Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities;

(iii)    promptly pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas Properties and will do all other things necessary to keep materially unimpaired its rights with respect thereto and prevent any forfeiture thereof or default thereunder, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv)    promptly perform, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(v)    operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or cause or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated in accordance with the practices of the industry and in material compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements; and to the extent that the Issuer or a Guarantor is not the operator of any Property, the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator to comply with this Section  4.20 .

Section 4.21.     Books and Records; Inspection Rights .

The Issuer will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.

Section 4.22.     Compliance with Laws .

The Issuer will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it, its Oil and Gas Business and its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.23.     Reserve Reports .

(a)    On or before March 15th of each year, commencing March 15, 2018, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee and the Holders a Reserve Report, which Reserve Report shall be prepared or audited by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers.

(b)    With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Issuer shall provide to the Trustee and the Holders a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying that to his knowledge, after reasonable investigation, in all material respects: (1) the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is based on information that was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time, (2) the Issuer or its Subsidiaries owns good and defensible title to the Proved Reserves evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Proved Reserves are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section  4.12 , (3) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no material gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report which would require the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to deliver Hydrocarbons either generally or produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (4) none of the Issuer’s and its Subsidiaries’ Proved Reserves have been sold since the date of the last Reserve Report except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all of its Proved Reserves sold and in such detail as reasonably required by the Trustee and (5) attached thereto is a schedule of the Proved Reserves evaluated by such Reserve Report that are Mortgaged Properties.

(c)    On or before March 15th of each year, commencing on March 15, 2018, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee and the Holders a Collateral Coverage Reserve Report.

Section 4.24.     Liens on Collateral and Additional Property .

(a)    The Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Priority Liens upon the Collateral (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens) (including any acquired

 

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Property or other Property required by any Priority Lien Document to become Collateral after the Issue Date), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Priority Lien Documents, and in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into any Issuer or any Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Security Instruments, shall be treated as after-acquired property and the Issuer or such Guarantor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Priority Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Priority Lien Documents.

(b)    Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee or any Priority Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Instruments, instruments, certificates, financing statements, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Priority Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations; provided that no such Security Instrument, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Issuer and the Guarantors than the Priority Lien Documents executed and delivered by the Issuer and the Guarantors in connection with the making of the Notes on the Issue Date.

(c)    From and after the Issue Date, if the Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any Property that constitutes (x) Collateral or (y) collateral for the Senior Priority Lien Debt, the Junior Priority Lien Debt or the Junior Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document, Senior Priority Lien Document, Junior Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document, as applicable, requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Issuer shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, promptly (but not in any event no later than the date that is ten (10) Business Days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Document, Senior Priority Lien Documents, Junior Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Documents, as applicable), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Instruments (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary to grant the Collateral Trustee a valid and enforceable perfected Priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected Priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and holders of any other Priority Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Note Documents, if the Issuer or any Guarantor creates any additional Lien upon any Property that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Priority Lien Debt, the holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt or the holders of Junior Lien Debt, after the Issue Date, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within ten (10) Business Days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected Priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) upon such Property, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Senior Priority Lien Representative, the Junior Priority Lien Representative or the Junior Lien Representative, as applicable, in each case as security for the Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession

 

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or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Senior Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Senior Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Section  4.24 shall not be required with respect to such Collateral.

(d)    The Issuer will deliver to the Collateral Trustee semi-annually on or before March 20 and September 20 in each calendar year, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that, as of the date of such certificate, the Collateral includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than (i) 95% of the PV-10 of Proved Reserves, (ii) 95% of the PV-10 of Unproved Reserves and (iii) 95% of the value of net undeveloped acres, in each case, attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Issuer and the Guarantors, as evaluated in the most recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report (the “ Minimum Mortgaged Value ”). In the event that the Collateral does not represent at least 95% of such value, then the Issuer shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, within thirty (30) days of delivery of the certificate required under this Section  4.24 , execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee: (1) such executed Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as may be necessary to cause the minimum mortgage requirement to be satisfied, (2) satisfactory evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages, amendments or supplements in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) and (3) local counsel opinion or opinions (each, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) with respect to the real property that is subject to the applicable Mortgage; provided that, to the extent (i) corresponding mortgages securing the Senior Priority Lien Obligations are being delivered and (ii) Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent (which shall be certified by the Issuer to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate).

Section 4.25.     Title Data .

(a)    Within thirty (30) days (or such longer time period as acceptable to the Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion) after the delivery to the Trustee and the Holders of the Collateral Coverage Reserve Report required by Section  4.23 , the Issuer will deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Trustee covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Collateral Coverage Reserve Report so that the Collateral Trustee shall have received, together with title information previously delivered to the Collateral Trustee, satisfactory title information on at least 95% of the Minimum Mortgaged Value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report.

(b)    If title information for additional Properties has been provided under Section 4.25(a) , the Issuer shall, within sixty (60) days of notice from the Collateral Trustee that title defects or exceptions exist with respect to such additional Properties that are not permitted by Section  4.12 either (1) cure any such title defects or exceptions (including defects or exceptions as to priority), (2) substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no title defects or exceptions (other than Liens which are permitted by Section  4.12 ) having an equivalent value or (3) deliver title information in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Trustee so that the Collateral Trustee shall have received, together

 

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with title information previously delivered to the Collateral Trustee, satisfactory title information on at least 95% of the Minimum Mortgaged Value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report.

Section 4.26.     Liquidity Covenant .

(a)    On September 15, 2018, unless all of the 2018 Notes have been redeemed, repurchased or refinanced in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4.07 and/or 4.09 of this Indenture, then prior to any payment at maturity of the 2018 Notes, the Issuer shall have Liquidity of at least $200,000,000 and any breach of this covenant shall constitute an Event of Default under Section 5.01(c) of this Indenture.

(b)    On October 26, 2020, unless all of the Indebtedness under the Second Lien Credit Agreement and/or the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement shall have been redeemed, repurchased or refinanced in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4.07 and/or 4.09 of this Indenture, then prior to any payment at maturity of such Indebtedness, the Issuer shall have Liquidity of at least $200,000,000 and any breach of this covenant shall constitute an Event of Default under Section 5.01(c) of this Indenture.

ARTICLE 5

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 5.01.     Events of Default .

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

(a)    default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(b)    default for thirty (30) days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(c)    failure by the Issuer to comply with Section  4.26 ;

(d)    failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor for thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses  (a) , (b) or (c)  above) contained in this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Instruments;

(e)    the occurrence of the following:

(1)    the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

 

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(2)    any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause  (e) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness (other than the Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt and Junior Lien Debt) that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Indebtedness to the extent such voluntary sale or transfer of property is permitted under this Indenture

(f)    an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (1) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (2) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(g)    the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (1) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (2) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (f)  above, (3) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (4) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (5) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (6) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(h)    the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(i)    one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000 shall be rendered against the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(j)    an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(k)    any Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or, except as permitted by this Indenture, shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee, in each case with respect to any Guarantor that is also a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

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(l)    the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)    except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Document establishing the Priority Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided  that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (l)(1)  if the sole result of the failure of one or more Note Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Priority Lien purported to be granted under such Note Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $15,000,000, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Priority Lien;  provided , that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until forty-five (45) days after any officer of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

(2)    except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Priority Lien purported to be granted under any Note Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $15,000,000, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens;  provided  that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until forty-five (45) days after any officer of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; or

(3)    the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Issuer or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Priority Liens.

Section 5.02.     Acceleration .

Subject to Section 5.05(b) , if any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (f)  or (g) of Section  5.01 hereof) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. This Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (f)  or (g) of Section  5.01 hereof, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes 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 in accordance with the terms hereof, except nonpayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Notes that has become due solely because of acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

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Section 5.03.     Other Remedies .

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 5.04.     Waiver of Past Defaults .

Subject to Section 5.05(b) , Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note held by a non-consenting Holder (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer); provided , subject to Section  5.02 hereof, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.05.     Control by Majority .

(a)    Subject to Section 5.05(b) , Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes 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. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

(b)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including without limitation, Sections 5.02 , 5.04 , 5.05(a) and 8.02 ), without the express written consent of the Holders representing no less than 80% of the principal amount of the Notes, no Holder or Holders shall, and no Holder or Holders shall direct, instruct or provide notice to the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action the result of which is to alter the validity, enforceability, meaning or effect of Section 4.26(b) , including but not limited to: (i) amending or otherwise modifying any of Section 4.26(b) , Section 5.01(c) or this Section 5.05(b) ; (ii) amending or otherwise modifying the definitions of any defined terms in this Indenture to the extent that such amendment or modification would, directly or indirectly, alter the validity, meaning, enforceability or effect of Section 4.26(b) , including without limitation the defined term “Liquidity” and any defined terms included in such definitions; (iii) waiving any Default or Event of Default that has occurred or may occur as a result of the failure by the Issuer to comply with Section 4.26(b) , whether prospectively or retroactively, including without limitation pursuant to Section 5.01(c) ; or (iv) rescinding any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences, but only with respect to an Event of Default that occurred as a result of the failure by the Issuer to comply with Section 4.26(b) , including without limitation pursuant to Section 5.01(c) . Any action taken by any Holder or the Trustee, or any successor in interest of any of the foregoing, in breach of this Section 5.05(b) shall be deemed void ab initio and of no further effect.

 

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Section 5.06.     Limitation on Suits .

Subject to Section  5.07 hereof, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes 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 total outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3)    Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4)    the Trustee has not complied with such request within sixty (60) days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5)    Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such sixty (60) day period.

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

Section 5.07.     Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), 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 5.08.     Collection Suit by Trustee .

If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(a) or (b)  hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in their own names and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 5.09.     Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

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

 

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Section 5.10.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section  2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11.     Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

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

Section 5.12.     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section  6.06 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section  6.06 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 5.13.     Priorities .

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 5 or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(i)    to the Trustee (including any predecessor trustee), its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section  6.06 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

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(ii)    to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(iii)    to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section  5.13 .

Section 5.14.     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 the 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  5.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section  5.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE 6

TRUSTEE

Section 6.01.     Duties of Trustee .

(a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of 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.

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

(i)    the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

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

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

(i)    this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraphs (b) or (g) of this Section  6.01 ;

 

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(ii)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii)    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  5.05 hereof.

(d)    Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Section  6.01 .

(e)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, costs or expense.

(f)    The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. 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 be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trustee to perform any act or acts, receive or obtain any interest in property or exercise any interest in property, or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, to receive or obtain any such interest in property or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation; and no permissive or discretionary power or authority available to the Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

Section 6.02.     Rights of Trustee .

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

(b)    Before the Trustee acts, suffers or refrains from acting hereunder, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both and such matter may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by such Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes, suffers or omits to take in good faith in

 

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

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

(d)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e)    Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

(f)    None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

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

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

(i)    The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in its capacity hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder (including, without limitation, as Collateral Trustee).

(j)    The Trustee may request that the Issuer and any Guarantor deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of the individuals and/or titles of Officers (with specimen signatures) authorized at such times to take specific actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person specified as so authorized in any certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(k)    The permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

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

 

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(m)    The Issuer shall provide prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change to its fiscal year (it being expressly understood that the failure to provide such notice to the Trustee shall not be deemed a Default of Event of Default under this Indenture).

Section 6.03.     Individual Rights of Trustee .

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacities may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within ninety (90) days. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.09 hereof.

Section 6.04.     Trustee s Disclaimer .

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and make no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 6.05.     Notice of Defaults .

If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to Holders of Notes, as their names and addresses appear in the Note Register, a notice of the Default within ninety (90) days after it occurs or after it is known to the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders. The Trustee shall not be deemed to know of any Default unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Section 6.06.     Compensation and Indemnity .

The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees), including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (including this Section  6.06 ) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the

 

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Issuer, any Guarantor or any other Person, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision.

The obligations of the Issuer under this Section  6.06 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the performance of the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Section  6.06 , the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes upon the Collateral and all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except funds held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the termination for any reason of this Indenture, and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(f) or (g)  hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 6.07.     Replacement of Trustee .

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section  6.07 . The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

(a)    the Trustee fails to comply with Section  6.09 hereof;

(b)    the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

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

(d)    the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

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

If a successor Trustee does not take office within sixty (60) days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuer’s expense), the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. 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 mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section  6.06 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section  6.07 , the Issuer’s obligations under Section  6.06 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 6.08.     Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc .

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another Person, the successor Person without any further act shall be the successor Trustee. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.

Section 6.09.     Eligibility; Disqualification .

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

ARTICLE 7

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 7.01.     Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section  7.02 or 7.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 7 .

Section 7.02.     Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section  7.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section  7.02 , the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section  7.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees thereof on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section  7.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the

 

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Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a)    the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section  7.04 hereof;

(b)    the Issuer’s obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(c)    the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and

(d)    this Section  7.02 .

Subject to compliance with this Article 7 , the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section  7.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section  7.03 hereof.

Section 7.03.     Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section  7.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 7.03, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03 , 4.04 , 4.05 , 4.07 , 4.08 , 4.09 , 4.10 , 4.11 , 4.12 , 4.13 , 4.14 , 4.15 , 4.16 , 4.17 , 4.18 , 4.19 , 4.20 , 4.21 , 4.22 , 4.23 , 4.24 , 4.25 and 4.26 , hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 7.04 hereof are satisfied (“ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section  5.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section  7.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section  7.03 , subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section  7.04 hereof, Sections 5.01(e) , 5.01(f) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries), 5.01(g) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries), 5.01(h) , 5.01(i) , 5.01(j) , 5.01(k) , 5.01(l) , 5.01(m) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 7.04.     Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section  7.02 or 7.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(1)    the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities of the United States of America, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants and expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and upon which the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely without

 

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any investigation, without consideration of any reinvestment or interest to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due (including an amount of cash sufficient to pay all PIK Interest) on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes and the Issuer must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

(2)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(a)    the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(b)    since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3)    in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to such U.S. tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4)    no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5)    such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any Credit Facility or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(6)    the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds shall not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the Code;

(7)    the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor or others; and

 

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(8)    the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

Section 7.05.     Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to Section  7.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section  7.05 , the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section  7.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section  7.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 7 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section  7.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section  7.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 7.06.     Repayment to Issuer .

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 7.07.     Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any Dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section  7.02 or 7.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section  7.02 or 7.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section  7.02 or 7.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE 8

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 8.01.     Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

Notwithstanding Section  8.02 hereof, the Issuer, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee or this Indenture), the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Security Instruments, the Notes and any Guarantee thereof without the consent of any Holder:

(1)    to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2)    to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3)    to provide the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders and to the Trustee;

(4)    to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(5)    to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(6)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

(7)    to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(8)    to add a Guarantor under this Indenture;

(9)    to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of such Notes; provided , however , that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in such Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(10)    to add additional assets as Collateral;

(11)    to release Collateral from the Lien or any Guarantor from its Guarantee, in each case pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Instruments when permitted or required by this Indenture, the Guarantees, or the Security Instruments; or

(12)    in the event that PIK Notes are issued, to make appropriate amendments to reflect an appropriate minimum denomination of PIK Notes, and establish minimum redemption amounts for PIK Notes.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section  6.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in

 

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the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, and delivery of an Officers’ Certificate.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section  8.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Section 8.02.     With Consent of Holders of Notes .

Except as provided below in this Section  8.02 , the Issuer, subject to Section 5.05(b) , the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Security Instruments, the Notes and any Guarantee thereof with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 5.04 and 5.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantees thereof may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section  2.08 and Section  2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section  8.02 .

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any provision in this Indenture, the Notes and any Guarantee thereof that requires the consent of the Eligible Holders or Lead Holders, as applicable, representing a majority of the principal amount of Notes held by such Eligible Holders or Lead Holders, as applicable, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent will notify all Eligible Holders or Lead Holders, as applicable, in advance of any applicable amendment or supplement taking effect and may not amend or supplement such provision without the consent of the Eligible Holders or Lead Holders, as applicable, representing a majority of the principal amount of Notes held by such Eligible Holders or Lead Holders, as applicable.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section  6.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section  8.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

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After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section  8.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes, an amendment or waiver under this Section  8.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(1)    reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2)    reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to Section  3.09 , Section  4.10 and Section  4.14 hereof to the extent that any such amendment or waiver does not have the effect of reducing the principal of or changing the fixed final maturity of any such Note or altering or waiving the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes);

(3)    reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(4)    waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee thereof which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders of Notes;

(5)    make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6)    make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(7)    make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(8)    impair the right of any Holder of Notes to receive payment of principal of, or interest on, such Holder’s Notes 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 Notes;

(9)    make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes that would adversely affect the Holders of such Notes; or

(10)    except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of the Notes by any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

In addition, without the consent of the Holders of at least 66  2 3 % in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may modify any Security Instruments or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with the Collateral or the Security Instruments that would have the impact of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Instruments (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Instruments) or change or alter the priority of the security interests in the Collateral. Without the consent of the Holders of at least a majority

 

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in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may (1) modify any Security Instrument or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with the Collateral or the Security Instruments that would have the impact of releasing less than all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Instruments (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Instruments), (2) make any change in any Security Instrument or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with the application of trust proceeds of the Collateral that would adversely affect the Holders in any material respect or (3) modify the Intercreditor Agreement in any manner adverse to the Holders in any material respect other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Security Instruments.

Section 8.03.     Effect of Supplemental Indentures; Revocation and Effect of Consents .

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article 8 , this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 8.04.     Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.05.     Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc .

The Trustee and Collateral Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 8 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and Collateral Trustee. The Issuer may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee and Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 6.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section  12.02 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or

 

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supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required for the Trustee and Collateral Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

ARTICLE 9

GUARANTEES

Section 9.01.     Guarantee .

Subject to this Article 9 , each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, interest, premium on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

Each 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  9.01 .

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 5 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay,

 

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injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 5 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective in any insolvency proceeding affecting the Issuer, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees thereof, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

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

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 9.02.     Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as shall, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 9 , result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 9.03.     Execution and Delivery .

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section  9.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section  9.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

 

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If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

If required by Section  4.15 hereof, the Issuer shall cause any newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section  4.15 hereof and this Article 9 , to the extent applicable.

Section 9.04.     Subrogation .

Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section  9.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 9.05.     Benefits Acknowledged .

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it shall receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 9.06.     Release of Guarantees .

A Guarantee of the Notes by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(1)    (A) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation, wind-up liquidation, dissolution or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (including any sale, exchange or transfer), after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(B)    the release or discharge of the guarantee by, or direct obligation of, such Guarantor of its guarantee obligations in respect of all Series of Secured Debt (other than the Notes), Senior Debt or the guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee or direct obligation (it being understood that a release subsequent to a contingent reinstatement is still a release) or a full and complete discharge of all Series of Secured Debt (other than the Notes);

(C)    the proper designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Indenture; or

(D)    the Issuer exercising its Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 7 hereof or the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

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(E)    the merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Issuer or another Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to the Issuer or another Guarantor; and

(2)    such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

ARTICLE 10

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 10.01.     The Collateral Trustee .

By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to have irrevocably appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as its agent under the Security Instruments and the Intercreditor Agreement and irrevocably authorized the Collateral Trustee to (i) perform the duties and exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically given to it under the Security Instruments, the Intercreditor Agreement or other documents to which it is a party, together with any other incidental rights, powers and discretions, and (ii) execute each document expressed to be executed by the Collateral Trustee on its behalf. Each Holder agrees that the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits provided to the Trustee by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Instruments. The Collateral Trustee will have no duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Security Instruments to which it is party or in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided , however that no provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Collateral Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing:

(a)    The duties and obligations of the Collateral Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Instruments and the Collateral Trustee shall not be liable to any party hereto, to the Intercreditor Agreement or to any Security Instrument to which it is a party by reason of any failure on the part of any other party hereto or any maker, guarantor, endorser or other signatory of any document or any other Person to perform such Person’s obligations under any such document.

(b)    The Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner for the validity, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Security Instruments, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral delivered under the Security Instruments, or for the value or collectability of any Notes or for any representations made or obligations assumed by any party other than the Collateral Trustee. The Collateral Trustee shall not be bound to examine or inquire into or be liable for any defect or failure in the right or title of the Issuer or the Guarantors to all or any of the assets whether such defect or failure was known to the Collateral Trustee or might have been discovered upon examination or inquiry and whether capable of remedy or not.

(c)    The Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for any unsuitability, inadequacy, expiration or unfitness of any security interest created pursuant to any Security Instrument pertaining to this matter nor shall it be obligated to make any investigation into, and shall be entitled to assume, the adequacy and fitness of any security interest created pursuant to any Security Instrument pertaining to this matter.

 

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(d)    The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment, or for any act done or step taken or omitted by it in good faith or for any mistake in fact or law, or for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in connection herewith, in each case except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(e)    The Collateral Trustee may seek the advice, at the expense of the Issuer, of legal counsel in the event of any dispute or question as to the construction of any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or its duties hereunder or under any Security Instrument or applicable law, and it shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with the advice or written opinion of such counsel.

(f)    The Collateral Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, approval or other paper or document it receives in connection with this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument.

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

(h)    In no event shall the Collateral Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder, under the Intercreditor Agreement or under any Security Instrument because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, strikes, work stoppages, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes, fire, riot, embargo, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument.

(i)    The Collateral Trustee agrees to accept and act upon facsimile or electronic transmission of written instructions pursuant to this Indenture or any Security Instrument; provided , however that (i) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Collateral Trustee in a timely manner, and (ii) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions.

(j)    The Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to seek written directions from the requisite Holders or the Trustee (at the direction of the requisite Holders) prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument or with respect to any Collateral.

(k)    The Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible to any Holder for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, any Security Instrument or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto.

 

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(l)    The Collateral Trustee shall have no responsibility for or liability with respect to monitoring compliance of any other party to the Security Instruments, the Intercreditor Agreement, this Indenture or any other document related hereto or thereto. The Collateral Trustee has no duty to monitor the value or rating of any Collateral on an ongoing basis.

(m)    No provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument shall require the Collateral Trustee to expend, advance or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or in any of the Security Instruments or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder, under the Intercreditor Agreement or under any of the Security Instruments unless it is indemnified to its satisfaction and the Collateral Trustee shall have no liability to any Person for any loss occasioned by any delay in taking or failure to take any such action while it is awaiting an indemnity satisfactory to it.

(n)    Whenever in the administration of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument the Collateral Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Collateral Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may conclusively rely upon written instructions from the requisite Holders.

(o)    The Collateral Trustee may act and rely and shall be protected in acting and relying in good faith on the opinion or advice of, or information obtained from, any counsel, accountant, investment banker, appraiser or other expert or adviser, whether retained or employed by the Holders or by the Collateral Trustee.

(p)    The Collateral Trustee may employ or retain such counsel, accountants, sub-agent, agent or attorney in fact, appraisers or other experts or advisers as it may reasonably require for the purpose of determining and discharging its rights and duties hereunder and shall not be responsible for the actions of any such parties it appoints with due care.

(q)    The Collateral Trustee may request that the requisite Holders or other parties deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument.

(r)    Money held by the Collateral Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Collateral Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed by the Collateral Trustee in writing.

(s)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Collateral Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Lien or security interest in the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords similar collateral and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee.

 

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(t)    The Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens on any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to or monitor the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture or the Security Instruments.

(u)    The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee from and against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages or reasonable costs or expenses of whatever kind or nature, known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of the following in respect of the Collateral: (w) the presence, disposal, release, or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials which are on, from, or affecting the soil, water, vegetation, buildings, personal property, Persons or animals; (x) any personal injury (including wrongful death) or property damage (real or personal) arising out of or related to such Hazardous Materials; (y) any lawsuit brought or threatened, settlement reached, or government order relating to such Hazardous Materials, and/or (z) any violation of laws, orders, regulations, requirements or demands of government authorities, which are based upon or in any way related to such Hazardous Materials including, reasonable attorney and consultant fees and expenses, reasonable investigation and laboratory fees, court costs, and reasonable litigation expenses, except, in each case, where such claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs or expenses arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Collateral Trustee as determined in a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(v)    The Collateral Trustee reserves the right to conduct an environmental audit prior to foreclosing on any real estate Collateral or mortgage Collateral. The Collateral Trustee reserves the right to forebear from foreclosing in its own name if to do so may expose it to undue risk.

(w)    Upon any payment or distribution of assets hereunder, under the Intercreditor Agreement or under any Security Instrument, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which an insolvency or liquidation proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution in such insolvency or liquidation proceeding, delivered to the Collateral Trustee, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto.

(x)    The rights and protections of the Collateral Trustee set forth herein shall also be applicable to the Collateral Trustee in its roles as mortgagee, beneficiary, pledgee or any of its other roles (including as Collateral Trustee) under the Security Instruments.

(y)    In acting as Collateral Trustee, the Collateral Trustee may rely upon, enjoy the benefits of and enforce each and all of the rights, powers, immunities, indemnities and benefits of the Trustee under Article 6 hereof.

 

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(z)    Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary and for the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee shall have no duty to act outside of the United States of America in respect of any Collateral.

Section 10.02.     Authority of Collateral Trustee to Release Collateral and Liens .

By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to authorize the Collateral Trustee to release or subordinate any Collateral that is permitted to be sold, reclassified or released or be subject to a Lien pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Instruments. By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to authorize the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver to the Issuer, at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense, any and all releases of Liens, termination statements, assignments or other documents reasonably requested by the Issuer in connection with any sale, reclassification or other disposition of Oil and Gas Property or such other Collateral to the extent such sale, reclassification or other disposition is permitted by the terms of Section 4.10 or is otherwise authorized by the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Instruments.

Section 10.03.     Security Instruments .

(a)    To secure the full and punctual payment when due and the full and punctual performance of the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes and this Indenture (including the Guarantees thereof), the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, on the Issue Date:

(1)    enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and deliver to the Collateral Trustee all certificates representing Capital Stock and other instruments and documents required thereunder;

(2)    file, register or record all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, required by applicable law to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Instruments and to perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Instruments or this Indenture; and

(3)    enter into such Security Instruments creating Liens on all interests in Property owned by the Issuer or any Guarantor that are subject to any Lien securing the Senior Priority Lien Debt.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in clause (a)  or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument, (1) any mortgages (and any related Security Instruments) required to be granted pursuant to clause (a)  on the Issue Date with respect to real property that is securing Senior Priority Lien Debt on the Issue Date shall be granted as soon as commercially reasonable following the Issue Date, but in no event later than twenty (20) days following the Issue Date (it being understood any such mortgages shall be accompanied by customary local counsel opinions), (2) any control agreements required to be entered into pursuant to clause (a)  with respect to deposit accounts and securities accounts that are securing Senior Priority Lien Debt on the Issue Date shall be entered into as soon as commercially reasonable following the Issue Date, but in no event later than twenty (20) days following the Issue Date, and (3) within 20 days of the Issue Date, the Issuer shall have provided the Trustee with title information setting forth the status of title to at least 95% of the Minimum Mortgaged Value.

 

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(c)    On or after the Issue Date, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall enter into additional Security Instruments and take or cause to be taken all such actions as may be required pursuant to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or under any Security Instruments to create, perfect and maintain, as security for the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes, this Indenture (including the Guarantees) and the Security Instruments, a valid and enforceable perfected Priority Lien and security interest (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens) in all of the Collateral (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Instruments in all respects) in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

(d)    Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Instruments entered into on the Issue Date or from time to time thereafter (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) as each may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, the Security Instruments and the Intercreditor Agreement, and authorizes and directs the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver the Security Instruments, as applicable, and any documents relating thereto, in each case on behalf of such Holder and without any further consent.

(e)    In the event that security interests in any of the Collateral are not created as of the Issue Date, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement security arrangements with respect to such Collateral as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Issue Date (or on such later date as may be permitted by the Holders in their sole discretion).

(f)    Each Holder, by accepting the Notes, is deemed to acknowledge that, as more fully set forth in the Security Instruments, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be for the benefit of all the Holders, the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee and the other secured parties described in the Security Instruments and that the Lien granted in the Security Instruments relating to the Notes in respect of the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, the Holders and such other secured parties is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Security Instruments and actions that may be taken thereunder.

Section 10.04.     Intercreditor Agreement . By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to acknowledge that the obligations of the Issuer under the Senior Priority Lien Debt, the Junior Priority Lien Debt, the Junior Lien Debt and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof are and shall be secured by Liens on assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors that constitute Collateral under the Security Instruments and that the relative Lien priorities and other creditor rights of the Holders hereunder and the secured parties thereunder will be set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to acknowledge that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement. By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to (a) consent to the subordination of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees thereof on the terms set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, authorize and direct the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreement and any documents relating thereto, in each case on behalf of such Holder and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Holder, (c) agrees that, upon the execution and delivery thereof, such Holder will be bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a signatory thereto and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (d) agrees that no Holder shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee as a result of any action taken by the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee pursuant to this Section  10.04 or in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. By accepting a Note, each Holder is deemed to further irrevocably authorize and direct the Collateral Trustee (i) to take such actions as shall

 

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be required to release Liens on the Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) to enter into such amendments, supplements or other modifications to the Intercreditor Agreement in connection with any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of any Notes or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof as are reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Trustee to give effect thereto, in each case on behalf of such Holder and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Holder. The Collateral Trustee shall have the benefit of the provisions of Article 6 with respect to all actions taken by it pursuant to this Section  10.04 or in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement to the full extent thereof.

Section 10.05.     Further Assurances .

The Issuer and the Guarantors shall, at their sole expense, take all actions that are required to confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the holders of any Priority Lien Obligations, duly created, enforceable and perfected Priority Liens upon the Collateral and security interests in the Collateral (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens) as contemplated by this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees of the Notes and the Security Instruments.

Subject to the applicable limitations set forth in the Security Instruments, the Intercreditor Agreement and herein, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, at their sole expense, execute, acknowledge and deliver such documents and instruments and take such other actions, as may be required by applicable law or the applicable Security Instruments to create, protect, assure, perfect, transfer and confirm the Liens, benefits, property and rights conveyed or intended to be conveyed by this Indenture or the Security Instruments for the benefit of the Secured Parties in the Collateral, including any acquired Property pursuant to Section  4.24 .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Instrument, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Holder shall be required to execute any agreement, document or instrument creating or evidencing the subordination of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees thereof to any Permitted Prior Liens.

Section 10.06.     Release of Collateral .

(a)    The Liens on the Collateral shall be released with respect to the Obligations under this Indenture, Notes and the Guarantees, as applicable:

(1)    in whole, upon payment in full of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, and premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2)    in whole, upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as set forth under Article 11 hereof;

(3)    in whole, upon a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance as set forth under Article 7 hereof;

(4)    in connection with asset sales and dispositions permitted or not prohibited pursuant to this Indenture; provided , however that such Liens shall not be released if such sale or disposition is to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(5)    with respect to assets constituting Collateral owned by a Guarantor upon release of such Guarantor from its Guarantee as set forth under Article 9 hereof;

 

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provided , that the Liens on such assets securing any other Series of Secured Debt are simultaneously released;

(6)    to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to the Issuer or a Guarantor, upon termination or expiration of such lease; and

(7)    with respect to Collateral that is Capital Stock, upon the dissolution, wind up or liquidation of the issuer of that Capital Stock that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

(b)    Upon compliance by the Issuer or any Guarantor, as the case may be, with the conditions precedent required by this Indenture, solely in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Instruments, the Collateral Trustee shall promptly cause to be released and reconveyed to the Issuer, or the Guarantor, as the case may be, the released Collateral. Prior to each proposed release, the Issuer and each Guarantor shall furnish to the Collateral Trustee all documents required by this Indenture and the Security Instruments.

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01.     Satisfaction and Discharge .

This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

(1)    all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2)    (A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, shall become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities of the United States of America, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(B)    no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit or the grant of any Lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any Credit Facility or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any

 

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Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(1)    the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(2)    the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01(2)(A) , the provisions of Section  11.02 and Section  7.06 hereof shall survive.

Section 11.02.     Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of Section  7.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section  11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent are unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section  11.01 hereof 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 Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section  11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01.     Notices .

Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), fax or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuer and/or any Guarantor:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, Texas 75251

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (972) 699-5180

 

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With a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

Attention: Justin Hoffman

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

Email: Justin.Hoffman@Kirkland.com

If to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

Attention: EXCO Resources, Inc. Administrator

Facsimile: (302) 636-4145

The Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five (5) calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with notices, instructions, directions or other communications sent by e-mail, facsimile and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons believed by the applicable Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Issuer. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Issuer; and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Issuer as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such notices, instructions, directions or other communications. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising

 

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out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions, directions or other communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the applicable Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties. The Issuer shall use all reasonable endeavors to ensure that any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications transmitted to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture are complete and correct. Any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications shall be conclusively deemed to be valid instructions from the Issuer to the Trustee for the purposes of this Indenture

Section 12.02.     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

Upon any request or application by the Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a)    An Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section  12.03 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b)    An Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section  12.03 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied; provided that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection with the issuance of the Notes that are issued on the Issue Date.

Section 12.03.     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section  4.04 hereof) shall include:

(a)    a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

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

(c)    a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she 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, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact); and

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

Section 12.04.     Rules by Trustee and Agents .

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.05.     No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their parent companies or entities shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees of the Notes, this Indenture or the Security

 

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Instruments or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 12.06.     Governing Law .

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.07.     Waiver of Jury Trial .

EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER OF A NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.08.     Force Majeure .

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

Section 12.09.     No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.10.     Successors .

All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section  9.05 hereof.

Section 12.11.     Severability .

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

Section 12.12.     Counterpart 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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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Section 12.13.     Table of Contents, Headings, Etc .

The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 12.14.     Consent to Jurisdiction .

Each party irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (“ Related Proceedings ”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “ Specified Courts ”), and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The parties further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any lawsuit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any lawsuit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such lawsuit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 12.15.     Business Days .

If a payment date, delivery date or date of performance is not a Business Day, such payment, delivery or performance may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day and, if applicable, no additional interest shall accrue in respect of the time period to and including such next succeeding Business Day.

Section 12.16.     USA Patriot Act

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act, the Trustee and Paying Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, are required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The parties to this agreement agree that they will provide the Trustee and the Paying Agent with such information as they may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

Section 12.17.     Calculations .

The Issuer shall be responsible for making all calculations and determinations called for under this Indenture and the Notes. These calculations and determinations include, but are not limited to, accrued interest payable on the Notes, Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate. The Issuer shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Issuer’s calculations shall be final and binding on the Holders. The Issuer shall provide a schedule of these calculations to the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) as requested or required hereunder, and the Trustee and Paying Agent are entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Issuer’s calculations without independent verification, and nether the Trustee nor the Paying Agent will have any responsibility for making any such calculations. The Trustee will forward the Issuer’s calculations to any Holder upon the written request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Issuer.

 

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Section 12.18.     Intercreditor Agreement .

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2015, and amended as of March 15, 2017, among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Original Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Original Third Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). Each holder of Obligations (i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Second Lien Secured Parties and perform its obligations in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Issuer and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer
GUARANTORS:
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Indenture


EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Indenture - 2


RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:   RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Indenture - 3


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Michael H. Wass

  Name:   Michael H. Wass
  Title:   Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Michael H. Wass

  Name:   Michael H. Wass
  Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Indenture - 4

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of March 15, 2017, is made by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), the guarantors named in Schedule 1 hereto (the “ Guarantors ”) and each of the other undersigned parties hereto (each, a “ Purchaser ” and, collectively, the “ Purchasers ”). The Company, the Guarantors and the Purchasers are referred to herein as the “ Parties ” and each a “ Party .”

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to issue and sell (the “ Offering ”) to the several Purchasers $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”) together with warrants (the “ Warrants ”) exercisable for common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company (the “ Warrant Shares ”). The Notes initially will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Guarantees ”) on a senior secured basis, jointly and severally by the Guarantors. The Notes and the Guarantees are herein collectively referred to as the “ Securities ” and the Notes, the Guarantees and the Warrants are herein referred to as the “ Offered Securities .” The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture to be dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee (the “ Collateral Trustee ”). The Warrants will be issued pursuant to a 1.5 Lien Note Warrant Agreement to be dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Warrant Agreement ”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent. The number of Warrants to be issued to the Purchasers will be equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes divided by the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) of the Warrants. The Offered Securities will be issued and sold to the Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in reliance upon one or more exemptions therefrom;

WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Indenture, the Company may elect, at its option, to pay interest on the Notes in cash or by (1) issuing shares of Common Stock of the Company (“ PIK Shares ” and, such payments, “ PIK Share Payments ”) or (2) issuing new Notes (“ PIK Notes ” and, such payments, “ PIK Note Payments ”). The Company’s issuance of PIK Shares and Warrant Shares is conditioned on, among other things, the Company’s receipt of the requisite consents of the holders of its shares of Common Stock, (1) to the issuances of the PIK Shares and the Warrant Shares for purposes of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (if required) and (2) unless waived by the Company, with respect to the amendment of the Company’s existing charter to increase its authorized Common Stock under applicable Texas law (together, the “ Requisite Shareholder Approvals ”);

WHEREAS, holders of the PIK Shares and the Warrants will have the registration rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among the Company and the Purchasers. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), under the circumstances set forth therein, a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the Warrant Shares and the PIK Shares;

WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the Security Documents (as defined below) to be entered into among the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and certain other parties thereto, as applicable, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in relation to the Securities will be secured, subject to certain permitted liens, on a first-priority basis (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens (as defined in the Indenture)) by liens on substantially all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ assets (collectively, the “ Collateral ”). The Collateral will be pledged pursuant to certain Security Documents. In addition, the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors will enter into a collateral trust agreement (the “ Collateral Trust Agreement ”) that will


set forth the priority of payments from proceeds of Collateral. The term “ Security Documents ” refers to the Collateral Trust Agreement and one or more security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, collateral agency agreements, deeds of hypothec, and other agreements or documents creating (or purporting to create) a security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Securities as contemplated by the Indenture;

WHEREAS, on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), the Company intends to (a) repay certain amounts outstanding under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013 (the “ RBL Credit Agreement ”), among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder, and to amend the RBL Credit Agreement (such amended RBL Credit Agreement, the “ Amended RBL Credit Agreement ”) to, among other things, provide for a reduction of the aggregate amount of revolving commitments made available to the Company thereunder to an amount equal to $150,000,000; (b) to the extent not refinanced in full as provided in clause (c) below, amend that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (the “ TL Credit Agreement ” and as amended, the “ Amended Second Lien Credit Agreement ”), among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee thereunder, and (c) refinance (i) all of the indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (the “ FFH Credit Agreement ”), among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent thereunder, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee thereunder and (ii) all or a portion of the indebtedness under the TL Credit Agreement, in each case, pursuant to the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, to be dated on or about the Closing Date (the “ 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement ” and, collectively with the RBL Credit Agreement, the Amended RBL Credit Agreement, the Amended Second Lien Credit Agreement, the “ Financing Documents ”), among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee thereunder (such refinancing transactions, collectively, the “ Financing Transactions ”). The consummation of the Offering is conditioned on the consummation of the Financing Transactions;

WHEREAS, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the PIK Shares, the PIK Notes, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, the Warrant Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents, the Amended RBL Credit Agreement, the Amended Second Lien Credit Agreement, the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement and each other agreement, document, and instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is or will be a party or which it has executed and delivered, or will execute and deliver, in connection with the Offering, the Financing Transactions and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “ Transaction Documents ;” the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are collectively referred to herein as the “ Transactions ;” and this Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the PIK Shares, the PIK Notes, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and each other agreement, document, and instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is or will be a party or which it has executed and delivered, or will execute and deliver, in connection with the Offering and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “ Note Documents ,”

WHEREAS, (a) each Purchaser has individually negotiated this Agreement with the Company, (b) each Purchaser’s rights and obligations under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and (c) the rights and obligations of the Company with respect to each Purchaser are several and not joint with respect to any other Purchaser; and

 

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WHEREAS, the Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors wish to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Purchasers have severally and not jointly agreed to purchase the Offered Securities and the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to issue and sell the Offered Securities.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, agreements, representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, each of the Parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:

SECTION 1.     Purchase and Sale .

(a)     Subscription Amount . On the Closing Date (as defined below), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company agrees to issue and sell, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase, (i) $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, at a price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof, with the aggregate principal of Notes for each Purchaser equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount (as defined below) as set forth on Schedule 2 hereto and on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser and (ii) the number of Warrants for each Purchaser set forth on Schedule 2 hereto (which is equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Purchaser’s Notes divided by the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant Agreement)). The aggregate amount to be paid by each Purchaser for the Notes and Warrants purchased hereunder, as specified below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, is referred to herein as the “ Subscription Amount .”

(b)     The Closing . The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities hereunder shall take place at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, 600 Travis St., Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 77002, at 8:00 A.M., Houston time, on March 15, 2017, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Purchasers and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the “ Closing Date .”

(c)     Deliveries .

(i)    To effect the purchase and sale of Offered Securities, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing (i) the Company shall issue and deliver to each Purchaser a certificate or certificates registered in the name of such Purchaser, representing the Notes and the Warrants to be issued and delivered to such Purchaser as set forth on the signature page hereto, against payment in full by such Purchaser of its Subscription Amount and (ii) each Purchaser shall cause a wire transfer in same day funds to an account of the Company designated in writing by the Company to the Purchasers in an amount equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount.

(ii)    On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:

(A)    a legal opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, dated the Closing Date and addressed to each Purchaser, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto;

(B)    satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and the Guarantors in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in

 

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such other jurisdictions as the Purchasers may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions;

(C)    a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by a senior executive officer thereof certifying to the effect that (1) no action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities; (2) the representations and warranties of the Company and each of the Guarantors contained herein are true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and (3) the Company and each of the Guarantors have performed and complied in all material respects with all of their covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date;

(D)    a certificate of solvency, dated the Closing Date, executed by the principal financial officer of the Company in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto;

(E)    copies of the Indenture and the Warrant Agreement, in each case, duly executed by the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and the Warrant Agent, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers;

(F)    copies of the Notes and the Warrants, in each case, duly executed by the Company, the Guarantors, and the Trustee or the Warrant Agent, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers;

(G)    a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers;

(H)    copies of the Security Documents, in each case, duly executed by the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, and the other parties thereto, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers; and

(I)    copies of the Amended RBL Credit Agreement, the Amended Second Lien Credit Agreement and the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, in each case, duly executed by the parties thereto, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers.

(iii)    On or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser and a completed Questionnaire (as defined below) regarding investor status duly executed by such Purchaser.

 

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(d)     Closing Conditions .

(i)    The obligations of the Company hereunder shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

(A)    no action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities;

(B)    the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and

(C)    the Purchasers shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of their covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date.

(ii)    The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

(A)    no action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities;

(B)    the representations and warranties of the Company and each of the Guarantors contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date;

(C)    the Company and the Guarantors shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of their covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date.

(D)    there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) with respect to the Company since the date of this Agreement which in the determination of the Purchasers would make it impracticable to proceed with the consummation of the Offering;

(E)    the delivery by the Company and the Guarantors of the items set forth in Section 1(c) of this Agreement;

(F)    the Amended RBL Credit Agreement shall have become effective and shall (x) provide for a borrowing base of $150,000,000 (with a maximum possible borrowing base of up to $200,000,000) with terms and economic provisions (including financial covenants and covenant levels) reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers, and (y) permit the maximum issuances of warrants and equity interests in the Company contemplated by the Transactions (whether pursuant to the Warrants, PIK Share Payments or otherwise) without causing any event of default);

(G)    lenders holding at least 50.1% of the term loans under the TL Credit Agreement and lenders holding 100% of the term loan under the FFH Credit Agreement shall have agreed to exchange their term loans for terms loans under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, subject only to the closing;

 

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(H)    each of the Amended Second Lien Credit Agreement and the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement shall have become effective concurrently with the occurrence of the closing of the Offering;

(I)    the security interests created pursuant to the Security Documents shall be effective, and, to the extent perfection is capable of being obtained on or prior to the Closing Date given the use of reasonable best efforts and subject to the applicable grace periods set forth in the Indenture, the Collateral Trustee shall hold valid and perfected first-priority security interests in the Collateral (subject only to any permitted liens under the Indenture) securing the Securities for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Indenture) on or prior to, and as of, the Closing Date;

(J)    the Purchasers shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, and, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Company and the Guarantors hereunder, including all fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the Purchasers to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Closing Date, together with such additional amounts as shall constitute such counsel’s reasonable estimate of expenses and disbursements to be incurred by such counsel in connection with the Security Documents and the completion of post-closing matters contemplated by the Transaction Documents (it being understood that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude further settling of accounts between the Company, the Guarantors and the Purchasers);

(K)    the Purchasers shall be reasonably satisfied that, as of the Closing Date and after giving effect to the Transactions, there shall not have occurred and be continuing any “going concern” or similar default or event of default under the documentation governing the RBL Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement or the documentation governing the Company’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018 and 8.500% Senior Notes due 2022; and

(L)    at any time prior to the Closing Date, a banking moratorium shall not have been declared either by the United States or New York authorities nor shall there have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in U.S. or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of such Purchaser, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Offered Securities at the Closing.

(e)     Affiliated Purchasers . Subject to applicable law, each Purchaser shall have the right to arrange for one or more of its Affiliated Entities (each, an “ Affiliated Purchaser ”) to purchase all or any portion of such Purchaser’s Offered Securities, on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Agreement, by written notice to the Company at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, which notice shall be signed by the applicable Purchaser and each of its applicable Affiliated Purchasers (i.e., for clarity, those purchasing all or any portion of such Purchaser’s Offered Securities) and pursuant to which each such Affiliated Purchaser shall agree to all the terms of this Agreement as if it were a Purchaser, including that it can make each representation in Section  3 of this Agreement as if it were a

 

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Purchaser. Any such Affiliated Purchaser shall deliver a completed Questionnaire concurrently with the delivery of the written notice referred to above. In no event will any such arrangement relieve such Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement if its Affiliated Purchaser(s) fail to perform such obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The term “ Affiliated Entity ,” with respect to any person, means any fund or other entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the same manager or other person(s) as such first person.

(f)     Expenses . Whether or not the Transactions are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses (including any related taxes) incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Offered Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s and each of the Guarantor’s counsel, independent accountants and reserve engineers; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (v) the fees and all expenses related to the creation, documentation and perfection of any security interests in the Collateral, including the Security Documents (including the fees and expenses of the Purchasers, including fees and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP); and (vi) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Shearman & Sterling LLP) reasonably incurred by the Purchasers in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions.

SECTION 2.     Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors . The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Purchasers as set forth below. Except for representations, warranties and agreements that are expressly limited as to a particular date or a particular Party, each representation, warranty and agreement is made by the Company and each of the Guarantors as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions:

(a)     Organization and Qualification . The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas, with the corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently conducted, and, except as has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification. Each Guarantor has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with the corporate or analogous power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently conducted, and, except as has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as applicable, for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification. Each subsidiary of the Company that is a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and each of the entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns fifty-percent (50%) or less (each, a “ Joint Venture ”) has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with the corporate or analogous power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently conducted, and, except as has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as applicable, for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other

 

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jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification. The Company does not own an interest in or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures listed on Schedule 2 of this Agreement and a less than 5% interest in Azure Midstream Holdings, LLC. For the purpose of this Agreement, “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any material adverse change, effect, event, development (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the discovery of new or previously unknown information), circumstance or occurrence, or any of the foregoing involving a prospective change, effect, event, development, circumstance or occurrence, in the condition (financial or otherwise) or in the earnings, business, operations, assets or prospects of Company or its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which would affect the ability of the Company or any Guarantor to carry out its business as of the date of this Agreement or which would affect the ability of the Company or any Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(b)     Corporate Power and Authority . Each of the Company and the Guarantors has the requisite corporate or other power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement, the other Transactions Documents and, assuming receipt of the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, to perform its respective obligations and consummate the Transactions, including the issuance of the Offered Securities (including any PIK Notes), the Warrant Shares and any PIK Shares. Each of the Company and the Guarantors has taken all necessary corporate action required for the due authorization of the Transaction Documents, as applicable, the performance of its obligations thereunder and the consummation of the Transactions.

(c)     Capitalization . The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 780,000,000 shares of Common Stock of which, as of the date of this Agreement, 282,964,129 shares were outstanding, of which 2,342,344 are shares of restricted stock issued pursuant to and subject to the vesting requirements of compensatory equity plans of the Company in effect as of the date hereof (the “ Company Stock Plans ”) (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) shares held in treasury, (ii) a maximum of 7,658,057 additional shares of unvested, performance-based restricted share units reserved for issuance under the Company Stock Plans and (iii) a maximum of 1,030,000 performance-based restricted share units which may only be settled in cash), and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), of which, as of the date of this Agreement, no shares are either designated or issued and outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company held 594,663 shares of Common Stock in its treasury. As of the date of this Agreement, no shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance, except for 2,117,387 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company Stock Plans upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of such date and granted under the Company Stock Plans, with a weighted average exercise price of $12.70 per share, 7,658,057 performance-based restricted share units reserved for issuance under the Company Stock Plans subject to achievement of certain criteria (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, 1,030,000 performance-based restricted share units which may only be settled in cash) and an aggregate of 80,000,000 shares of Common Stock underlying the warrants held by Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC. The outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and subject to no preemptive rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, the Company’s articles of incorporation or by-laws, or any applicable laws). Except as set forth above or in connection with the Transactions and the warrant held by Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, there are no (A) shares of capital stock or other equity interests or voting securities of the Company authorized, reserved for issuance, issued or outstanding, (B) options, warrants, calls, preemptive rights, subscription or other rights, instruments, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character, obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue, transfer

 

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or sell or cause to be issued, transferred or sold any shares of capital stock or other equity interest or voting security in the Company or any securities or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for such shares of capital stock or other equity interests or voting securities, or obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, preemptive right, subscription or other right, instrument, agreement, arrangement or commitment, (C) except with respect to the vesting, settlement or forfeiture of, or tax payment or withholding with respect to, any equity-based awards under the Company Stock Plans, outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock or other equity interest or voting securities of the Company or (D) issued or outstanding restricted stock awards, units, rights to receive any capital stock or other equity interest or voting securities of the Company on a deferred basis, or rights to purchase or receive any capital stock or equity interest or voting securities issued or granted by the Company to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company. No subsidiary of the Company owns any shares of Common Stock or other equity interest or voting securities of the Company. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the Common Stock or other equity interest or voting securities of the Company. All the outstanding shares of common stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company and the Company’s interest in the Joint Ventures have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party, except pursuant to the Transaction Documents, the RBL Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the organizational and governance documents of each of the Joint Ventures listed on Schedule 2 of this Agreement.

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

(e)     The Indenture . The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and each of the Guarantors and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability (collectively, the “ Enforceability Exceptions ”).

(f)     The Notes and the Guarantees . The Notes (including any PIK Notes) have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by each of the Guarantors and, when the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be valid and legally binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(g)     The PIK Shares . Subject to the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, the issuance of the PIK Shares has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when any PIK Shares are issued and delivered pursuant to PIK Share Payments, the PIK Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued and delivered and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all taxes, liens, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, subscription and similar encumbrances.

 

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(h)     Collateral . The applicable pledging or granting entities under each Security Document own the relevant Collateral covered by such Security Document, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothec, encumbrance or claim, except for liens permitted under the terms of the Indenture and any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothec, encumbrance or claim securing obligations or permitted to be incurred under the Financing Documents.

(i)     Security Documents . Each of the Security Documents has been duly authorized by the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent a party thereto), and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company (to the extent a party thereto) and each of the Guarantors (to the extent a party thereto) enforceable against the Company (to the extent a party thereto) and each of the Guarantors (to the extent a party thereto) in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The registration, recording or publication of financing statements and/or Security Documents as contemplated by the Indenture and the Security Documents creates (or, in the case of financing statements or Security Documents to be filed on or after the Closing Date, will upon such registration create) a fully perfected security interest and charge (or its equivalent) in all right, title and interest of the Company and each of the Guarantors in its Collateral, to the extent that a security interest in such Collateral may be perfected by such registrations or publication, as security for the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees and the Indenture, in each case subject to no liens other than liens permitted under the terms of the Indenture and the other Transaction Documents.

(j)     The Warrant Agreement . The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, the Warrant Agreement will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(k)     The Warrants . The Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, issued and delivered as provided in the Warrant Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Warrant Agreement;

(l)     The Warrant Shares . Subject to the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, the issuance of the Warrant Shares has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when the Warrant Shares are issued and delivered upon exercise of the Warrants, the Warrant Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued and delivered and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all taxes, liens, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, subscription and similar encumbrances.

(m)     No Violation or Default . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or

 

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to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n)     No Conflict . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities (including any PIK Notes) and, subject to the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, the Warrant Shares and the PIK Shares, and compliance by the Company and each of the Guarantors with the terms thereof and the consummation of the Transactions will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o)     Consents and Approvals . No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with the rules of the NYSE, or approval of the shareholders of the Company or its subsidiaries, is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale by the Company of the Notes (including any PIK Notes), the Warrants, the Warrant Shares and any PIK Shares and the issuance by the Guarantors of the Guarantees or the consummation of the Transactions, except (i) the registration under the Securities Act of the Warrant Shares and the PIK Shares, (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or “blue sky” laws or any applicable foreign securities laws in connection with issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, (iii) the NYSE listing application and any other filings required with the NYSE in connection with listing of the Warrant Shares and the PIK Shares and (iv) the Requisite Shareholder Approvals with respect to the Warrant Shares and the PIK Shares.

(p)     Company SEC Documents . Since January 1, 2014, the Company has filed or furnished all required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated therein) (the “ Company SEC Documents ”) with the SEC. As of their respective dates, each of the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1984, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Documents. The Company has filed with the SEC all “material contracts” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) that are required to be filed as exhibits to the Company SEC Documents.

 

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(q)     Financial Statements . Each of the financial statements and the related notes of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and fairly present, or will fairly present, as the case may be, in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and for the periods specified, subject, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, to the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes and to customary year-end adjustments; such financial statements have been prepared, or will be prepared, as the case may be, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed before the date of this Agreement), and the supporting schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents fairly present, in all material respects, the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly, or will present fairly, as the case may be, the information shown thereby. Neither the Company nor any of the Company’s subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar agreement or arrangement, where the result, purpose or effect of such agreement or arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the Company SEC Documents (including the financial statements contained therein). Except to the extent specifically reflected or reserved against on the September 30, 2016 consolidated balance sheet of the Company (including the notes thereto) included in the Company’s Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC on November 2, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any (i) liabilities (whether or not accrued, fixed, contingent, asserted or known) or (ii) any impairments (including impairments that would reasonably be expected to occur or be taken) to assets or reserves, except for liabilities or impairments, respectively, that (A) are otherwise disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or (B) could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(r)     Independent Accountants . KPMG, LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, was at the time of such certification an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(s)     Title to Real and Personal Property . The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all material property (real and personal), or has valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) were placed on such property in connection with the RBL Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement, the organizational documents of the Joint Ventures or as will be placed on such property in connection with the Transactions.

(t)     Title to Intellectual Property . Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its

 

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subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses; and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict in any material respect with any such rights of others, and the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement or conflict with any such rights of others.

(u)     Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is and, after giving effect to the Transactions and the application of the proceeds thereof, none of them will be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder (collectively, the “ Investment Company Act ”).

(v)     Energy Regulatory Status . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is subject to regulation as a “natural-gas company,” under the Natural Gas Act or the regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“ FERC ”) thereunder, (ii) subject to regulation as a “gas utility company,” a “public-utility company,” or a “holding company” under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, or FERC’s regulations thereunder, or (iii) subject to regulation as a “public utility,” a “natural gas utility,” a “natural gas company,” a “holding company,” or similar term under any state law or regulation.

(w)     Taxes . The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except for any failure to pay such taxes or file such returns that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, there is no material tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.

(x)     Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess or make the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Company SEC Documents, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization, except for any revocation or modification or failure to renew that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y)     No Labor Disputes . Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries are involved in any labor dispute with their respective employees nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened except, in each case, for disputes which could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z)     Compliance With Environmental Laws . (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health or

 

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safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”); (y) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that could reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such failure to comply, or failure to receive required permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations, or approvals, or cost or liability, as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in the Company SEC Documents, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, and (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (z) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

(aa)     Compliance with ERISA . (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of companies within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”)) has or could have any liability (each, a “ Plan ”) has been maintained in compliance, in all material respects, with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory, administrative or other applicable exemption (including individual exemptions that have been or will be applied for with the U.S. Department of Labor); (iii) no Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Sections 412 or 430 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards applicable to such Plan, whether or not waived, and no such Plan has been determined to be, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan equals or exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vi) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; and (vii) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

 

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(bb)     Disclosure Controls . The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as required under the Exchange Act within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(cc)     Accounting Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. As of December 31, 2015, the last date such controls were required to be tested, there were no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal controls.

(dd)     Insurance . The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(ee)     No Unlawful Payments . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any agent, 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 or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act

 

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2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

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

(gg)     No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, any director, officer, employee, agent or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor is the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of the Guarantors located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria (each, a “ Sanctioned Country ”); 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 (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, and are not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(hh)     Solvency . On and immediately after the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors (after giving effect to the Transactions) will be “insolvent” as defined under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

(ii)     No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . Except for any such restrictions in the RBL Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement, the organizational documents of the Joint Ventures or as will be contained in the Transaction Documents, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other

 

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distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(jj)     Reserve Report Data . Other than as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, the oil and gas reserve estimates of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are derived from reports that have been prepared by or have been audited by either (a) Lee Keeling and Associates, Inc. (b) Haas Petroleum Engineering Services Inc., (c) Ryder Scott Company, L.P., (d) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. or (e) the Company’s internal engineers, as set forth therein, and such reserves were prepared in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69 and Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X.

(kk)     Oil and Gas Properties . The Company and the Guarantors have good and defensible title to all Proved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties (“ proved Oil and Gas Properties ”) described in the most recent Reserve Report provided to the Purchasers, free and clear of all liens except liens permitted pursuant to the Transaction Documents. All such proved Oil and Gas Properties are valid, subsisting, and in full force and effect, and all rentals, royalties, and other amounts due and payable in respect thereof have been duly paid. Without regard to any consent or non-consent provisions of any joint operating agreement covering any of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s proved Oil and Gas Properties, the Company’s or the Guarantors share, as applicable, of (a) the costs for each proved Oil and Gas Property described in the Reserve Report is not materially greater than the decimal fraction set forth in the Reserve Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the respective designations “working interests,” “WI,” “gross working interest,” “GWI,” or similar terms (except in such cases where there is a corresponding increase in the net revenue interest), and (b) production from, allocated to, or attributed to each such proved Oil and Gas Property is not materially less than the decimal fraction set forth in the Reserve Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the designations “net revenue interest,” “NRI,” or similar terms. Each well drilled in respect of proved producing Oil and Gas Properties described in the Reserve Report (1) is capable of, and is presently, either producing Hydrocarbons in commercially profitable quantities or in the process of being worked over or enhanced, and the Company, or the Guarantor that owns such proved producing Oil and Gas Properties, is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders, and (2) has been drilled, bottomed, completed, and operated in compliance with all applicable laws, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), except where any failure to satisfy clause (1) or to comply with clause (2) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such well which is currently producing Hydrocarbons is subject to any penalty in production by reason of such well having produced in excess of its allowable production. “ Oil and Gas Property ” means: (a) direct and indirect interests in and rights with respect to oil, gas, mineral and related properties and assets of any kind and nature, direct or indirect, including, without limitation, wellbore interests, working, royalty and overriding royalty interests, mineral interests, leasehold interests, production payments, operating rights, net profits interests, other non-working interests, contractual interests, non-operating interests and rights in any pooled, unitized or communitized acreage by virtue of such interest being a part thereof; (b) interests in and rights with respect to Hydrocarbons other minerals or revenues therefrom and contracts and agreements in connection therewith and claims and rights thereto (including oil and gas leases, operating agreements, unitization, communitization and pooling agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders, mineral deeds, royalty deeds, oil and gas sales, exchange and processing contracts and agreements and, in each case, interests thereunder), and surface interests, fee interests, reversionary interests, reservations and concessions related to any of the

 

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foregoing; (c) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, permits, leases, and other interests associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing; (d) interests in oil, gas, water, disposal and injection wells, equipment and machinery (including well equipment and machinery), oil and gas production, gathering, transmission, compression, treating, processing and storage facilities (including tanks, tank batteries, pipelines and gathering systems), pumps, water plants, electric plants, gasoline and gas processing plants, refineries and other tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, real or personal property and fixtures located on, associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing; and (e) all seismic, geological, geophysical and engineering records, data, information, maps, licenses and interpretations. “ Hydrocarbons ” means all crude oil and condensate, natural gas, distillate or sulphur, natural gas liquids and all products recovered in the processing of natural gas (other than condensate) including, without limitation, natural gasoline, coalbed methane gas, casinghead gas, iso-butane, normal butane, propane and ethane (including such methane allowable in commercial ethane), in each case, produced from or attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors. “ Proved Reserves ” means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved (in accordance with SEC rules and regulations) in the Reserve Report most recently delivered to the Purchasers.

(ll)     Maintenance of Properties . Except for such acts or failures to act as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties (and properties unitized therewith) of the Company and its subsidiaries have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws, statutes, codes, ordinances, orders, determinations, rules, regulations, judgments, decrees, injunctions, franchises, permits, certificates, licenses, authorizations or other directives or requirements, whether now or hereinafter in effect, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy and public utility laws and regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its subsidiaries. Specifically in connection with the foregoing, except for those as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) no Oil and Gas Property of the Company or any subsidiary is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) and (b) none of the wells comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized therewith) of the Company and its subsidiaries is deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by Governmental Requirements, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, the Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties) of the Company and its subsidiaries. The wells drilled in respect of proved producing Oil and Gas Properties described in the Reserve Report are capable of, and are presently, either producing Hydrocarbons in commercially profitable quantities or in the process of being worked over or enhanced, and the Company or the Guarantors that owns such proved producing Oil and Gas Properties is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders. All pipelines, wells, gas processing plants, platforms and other material improvements, fixtures and equipment owned in whole or in part by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are necessary to conduct normal operations are being maintained in a state adequate to conduct normal operations, and with respect to such of the foregoing which are operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in a manner consistent with the past practices of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than those the failure of which to maintain in accordance with the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

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(mm)     No Pre-Emptive Rights . No person, firm or corporation has, or will have at the Closing Date, any agreement or any option, right or privilege (whether pre-emptive or contractual) capable of becoming an agreement, for the purchase from the Company or any of the Guarantors, or issuance of, or subscription for, any securities of the Company or any of the Guarantors, except as may be granted pursuant to the Company’s existing stock incentive plans, stock purchase or similar plans offered to directors, officers and employees in the ordinary course of business or where the existence of such agreement, option, right or privilege, whether or not exercised, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(nn)     No Broker’s Fees . Except for the engagement letter between Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and the Company and the engagement letter between Seaport Global Securities LLC and the Company, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person that would give rise to a claim against the Company for a financial advisory fee, brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the Offering. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person that would give rise to a claim against the Purchasers for a financial advisory fee, brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the Offering.

(oo)     Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A . The Notes (including any PIK Notes) are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.

(pp)     No Registration Required . Assuming the accuracy of (i) the representations and warranties in Section  3 and (ii) the information provided by the Purchasers in the Questionnaires, the purchase of the Offered Securities and any issuance of PIK Notes pursuant hereto are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(qq)     No General Solicitation . No form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Regulation D (including, but not limited to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising) was used by the Company, the Guarantors, any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective representatives in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

(rr)     No Directed Selling Efforts . No directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902 under the Securities Act were used by the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective representatives with respect to Offered Securities sold outside the United States to non-U.S. persons, and the Company, any affiliate of the Company and any person acting on its or their behalf has complied with and will implement the “offering restrictions” required by Rule 902 under the Securities Act.

(ss)     Integration . Neither the Company nor any Guarantor, nor any other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor, has sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Offered Securities contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the SEC.

 

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The Company and each of the Guarantors will take reasonable precautions designed to ensure that any offer or sale, direct or indirect, in the United States or to any U.S. person (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act), of any Offered Securities or any substantially similar security issued by the Company or any Guarantor, within six months subsequent to the date on which the distribution of the Offered Securities has been completed, is made under restrictions and other circumstances reasonably designed not to affect the status of the offer and sale of the Offered Securities in the United States and to U.S. persons contemplated by this Agreement as transactions exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of, the Securities Act.

SECTION 3.     Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers and the Affiliated Purchasers . Each of the Purchasers, severally on behalf of and with respect to itself only, and not jointly with any other Purchaser, represents and warrants and agrees with the Company and the Guarantors as set forth below. To the extent that an Affiliated Purchaser acquires Offered Securities from the Company pursuant to this Agreement, such Affiliated Purchaser shall be deemed to have made each of the representations and warranties below substituting “Affiliated Purchaser” for “Purchaser” in this Section  3 . Except for representations, warranties and agreements that are expressly limited as to a particular date, each representation, warranty and agreement is made as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions:

(a)     Formation . Such Purchaser has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.

(b)     Power and Authority . Such Purchaser has the requisite corporate (or analogous) power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is or will be a party and to perform its obligations and consummate the Transactions and has taken all necessary corporate (or analogous) action required for the due authorization of the Transaction Agreements, the performance of its obligations thereunder and the consummation of the Transactions.

(c)     Purchase Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Purchaser.

(d)     Restricted Securities . Such Purchaser understands that the Offered Securities (including any PIK Notes) have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be resold without registration under the Securities Act except pursuant to a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act.

(e)     Investment Intent . Such Purchaser is acquiring the Offered Securities (including any PIK Notes) for investment for its own account, and not with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution thereof not in compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws, and such Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same, except in compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

(f)     Sophistication . Such Purchaser is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act, all of the answers and information set forth on the investor questionnaires (the “ Questionnaires ”) attached hereto as Exhibit C and Exhibit D submitted to the Company is true and correct, and such Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Offered Securities being acquired hereunder. With the assistance of such

 

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Purchaser’s own professional advisors, to the extent that such Purchaser has deemed appropriate, such Purchaser has made its own legal, tax, accounting and financial evaluation of the merits and risks of an investment in the Offered Securities and the consequences of this Agreement. Such Purchaser has considered the suitability of the Offered Securities as an investment in light of its own circumstances and financial condition and such Purchaser is able to bear any economic risks associated with such investment. Such Purchaser agrees to furnish any additional information reasonably requested by the Company or any of its affiliates, to the extent necessary to assure compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws in connection with such Purchaser’s purchase of the Offered Securities. Without derogating from or limiting the representations and warranties of the Company, such Purchaser acknowledges that it has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers concerning the Company and to obtain additional information that it has requested to verify the information contained herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein will operate to modify or limit in any respect the representations and warranties of the Company or to relieve it from any obligations to such Purchaser for breach thereof or the making of misleading statements or the omission of material facts in connection with the Transactions.

(g)     Sufficient Funds . On the Closing Date, such Purchaser (or its applicable Affiliated Purchaser(s), as applicable) will have available funds necessary to consummate the closing of the Offering on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement.

(h)     Brokers and Finders . Neither such Purchaser nor any of its affiliates is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person that would give rise to a claim against the Company for a financial advisory fee, brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the Offering.

SECTION 4.     Additional Covenants of the Company . Without derogating from the obligations of the Company set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, the Company agrees with the Purchasers as set forth below.

(a)     No Resales by the Company or the Guarantors . The Company and the Guarantors will not, and will not permit any of their respective affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Offered Securities (including any PIK Notes) that have been acquired by any of them, except for Offered Securities (including any PIK Notes) purchased by the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective affiliates and resold in a transaction registered under the Securities Act.

(b)     Integration . The Company and the Guarantors agree not to sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the sale of the Offered Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale to the Purchasers of the Offered Securities.

(c)     Disclosure . So long as any of the Notes (including any PIK Notes) or the Warrants are outstanding, the Company and the Guarantors will, furnish at their expense to the Purchasers, and, upon request, to the holders of the Notes (including any PIK Notes) or the Warrants and prospective purchasers of the Notes (including any PIK Notes) or the Warrants, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (if any) unless such information is publicly available.

 

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(d)     General Solicitation; Directed Selling Efforts . The Company and the Guarantors agree not to solicit any offer to buy or sell the Offered Securities by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act), or by means of any directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) in the United States in connection with any Offered Securities being offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

(e)     No Stabilization . Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Offered Securities.

(f)     Listing . The Company shall, following the Closing Date, take all action reasonably necessary to effect the listing of the Warrant Shares and the PIK Shares on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance. Following the initial listing of such shares, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of such shares for so long as Company’s Common Stock continues to be listed on the NYSE or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on the NYSE, on the primary national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or authorized for quotation or on any over-the-counter market.

(g)     Reservation and Listing of Common Stock . Upon receipt of the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, the Company shall maintain a reserve of the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock potentially issuable in the future pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including any Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise in full of all Warrants and any PIK Shares to be issued pursuant to any PIK Share Payments.

(h)     Requisite Shareholder Approvals . As promptly as practicable after execution of this Agreement, the Company shall, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Requisite Shareholder Approvals.

SECTION 5.     Indemnification and Contribution .

(a)    Whether or not the Offering or the other Transactions are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company and each of the Guarantors (in such capacity, each, an “ Indemnifying Party ”) jointly and severally shall indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser, each Affiliated Purchaser, and their respective officers, directors, members, partners, employees, agents and controlling persons (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, suits, proceedings, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable fees of counsel), joint or several, arising out of, or related to circumstances (“ Losses ”) to which any Indemnified Person may become subject arising out of or in connection with any action, claim, challenge, litigation, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding (“ Proceedings ”) with respect to the Offering, this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the Transactions and shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons for any reasonable legal or other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with investigating, responding to or defending any of the foregoing; provided that the foregoing indemnification will not apply to Losses to the extent that they resulted directly from (i) any material breach by such Indemnified Person of this Agreement or (ii) gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Person or insufficient to hold it harmless, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute amounts in respect of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Person, on the other hand, but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand and the Indemnified Person, on the other hand, as well as any relevant equitable considerations. The

 

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indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations of the Indemnifying Party under this Section  5 shall be in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Party may otherwise have to an Indemnified Person and shall bind and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Indemnifying Party and any Indemnified Person.

(b)    Reasonably promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of the commencement of any Proceedings with respect to which the Indemnified Person may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim is to be made hereunder against the Indemnifying Party in respect thereof, notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that (i) the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may have hereunder except to the extent it has been actually prejudiced by such failure and (ii) the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than on account of this Section  5 . In case any such Proceeding is brought against any Indemnified Person 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 elect by written notice delivered to such Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person; provided , that if the defendants in any such Proceeding include both such Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying Party and such Indemnified Person shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party, or that there otherwise exists or may exist a conflict of interest, such Indemnified Person shall have the right to select, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, one separate counsel (as well as one or more local counsels), to assert such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Person; provided, further, that the right of the Indemnifying Party to so assume the defense of any such Proceeding shall not apply, and the Indemnified Person shall be permitted to instead assume the defense of any such Proceeding with separate counsel (including one or more local counsels) of its choosing, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, to the extent that (w) the Indemnifying Party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Person to represent such Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of such Proceeding, (x) the Indemnifying Party is not, in the reasonable determination of such Indemnified Person, diligently pursuing such defense, (y) the Indemnifying Party shall not have elected to assume such defense pursuant to written notice delivered to such Indemnified Person within ten (10) calendar days after notice of commencement of such Proceeding or (z) such Proceeding relates to any criminal action, indictment, allegation or investigation or does not solely seek (and continue to solely seek) monetary damages.

(c)    The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable under this Section  5 to an Indemnified Person for any settlement of any Proceedings effected by such Indemnified Person without the Indemnifying Party’s written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of an Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceedings in respect of which indemnity has been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person unless (i) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in form and substance satisfactory to such Indemnified Person from all liability on the claims that are the subject matter of such Proceedings and (ii) such settlement does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

SECTION 6.     Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s obligations hereunder only and without any effect whatsoever on the obligations between the Company and the other Purchasers, by written notice to the other Parties, if the Closing has not been consummated on or before March 15, 2017.

 

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SECTION 7.     Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, if delivered personally, by facsimile or sent by overnight courier as follows:

(a)    If to the Company or any Guarantor:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, Texas 75251

Facsimile: (817) 368-2087

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Haynes and Boone, LLP

2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

Email: scott.wallace@haynesboone.com

Facsimile: (214) 200-0674

Attention: Scott Wallace

and

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Email: justin.hoffman@kirkland.com

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

Attention: Justin F. Hoffman

(b)    If to a Purchaser, at the address set forth on such Purchaser’s signature page hereto

or to such other address or addresses as shall be designated in writing. All notices shall be effective when received.

SECTION 8.     Independent Nature of Purchasers . The obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this Agreement. Each Purchaser shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder. The decision of each Purchaser to purchase the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement has been made by such Purchaser independently of any other Purchaser and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which may have been made or given by any other Purchaser or by any agent or employee of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Purchaser (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint

 

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venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the Transactions. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

SECTION 9.     Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries . Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that each Purchaser may assign its rights, interests and/or obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliated Purchasers pursuant to Section 1(e) . Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, subject to Section 1(e) , this Agreement, and any Purchaser’s rights, interests or obligations hereunder, may be assigned, delegated or transferred, in whole or in part, by such Purchaser to one or more of such Purchaser’s Affiliated Purchasers without the prior written consent of the Company, provided that any such assignee assumes the obligations of such Purchaser hereunder and agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as such Purchaser; provided , that no such assignment shall relieve such Purchaser of its obligations hereunder if such assignee fails to perform such obligations. Except as provided in Section  5 with respect to the Indemnified Persons and Section  11 with respect to Non-Recourse Parties, this Agreement is not intended to and does not confer upon any person other than the Parties hereto any rights or remedies under this Agreement and nothing set forth in this Agreement shall confer upon or give to, or be construed to confer upon or give to, any other person (including any affiliates of the Company or any of its respective members, shareholders, partners, directors, employees, officers or creditors or any successor thereto or assignee thereof, or any third party claiming by or through any of the foregoing) any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights to enforce or cause the Company to enforce, the obligations of any Purchaser or its permitted assignees hereunder or any other provisions of this Agreement. Any Indemnified Persons and any Non-Recourse Parties shall be entitled to enforce and rely on the provisions listed in the immediately preceding sentence as if they were a Party to this Agreement.

SECTION 10.     Prior Negotiations; Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with the documents and instruments attached as schedules, annexes or exhibits to and referred to in this Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the Offering and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements or understandings, whether written or oral, between the Parties or any of their respective affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 11.     GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; Non-Recourse Parties . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENTS TO SUBMIT ITSELF TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT, AND AGREES THAT ALL SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 7 , AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE TREATED AS COMPLETED WHEN RECEIVED. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED IN ANY SUCH COURT. THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE PURCHASERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT,

 

-25-


TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF. NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT EACH OF THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGMENT ENTERED BY A COURT PERMITTED BY THIS SECTION 11 IN ANY OTHER COURT OR JURISDICTION.

Notwithstanding anything that may be otherwise expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Company and each of the Guarantors, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, covenants, agrees and acknowledges for itself and its affiliates that no person other than the Purchasers and their respective permitted successors and assigns, including their respective applicable Affiliated Purchasers, if any, who acquire Offered Securities from the Company pursuant to this Agreement, shall have any obligation hereunder or in connection with the Transactions and that no recourse hereunder or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against any former, current or future equity holder, controlling person, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate, member, manager, general or limited partner, representative or successor or assignee of any Purchaser (or any such applicable Affiliated Purchaser) or any former, current or future equity holder, controlling person, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate, member, manager, general or limited partner, representative or successor or assignee of any of the foregoing (such persons, collectively, the “ Non-Recourse Parties ”), whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceedings, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on, or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Recourse Party, as such, for any obligations of any Purchaser under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.

SECTION 12.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each Party and delivered to each other Party, it being understood that the Parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the Party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

SECTION 13.     Waivers and Amendments . This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded, cancelled, renewed or extended, and the terms and conditions of this Agreement may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by all the Parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the Party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any waiver on the part of any Party of any right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement. The rights and remedies provided pursuant to this Agreement are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which any Party otherwise may have at law or in equity.

SECTION 14.     Interpretation; Severability . When a reference is made in this Agreement to “Sections,” “Schedules” or “Exhibits” such reference shall be to a Section of, Schedule or Exhibit to, this Agreement

 

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unless otherwise indicated. The terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa. References to “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and the like refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or provision, unless the context requires otherwise. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation.” No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised by counsel. Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, all references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the section.

It is the intent of the Parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision or portion valid and enforceable, and such amendment will apply only with respect to the operation of such provision or portion in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.

SECTION 15.     Survival . The indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Purchasers.

SECTION 16.     Public Announcement . No public release or announcement (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding in respect of any Schedule 13D (or 13G), Form 4 or similar SEC filing requirements of the Purchasers or their affiliates so long as the Company is provided a reasonable opportunity to comment on such disclosure in advance) concerning the Offering or the other Transactions, shall be issued by any Party hereto without the prior consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as such release or announcement may be required by law, regulation or stock exchange rule, in which case the Party required to make the release or announcement shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, allow the other Parties reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance; provided that in no event shall any such press release or announcement name the Purchasers or any of their affiliates without their prior written consent, except to the extent necessary to comply with law, regulation or stock exchange rule. The provisions of this Section  16 shall not restrict the ability of the Company to summarize or describe the Transactions in any prospectus or similar offering document or other current or periodic report, in each case to the extent required by law, regulation or stock exchange rule, so long as the other Party is provided a reasonable opportunity to comment on such disclosure in advance.

The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO SERVICES, INC.

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By: EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC, its General Partner

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO PARTNERS OLD GP, LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By: EXCO PARTNERS OLD GP, LLC, its general partner

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By: RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC, its General Partner

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


ADVENT CAPITAL (NO 3) LTD
BRIT INSURANCE (GIBRALTAR) PCC LIMITED
BRIT SYNDICATES LIMITED
FEDERATED INSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
NORTHBRIDGE GENERAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
CLEARWATER SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
NEWLINE CORPORATE NAME LIMITED (SYNDICATE)
ODYSSEY REINSURANCE COMPANY
WENTWORTH INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.
ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS MASTER TRUST FUND
By: Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., its Investment Manager

/s/ Paul Rivett

Name:   Paul Rivett
Title:   Chief Operating Officer

 

Subscription Amount:    $ 151,000,000  
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes:    $ 151,000,000  
Number of Warrants:      162,365,591  

See following page for allocation of Notes and Warrants

Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd.

95 Wellington Street West, Suite 802

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2N7

Facsimile: (416) 367-4946

Attention: Derek Bulas

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

Shearman & Sterling LLP

199 Bay Street, Suite 4405

Toronto, Ontario Canada M5L 1E8

Facsimile: (416) 360-2125

Attention: Kevin Roggow

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


Investor

   Principal
Amount of Notes
     Number of
Warrants
 

Advent Capital (No 3) Ltd

   $ 5,000,000        5,376,344  

Brit Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Limited

     3,500,000        3,763,441  

Brit Syndicates Limited

     19,500,000        20,967,742  

Federated Insurance Company of Canada

     8,000,000        8,602,151  

Northbridge General Insurance Corporation

     27,000,000        29,032,258  

Clearwater Select Insurance Company

     5,000 000        5,376,344  

Newline Corporate Name Limited (Syndicate)

     5,000,000        5,376,344  

Odyssey Reinsurance Company

     40,000,000        43,010 ,753  

TIG Insurance Company

     14,000,000        15,053,763  

Wentworth Insurance Company Ltd.

     10,000,000        10,752,688  

Zenith Insurance Company

     4,000,000        4,301,075  

Fairfax Financial Holdings Master Trust Fund

     10,000,000        10,752,688  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 151,000,000        162,365,591  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC

/s/ Jonathan Siegler

Name:   Jonathan Siegler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Subscription Amount:    $ 70,000,000  
Cash Election:    $ 2,100,000  
Number of Warrants:      75,268,818  

Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC

200 Crescent Court, Suite 1900, Dallas, TX 75201

Email: jsiegler@bluescapepartners.com

Facsimile: 682-626-1335

Attention: Jonathan Siegler

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

Bracewell LLP

711 Louisiana Street Suite 2300, Houston, TX 77002-2770

Email: Emily.Leitch@bracewelllaw.com

Facsimile: 1.713.222.3249

Attention: Emily E. Leitch

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


OCM EXCO Holdings, LLC
By: Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
Its: Manager

/s/ Rajath Shourie

Name:   Rajath Shourie
Title:   Managing Director

/s/ Robert O’Leary

Name:   Robert O’Leary
Title:   Managing Director

 

Subscription Amount:    $ 39,500,000  
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes:    $ 39,500,000  
Number of Warrants:      42,473,119  

OCM EXCO Holdings, LLC

[Purchaser]

333 S. Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

[Address]

Email: rlaroche@oaktreecapital.com; rshourie@oaktreecapital.com

Facsimile: (213) 830-6499

Attention: Robert LaRoche

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

 

                                                                                        
[Name]      
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
[Address]      
Email:                                                                                      

Facsimile:                                                                            

 

Attention:                                                                            

 

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


GEN IV INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LLC

/s/ Paul Segal

Name: Paul Segal
Title:   President

 

Subscription Amount:    $ 30,000,000  
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes:    $ 30,000,000  
Number of Warrants:      32,258,065  

Gen IV Investment Opportunities LLC

1700 Broadway, 35 th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC

Email: DL_Geniv@lspower.com

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]


VEGA ASSET PARTNERS, LP

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   Manager

 

Subscription Amount:    $ 9,500,000  
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes:    $ 9,500,000  
Number of Warrants:      10,215,054  

Vega Asset Partners, LP

1700 Broadway, 35 th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC

Email: DL_Geniv@lspower.com

 

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]

Exhibit 10.2

CONFIDENTIAL

March     , 2017

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, TX 75251

Attention: Tyler Farquharson, Vice President,

         Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Form of Backstop Commitment Fee Election Letter and Preemptive Right

Ladies and Gentlemen:

EXCO Resources, Inc. (the “ Company ”) proposes to issue and sell $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.0%/11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”) together with warrants (the “ Financing Warrants ”) initially exercisable for 322,580,645 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company (the “ Offering ”). In connection with the Offering, the Company hereby agrees to pay the parties listed on Annex I hereto (collectively, the “ Backstop Commitment Parties ” and each individually, a “ Backstop Commitment Party ”) a fee equal to 3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “ Backstop Commitment Fee ”), at the election of each Backstop Commitment Party in either (i) penny warrants (the “ Commitment Fee Warrants ”) for a number of shares of Common Stock equal to such Backstop Commitment Party’s pro rata share of the Backstop Commitment Fee, with the shares of Common Stock valued at $0.70, which represents the 30-day trailing VWAP of the Common Stock as of the close of business on February 28, 2017 or (ii) a cash amount equal to such Backstop Commitment Party’s pro rata share of the Backstop Commitment Fee. The Offering and related transactions are expect to close on or about March     , 2017 (the “ Closing Date ”). The Commitment Fee Warrants will be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement to be dated as of the Closing Date between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.

Fee Election

The undersigned Backstop Commitment Party hereby confirms to the Company that it has elected to receive its pro rata share of the Backstop Commitment Fee in the form of [check one box]:

☐        Commitment Fee Warrants            OR        ☐            Cash

The Company agrees that the Backstop Commitment Fee shall be payable on the closing date of the Offering in accordance with the written delivery instructions provided by the Backstop Commitment Party.

Preemptive Right

The Company further agrees that each Backstop Commitment Party, for so long such Backstop Commitment Party is a beneficial owner of any unexercised Financing Warrants, shall have the right, in the event the Company proposes any offering of Common Stock for cash of any amount to any person or entity (other than shares of Common Stock issued directly to directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Company in connection with their service as directors of the Company, their employment by the Company or their retention as consultants by the Company, in each case pursuant to any plan, agreement


or other arrangement authorized by the Board), to purchase all or any portion of such shares of Common Stock pro rata in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Backstop Commitment Party based on the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock as if the Financing Warrants had been exercised immediately prior to such event; provided , however , that such right shall only be exercisable for an amount of shares of Common Stock which would permit the Company to close such offering without any regulatory approval (excluding any approvals of the Securities and Exchange Commission, but including, without limitation, any consent of the Company’s shareholders required under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or applicable Texas law). To the extent such preemptive right cannot be fully exercised as a result of the foregoing limitation, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such approvals. The right set forth in this paragraph with respect to each Backstop Commitment Party is hereinafter referred to as the “ Preemptive Right ”.

The Preemptive Right is personal to each Backstop Commitment Party and may not be transferred or assigned, and any such purported assignment or transfer will be void ab initio; provided that a Backstop Commitment Party may transfer or assign such rights to any subsidiary or affiliate of such Backstop Commitment Party. The Preemptive Right shall be automatically reduced as to any Backstop Commitment Party upon any transfer, sale, assignment or other disposition of Financing Warrants and any exercise of Financing Warrants.

The Preemptive Right shall completely terminate upon the earlier of (1) the transfer, sale, assignment or other disposition of all Financing Warrants beneficially owned by such Backstop Commitment Party (including upon exercise of such Financing Warrants) and (2) the termination of the exercise period set forth in the Financing Warrants. For the avoidance of doubt, the right set forth herein shall only apply with respect to any Backstop Commitment Party’s ownership of Financing Warrants without giving effect to any ownership of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, the Commitment Fee Warrants).

Subject to the foregoing paragraph, the Company agrees that its obligations under this letter agreement shall survive the consummation of the Offering and the transactions contemplated thereby.

This letter agreement may not be amended or any provision hereof waived or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. THIS LETTER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. This letter agreement may not be assigned by either party without the other party’s consent and any such purported assignment shall be void ab initio; provided that a Backstop Commitment Party may assign this letter agreement to any subsidiary or affiliate of such Backstop Commitment Party. This letter agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this letter agreement by facsimile transmission or via email (including “pdf” files) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

[ Remainder of this page intentionally left blank ]


Very truly yours,
[INVESTOR]
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[EXCO Resources, Inc. – Backstop Commitment Fee Election Letter]


Accepted and agreed to as of

the date first above written:

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[EXCO Resources, Inc. – Backstop Commitment Fee Election Letter]

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Purchase Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of March 15, 2017, is by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent under the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement referred to below (in such capacity, the “ Fairfax Administrative Agent ”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent under the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement referred to below (in such capacity, the “ Exchange Administrative Agent ”) and each of the other undersigned parties hereto (each, a “ Seller ” and, collectively, the “ Sellers ”). The Company and the Sellers are referred to herein as the “ Parties ” and each a “ Party .”

WHEREAS, the Sellers are, collectively, the direct, or indirect through their subsidiaries and affiliated funds, holders of (x) $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Loans (the “ 2015 Fairfax Loans ”) under and as defined in that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement ”) among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the Fairfax Administrative Agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee, and/or (y) $382,753,719 in aggregate principal amount of Loans (the “ 2015 Exchange Loans ”, and together with the 2015 Fairfax Loans, the “ 2015 Term Loans ”) under and as defined in that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement ”, and together with the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement, the “ 2015 Second Lien Credit Agreements ”) among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the Exchange Administrative Agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee;

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into a 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement dated March 15, 2017 (the “ Term Loan Agreement ”; capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Term Loan Agreement) with Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, and as collateral trustee, and one or more lenders; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to purchase, and the Sellers desire to sell, the 2015 Term Loans described on Annex I hereof to the Company in exchange for the Sellers or their affiliate or affiliates becoming a lender under the Term Loan Agreement (in such capacity, collectively, the “ Affiliate Lender ”);

WHEREAS, interest under the Term Loan Agreement is payable (the “ PIK Payments ”), in certain circumstances set forth therein, in shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”);

WHEREAS, certain of the Sellers may also commit to purchase the Company’s $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes Due 2022 (the “ 1.5 Lien Notes ”) and, in connection therewith will have the option to elect to receive a commitment fee which may be payable in cash or in penny warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “ Commitment Fee Warrants ”) and will also receive a fixed number of warrants (the “ Financing Warrants ”);


WHEREAS, as an inducement to enter into this Agreement, the Company will issue to the Sellers a consent fee (the “ Consent Fee ”), which may be payable, at the option of the Seller as elected on the signature pages hereto, in (i) cash or (ii) in penny warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “ Amendment Fee Warrants ” and together with the Financing Warrants and the Commitment Fee Warrants, the “ Warrants ”, and together with the Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to any PIK Payments, the “ Securities ”), pursuant to a Warrant Agreement to be dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Warrant Agreement ”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent;

WHEREAS, the Securities will be initially issued without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) upon reliance on exemptions from registration therefrom;

WHEREAS, the Warrants will not be exercisable until the Company has received the Requisite Shareholder Approvals (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) and thereafter shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement;

WHEREAS, holders of the Common Stock which may be issued as PIK Payments or as PIK payments under the 1.5 Lien Notes (together, the “ PIK Shares ”) and holders of the Warrants will have the registration rights set forth in the registration rights agreement, to be dated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among the Company, the Sellers and certain other persons. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), under the circumstances set forth therein, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the resale of the PIK Shares and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, (a) each Seller has individually negotiated this Agreement with the Company, (b) each Seller’s rights and obligations under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Seller, and (c) the rights and obligations of the Company with respect to each Seller are several and not joint with respect to any other Seller.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Purchase and Sale .

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, each Seller hereby agrees to sell to the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to purchase from each Seller, the aggregate principal amount of 2015 Term Loans specified on Annex I (collectively, the “ Purchased Loans ”), at a purchase price (the “ Purchase Price ”) equal to the sum of (i) $1,000 per $1,000 of principal amount of the 2015 Fairfax Loans and/or $1,000 per $1,000 of principal amount of the 2015 Exchange Loans, each as specified on Annex I . The obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement are several (and not joint), and no Seller shall be responsible for any other Seller’s failure to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

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(b) The Company hereby agrees to pay in full, in cash, all unpaid and accrued interest on the Purchased Loans from the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement or in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement, as applicable) to, but not including, the Closing Date (defined below), in each case payable in accordance with the terms of the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement or the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement, as applicable. The obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement are several (and not joint), and no Seller shall be responsible for any other Seller’s failure to perform its obligations hereunder.

(c) As inducement for each Seller to enter into this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to pay each Seller the Consent Fee with respect to the Purchased Loans sold by such Seller in accordance with such Seller’s election of cash or Warrants as specified in the signature pages hereto and summarized on Annex I. The Consent Fee payable to each Seller shall be equal to either (i) Warrants equal to such Seller’s pro rata share of an aggregate of up to 10% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company on the Closing Date (to be calculated on a fully diluted basis giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock underlying the Commitment Fee Warrants and the Amendment Fee Warrants, but excluding the Financing Warrants and any Common Stock which may be issued as PIK Payments or as PIK payments under the 1.5 Lien Notes and subject to pro rata reduction for any Seller who elects to receive the Consent Fee in cash pursuant to clause (ii)), or (ii) cash equal to such Seller’s pro rata share of the Common Stock underlying the Warrants described in immediately preceding clause (i). The price per share of Common Stock used to calculate the value of the cash in clause (ii) shall be $0.70 per share which represents the 30-day VWAP of the Common Stock as of February 28, 2017.

(d) For the convenience of the Parties, each of the Company and the Sellers agree that the funding of the Affiliate Lender’s Loans shall be deemed to occur on the Closing Date and the deemed delivery of the proceeds of the Affiliate Lender’s Loans under the Term Loan Agreement to the Sellers shall satisfy the Company’s obligation to pay the Purchase Price hereunder. Further, the accrued but unpaid interest on the Purchased Loans from the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to and including the Closing Date shall be paid in full in cash, promptly upon receipt of funds in respect thereof from the Company, by the Fairfax Administrative Agent (in the case of the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement) or by the Exchange Administrative Agent (in the case of the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement), as applicable, to the applicable Seller in each case at the direction of the Company on the Closing Date in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the respective accounts of the Sellers referenced on Annex II (the “ Accrued Interest ”). For the avoidance of doubt, upon the effectiveness of this Agreement the payment of any applicable Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement or in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement, as applicable) payable on the 2015 Term Loans that are subject to the purchase and sale contemplated by this Agreement will be waived as provided in Section 6 below. Finally, the Company, as the borrower of the Purchased Loans, shall (and hereby does) direct the Fairfax Administrative Agent (in the case of the 2015 Fairfax Loans) or the Exchange Administrative Agent (in the case of the 2015 Exchange Loans), as applicable, to cancel the applicable Purchased Loans concurrently with the Closing. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the deemed making by the Affiliate Lender of its Loans under the Term Loan Agreement, (ii) the deemed delivery by the Affiliate Lender of the proceeds of its Loans under the Term Loan Agreement to the Sellers in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 1(d) hereof, (iii) the sale by the Sellers to the Company of the Purchased Loans, (iv) the

 

3


purchase by the Company from the Sellers of the Purchased Loans and (v) the cancellation by the Fairfax Administrative Agent (in the case of the 2015 Fairfax Loans) or the Exchange Administrative Agent (in the case of the 2015 Exchange Loans), as applicable, of the applicable Purchased Loans in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 1(d) will, in each case, occur concurrently.

2. Closing . The closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Loans (the “ Closing ”) will take place on the business day on which the Effective Time (as defined below) occurs (such business day, the “ Effective Date ”) or such date and time after the Effective Date as shall be mutually agreed to by the Parties (the “ Closing Date ”). The Closing will take place at the offices of the Company or such other place as shall be mutually agreed to by the Parties. Each Seller’s obligations under this Agreement shall terminate on the date that is ten (10) Business days following the date of this Agreement (or such later date as may be agreed in writing by all Sellers).

3. Representations and Warranties and Covenants of Sellers . Each Seller represents and warrants, and covenants, as applicable, as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Time to the Company:

(a) Such Seller is the legal and beneficial owner (or, as of the Effective Date, will be the legal and beneficial owner) of the applicable Purchased Loans, and as of the Effective Time such Purchased Loans will not be sold, pledged, assigned or hypothecated to any other person. Such Seller has good and valid beneficial title to the Purchased Loans, free and clear of any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance, title retention agreement, option, equity or other adverse claim thereto, except for liens or encumbrances which will be released on or prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Such Seller (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and (iii) has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

(c) This Agreement (i) has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Seller and (ii) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(d) Each Seller is (i) an “accredited investor,” within the meaning of Rule 501 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and/or (iii) a non-U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act. Each Investor will acquire Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof in violation of the registration provisions of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each Investor understands that the Securities are being issued to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and

 

4


accuracy of, and each Investor’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Investor set forth herein and in any investor questionnaire completed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Investor to acquire the Securities.

(e) Such Seller has had the opportunity to review the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has had the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its representatives and to obtain information from representatives of the Company as necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, including any investment in the Securities. Such Seller is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in business and financial matters and is able to bear the economic risk involved with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and any investment in the Securities.

(f) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Seller will not result in a violation by such Seller of any requirement of law or any contractual obligation of such Seller and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien on any of its properties or revenues pursuant to any requirement of law or any such contractual obligation.

4. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Time to each Seller:

(a) The Company (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and (iii) has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement (i) has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and (ii) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company will not result in a violation by the Company of any requirement of law or any contractual obligation of the Company and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien on any of its properties or revenues pursuant to any requirement of law or any such contractual obligation.

5. Conditions Precedent . The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligations of the Company to purchase and the Sellers to sell the Purchased Loans are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (the date and time of satisfaction of such conditions precedent, the “ Effective Time ”):

(a) Each Party shall have received this Agreement duly executed and delivered by each other Party;

 

5


(b) Each of the representations and warranties of each Party set forth herein are true and accurate as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Time;

(c) Each Affiliate Lender shall have executed the Term Loan Agreement as a lender thereunder, with a commitment to lend an amount thereunder equal to the Purchase Price (but, for the avoidance of doubt, exclusive of the amounts required to pay the Accrued Interest on the Purchased Loans);

(d) All of the conditions to the closing and the making of Loans by each Affiliate Lender under the Term Loan Agreement, other than the contemporaneous consummation of the purchase of the Purchased Loans pursuant hereto, shall have been satisfied or waived by the Administrative Agent or Lenders, as applicable;

(e) each Seller shall have completed and returned an investor questionnaire to the Company and shall have delivered to the Company all necessary certificates, instruments and other documents as may be required in connection with the issuance of the Loans under the Term Loan Agreement and any issuance of Securities (including any forms required by the Company’s transfer agent with respect to its Common Stock); and

(f) Concurrently with the Closing, the Company shall have directed the Administrative Agent and the Affiliate Lender to deliver the deemed proceeds of the Affiliate Lender’s Loans under the Term Loan Agreement as contemplated in Section 1(d) hereof.

6. Amendments .

(a) Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement . The Company, the other Credit Parties (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement), the Fairfax Administrative Agent and each Seller that is party to the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement as of the Effective Date hereby (w) agree that, effective as of the date hereof and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement, the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement shall be deemed paid in full concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall be deemed terminated, (x) irrevocably waive the requirement for the payment by the Borrower of any applicable Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement) that is owing solely with respect to the 2015 Fairfax Loans that are subject to the purchase and sale contemplated by this Agreement, (y) hereby consent to, and, subject to compliance with Section 7.1(c) of the Collateral Trust Agreement (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement), direct the Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement) to enter into, the amendment to the Collateral Trust Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto and (z) hereby consent to, and direct the Collateral Trustee (in its capacity as a Secured Debt Representative under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement)) to enter into, the amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement attached as Exhibit B hereto.

 

6


(b) Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement . The Company, the other Credit Parties (as defined in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement), the Exchange Administrative Agent and each Seller that is party to the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement as of the Effective Date, effective as of the date hereof and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement, hereby (v) consent to, and direct the Exchange Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement) to enter into, the amendments to the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement attached as Exhibit C hereto, (w) agree that the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement shall be deemed further amended to allow for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (x) irrevocably waive the requirement for the payment by the Borrower of any applicable Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement) that is owing solely with respect to the 2015 Exchange Loans that are subject to the purchase and sale contemplated by this Agreement, (y) hereby consent to, and, subject to compliance with Section 7.1(c) of the Collateral Trust Agreement (as defined in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement), direct the Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement) to enter into, the amendment to the Collateral Trust Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto and (z) hereby consent to, and direct the Collateral Trustee (in its capacity as a Secured Debt Representative under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement)) to enter into, the amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement attached as Exhibit B hereto.

7. Release of Claims; Indemnification .

(a) Effective on the Effective Time, each Party, on behalf of itself and its respective successors and assigns, affiliates, members, directors, managers, officers, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “ Releasing Parties ”) shall, and hereby does, except as provided herein, release, acquit, waive and forever discharge each other Party and such Party’s affiliates and its and their respective current and former principals, officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, successors, assigns, indemnitees and representatives of any kind (collectively, the “ Released Parties ”), from and against (i) any and all liability from all claims, judgments, demands, liens, actions, administrative proceedings, and causes of action of every kind and nature, whether derivative or otherwise (including, without limitation, any claims or counterclaims), asserted by any Releasing Party, in each case, to the extent and solely to the extent arising out of the Purchased Loans (collectively, “ Claims ”), and (ii) from all damages, injuries, contributions, indemnities, compensation, obligations, costs, attorney’s fees and expenses of every kind and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent, whether in law or in equity, whether sounding in tort or in contract and whether or not asserted arising out of such Claims (collectively, “ Damages ”), insofar as such Claims or Damages arise out of the actions or omissions of any Released Party, whether or not relating to Claims or Damages pending on, or asserted after, the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the direct or indirect limited partners or members of any Party or any of its members shall not be deemed to be Releasing Parties for purposes of this Section 7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Claims and/or Damages released hereby shall not include (i) any Claims and/or Damages arising as a direct or indirect result of the fraud of any Released Party, (ii) any rights to indemnity or reimbursement under the Fairfax Second Lien Credit Agreement or the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement which relate to the period prior to the Effective Time or (iii) any Claims and/or Damages related to any indebtedness of the Company other than the Purchased Loans. For the avoidance of doubt, the Exchange Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to be a Releasing Party for purposes of this Section 7 and in entering this Agreement the Exchange Administrative Agent shall be and remain entitled to the benefit of the Exchange Second Lien Credit Agreement relating to the rights, protections, immunities, indemnities, exculpations or conduct of, or affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Administrative Agent” thereunder.

 

7


(b) The release of Released Parties contained herein is a final release, even if there may exist a mistake on the part of any Releasing Party as to the extent and nature of the claims, injuries, and damages of the Releasing Parties against the Released Parties; provided that for the avoidance of doubt such release shall be of no further force or effect in the event the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated.

(c) Each Party agrees that this Agreement may be pleaded as a full and complete defense to, and may be used as a basis for an injunction against, any action, suit or other proceeding which may be instituted, prosecuted or attempted in breach of this Agreement by it or any other Releasing Party.

(d) Each Party expressly agrees that this Agreement shall apply to all unknown and any unanticipated injuries and damages of any Releasing Party, as well as those now known by any Releasing Party, arising out of or in connection with the actions or omissions of any Released Parties related to the Claims prior to the date hereof, and expressly waives any applicable state law that may hold to the contrary.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7, nothing in this Section 7 shall limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), or any of the rights of the Affiliate Lender thereunder.

8. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by one or more parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or via email (including “pdf” files) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

9. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

10. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT LAW, TORT LAW OR OTHERWISE) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

8


11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN (IN EACH CASE, WHETHER FOR CLAIMS SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT).

12. Entire Agreement . This Agreement in combination with the Term Loan Agreement represents the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Parties relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the Term Loan Agreement.

13. Further Assurances . Each of the Parties shall execute, acknowledge, deliver or cause to be executed, acknowledged or delivered, all further documents as shall be reasonably necessary or convenient to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

14. Amendments in Writing . This Agreement may only be amended or modified if such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and signed by all Parties. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be construed as an implied amendment or agreement to amend or modify any provision of this Agreement.

15. Headings . The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

16. Independent Nature of Sellers . The obligations of each Seller under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Seller, and no Seller shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Seller under this Agreement. Each Seller shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties and agreements hereunder. The decision of each Seller to sell the Purchased Loans pursuant to this Agreement has been made by such Seller independently of any other Seller and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which may have been made or given by any other Seller or by any agent or employee of any other Seller, and no Seller or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Seller (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Seller pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Sellers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Sellers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Seller shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Seller to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

[Signature Pages to Follow]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed under seal and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the date first written above.

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

 

Name: Tyler Farquharson

Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.

EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC

EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC

EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC

EXCO SERVICES, INC.

EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC

EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC

EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC

EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.

EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC

 

By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name: Tyler Farquharson

  Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name: Tyler Farquharson

  Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name: Tyler Farquharson

  Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name: Tyler Farquharson

  Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name: Tyler Farquharson

  Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


HAMBLIN WATSA INVESTMENT COUNSEL
LTD.
, as Fairfax Administrative Agent

By:  

/s/ Paul Rivett

 

Name: Paul Rivett

Title: Chief Operating Officer

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
, as Exchange Administrative Agent

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

Name: Renee Kuhl

  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Sellers:
BRIT INSURANCE (GIBRALTAR) PCC LIMITED
BRIT SYNDICATES LIMITED
CLEARWATER SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS MASTER TRUST FUND
FEDERATED INSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
NEWLINE CORPORATE NAME LIMITED (SYNDICATE)
NORTHBRIDGE GENERAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
NORTHBRIDGE PERSONAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
ODYSSEY REINSURANCE COMPANY
TIG INSURANCE (BARBADOS) LTD.
UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
WENTWORTH INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.
ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
ZENITH INSURANCE COMAPNY
By: Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Paul Rivett

Name:   Paul Rivett
Title:   Chief Operating Officer
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☐ Cash
☒ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: AVENUE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P. , as Lender
By:  

/s/ Sonia Gardner

Name:   Sonia Gardner
Title:   Member
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: Bank of America, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Tracey-Ann Scarlett

Name:   Tracey-Ann Scarlett
Title:   Assistant Vice President
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller:
Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Siegler

Name:   Jonathan Siegler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
By:  

/s/ David Evelyn

Name:   David Evelyn
Title:   General Manager
By:  

/s/ Neermala Hurry

Name:   Neermala Hurry
Title:   Assistant General Manager
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☐ Cash
☒ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: CHOU ASSOCIATES FUND
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: CHOU BOND FUND
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: CHOU RRSP FUND
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: CHOU INCOME FUND
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: CHOU OPPORTUNITY FUND
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: JPMORGAN TAX AWARE INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca

Title: Vice President, JP Morgan Investment

Management

Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: JPMORGAN TOTAL RETURN FUND
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca

Title: Vice President, JP Morgan Investment

Management

Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: ADVANCED SERIES TRUST – AST J.P. MORGAN STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES PORTFOLIO
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca

Title: Vice President, JP Morgan Investment

Management

Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: JPMORGAN STRATEGIC INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca

Title: Vice President, JP Morgan Investment

Management

Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: GEN IV INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   President
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: VEGA ASSET PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   President
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited
By Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC as Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Ravi Soni

Name:   Ravi Soni
Title:   Senior Vice President
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]


Seller: NB Distressed Debt Master Fund LP
By Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC as Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Ravi Soni

Name:   Ravi Soni
Title:   Senior Vice President
Consent Fee in connection herewith will be paid with the following (please indicate):
☒ Cash
☐ Amendment Fee Warrants

[Signature Page to EXCO Resources Purchase Agreement]

Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

1.75 LIEN TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

March 15, 2017

among

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

as Borrower

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER,

as Guarantors

The Lenders Party Hereto

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

    EXCO Resources, Inc.
    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I  
DEFINITIONS  

Section 1.01

 

Defined Terms

     2  

Section 1.02

 

Terms Generally

     69  

Section 1.03

 

Accounting Terms; GAAP

     70  

Section 1.04

 

Time of Day

     70  
ARTICLE II  
THE CREDITS  

Section 2.01

 

Term Loans

     70  

Section 2.02

 

Termination and Reduction of the Commitments

     70  

Section 2.03

 

Loans and Borrowings

     71  

Section 2.04

 

Requests for Borrowings

     71  

Section 2.05

 

Deemed Funding of Borrowings

     71  

Section 2.06

 

Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

     71  

Section 2.07

 

Optional Prepayment of Loans

     72  

Section 2.08

 

Mandatory Prepayment of Loans

     74  

Section 2.09

 

Fees and Applicable Premium

     76  

Section 2.10

 

Interest

     77  

Section 2.11

 

Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances

     81  

Section 2.12

 

Taxes

     82  

Section 2.13

 

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

     86  

Section 2.14

 

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders; Illegality

     88  

Section 2.15

 

Defaulting Lenders

     89  

Section 2.16

 

Returned Payments

     90  

Section 2.17

 

Collection of Proceeds of Production

     90  
ARTICLE III  
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  

Section 3.01

 

Organization; Powers

     90  

Section 3.02

 

Authorization; Enforceability

     91  

Section 3.03

 

Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

     91  

Section 3.04

 

Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

     91  

Section 3.05

 

Properties

     92  

Section 3.06

 

Litigation and Environmental Matters

     92  

Section 3.07

 

Compliance with Laws and Agreements

     93  

Section 3.08

 

Investment Company Status; Energy Regulatory Status

     93  

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


Section 3.09

 

Taxes

     93  

Section 3.10

 

ERISA

     94  

Section 3.11

 

Disclosure

     94  

Section 3.12

 

Labor Matters

     94  

Section 3.13

 

Capitalization and Credit Party Information

     94  

Section 3.14

 

Margin Stock

     94  

Section 3.15

 

Oil and Gas Properties

     95  

Section 3.16

 

Insurance

     95  

Section 3.17

 

Solvency

     95  

Section 3.18

 

Deposit Accounts

     96  

Section 3.19

 

Maintenance of Properties

     96  

Section 3.20

 

Foreign Corrupt Practices; OFAC

     96  

Section 3.21

 

USA PATRIOT Act

     97  

Section 3.22

 

Security Interest in Collateral

     97  
ARTICLE IV  
CONDITIONS  

Section 4.01

 

Effective Date

     98  

Section 4.02

 

Compliance with Conditions to Effective Date

     101  
ARTICLE V  
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS  

Section 5.01

 

Financial Statements; Other Information

     102  

Section 5.02

 

Lender Conference Calls

     104  

Section 5.03

 

Notices of Material Events

     104  

Section 5.04

 

Existence; Conduct of Business

     105  

Section 5.05

 

Payment of Obligations

     105  

Section 5.06

 

Insurance

     105  

Section 5.07

 

Operation and Maintenance of Properties

     106  

Section 5.08

 

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

     107  

Section 5.09

 

Compliance with Laws

     107  

Section 5.10

 

Use of Proceeds

     107  

Section 5.11

 

Reserve Reports

     107  

Section 5.12

 

Liens on Collateral and Additional Property

     108  

Section 5.13

 

Title Data

     110  

Section 5.14

 

Additional Guarantors

     110  

Section 5.15

 

Deposit Accounts

     111  

Section 5.16

 

Credit Ratings

     111  

Section 5.17

 

Further Assurances

     112  

Section 5.18

 

Post-Closing Matters

     112  

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


ARTICLE VI  
NEGATIVE COVENANTS  

Section 6.01

 

Limitation on Indebtedness

     112  

Section 6.02

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     117  

Section 6.03

 

Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries

     121  

Section 6.04

 

Fundamental Changes and Dispositions

     123  

Section 6.05

 

Limitation on Affiliate Transactions

     126  

Section 6.06

 

Prepayment of Junior Lien Credit Agreement

     128  

Section 6.07

 

Limitation on Liens

     128  

Section 6.08

 

Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions

     128  

Section 6.09

 

Payment of Fees

     128  
ARTICLE VII  
GUARANTEE OF OBLIGATIONS  

Section 7.01

 

Guarantee of Payment

     129  

Section 7.02

 

Guarantee Absolute

     129  

Section 7.03

 

Guarantee Irrevocable

     129  

Section 7.04

 

Reinstatement

     130  

Section 7.05

 

Subrogation

     130  

Section 7.06

 

Subordination

     130  

Section 7.07

 

Payments Generally

     130  

Section 7.08

 

Setoff

     131  

Section 7.09

 

Formalities

     131  

Section 7.10

 

Limitations on Guarantee

     131  
ARTICLE VIII  
EVENTS OF DEFAULT  
ARTICLE IX  
THE AGENTS  

Section 9.01

 

Appointment and Authority

     135  

Section 9.02

 

Rights as a Lender

     135  

Section 9.03

 

Exculpatory Provisions

     135  

Section 9.04

 

Reliance by Agent

     137  

Section 9.05

 

Delegation of Duties

     137  

Section 9.06

 

Resignation of Agent

     137  

Section 9.07

 

Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders

     138  

Section 9.08

 

Right to Request and Act on Instructions

     138  

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


ARTICLE X  
MISCELLANEOUS  

Section 10.01

 

Notices

     138  

Section 10.02

 

Waivers; Amendments

     141  

Section 10.03

 

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     143  

Section 10.04

 

Successors and Assigns

     144  

Section 10.05

 

Survival

     149  

Section 10.06

 

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

     149  

Section 10.07

 

Severability

     150  

Section 10.08

 

Right of Setoff

     150  

Section 10.09

 

GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

     150  

Section 10.10

 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     151  

Section 10.11

 

Headings

     151  

Section 10.12

 

Confidentiality

     151  

Section 10.13

 

Interest Rate Limitation

     152  

Section 10.14

 

USA PATRIOT Act

     153  

Section 10.15

 

Flood Insurance Regulation

     153  

Section 10.16

 

No Fiduciary Duty

     153  

Section 10.17

 

Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement

     154  

Section 10.18

 

Additional Indebtedness

     155  

Section 10.19

 

Compliance with Provisions in this Agreement

     155  

Section 10.20

 

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

     155  

 

  iv   EXCO Resources, Inc.
    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


EXHIBITS :     

Exhibit A

 

  

Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B

 

  

Reserved

Exhibit C

 

  

Form of Counterpart Agreement

Exhibit D

 

  

Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit E

 

  

Form of Note

Exhibit F

 

  

Form of Collateral Trust Agreement

Exhibit G

 

  

Form of Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit H-1

 

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

Exhibit H-2

 

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

Exhibit H-3

 

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

Exhibit H-4

 

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

SCHEDULES :     

Schedule 2.01

 

  

Commitments

Schedule 3.06

 

  

Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.13

 

  

Capitalization and Credit Party Information

Schedule 3.18

 

  

Specified Accounts

Schedule 3.22

 

  

Filing Offices for Mortgages and Financing Statements

Schedule 5.18

 

  

Post-Closing Matters

Schedule 6.01

 

  

Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.05

 

  

Affiliate Transactions

Schedule 6.07

 

  

Existing Liens

 

  v   EXCO Resources, Inc.
    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


1.75 LIEN TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS 1.75 LIEN TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 15, 2017, among EXCO RESOURCES, INC., a Texas corporation, as Borrower, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER, as Guarantors, the LENDERS party hereto, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Trustee.

RECITALS

WHEREAS , the Lenders are, collectively, the direct, or indirect through their subsidiaries and affiliated funds, holders of (x) $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Borrower’s pari passu senior secured second lien term loans issued pursuant to that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and Section 6.01(b)(3) and as in effect prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Agreement, the “ Fairfax Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Borrower, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower as guarantors party from time to time thereto, the lenders party from time to time thereto, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel, Ltd., as administrative agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee, and the other parties party from time to time thereto, and (y) $382,753,719 in aggregate principal amount of the Borrower’s pari passu senior secured second lien term loans issued pursuant to that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced prior to the Effective Date and as in effect prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Agreement, the “ Exchange Term Loan Agreement ” and collectively with the Fairfax Credit Agreement, the “ Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements ”), by and among, the Borrower, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower as guarantors party from time to time thereto, the lenders party from time to time thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee, and the other parties party from time to time thereto;

WHEREAS , concurrently with the occurrence of the Effective Date, the Lenders will enter the Exchange Agreement whereby each Lender, as a lender under one or both of the Fairfax Term Loan Agreement (the “ Tranche A Fairfax Term Loan Lenders ”) or the Exchange Term Loan Agreement (the “ Tranche A Exchange Term Loan Lenders ”), as applicable, will agree to accept as prepayment, in full and on a cashless basis, of certain or all of its respective commitments, loans and other obligations (the “ Existing Exchanged Loans ”) under the applicable Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements, as applicable, and to the extent provided in the Exchange Agreement, in an equal principal amount of the Loans and Commitments hereunder;

WHEREAS , as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, (x) the obligations under the Fairfax Credit Agreement will be repaid in full and the Fairfax Credit Agreement will be terminated and (y) the Exchange Term Loan Agreement will be amended by the Exchange Term Loan Amendment and will be referred to for all purposes hereunder as the “Junior Lien Credit Agreement”;

 

    EXCO Resources, Inc.
    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


WHEREAS , the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan facility, and the Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and of the loans and commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01     Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Act ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14 .

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

(1)    providing that all Priority Lien Obligations, Junior Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations, as applicable, will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Priority Liens, Junior Priority Liens or Junior Liens, as applicable, at any time granted by the Borrower or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or Series of Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, whether or not upon Property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or Series of Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, and that all such Priority Liens, Junior Priority Liens or Junior Liens, as applicable, will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee, the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent or Junior Lien Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations, Junior Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations, as applicable, equally and ratably;

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


(2)    providing that such Priority Lien Representative, Junior Priority Lien Representative or Junior Lien Representative, as applicable, and the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, Series of Junior Priority Lien Debt or Series of Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Senior Priority Liens, Priority Liens, Junior Priority Liens and Junior Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Senior Priority Liens, Priority Liens, Junior Priority Liens and Junior Liens; and

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

Administrative Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as contractual representative of the Lenders hereunder pursuant to Article IX and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor agent appointed pursuant to Article IX .

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.05 .

Agents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  9.01 .

Aggregate Credit Exposure ” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the Credit Exposure of all of the Lenders as of such date.

Agreement ” means this 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, as may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) modified or restated in accordance with the terms hereof.

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

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) with respect to the Term Loans, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of such Lender and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of all Term Lenders, and (b) with respect to the Aggregate Credit Exposure, a percentage based upon its share of the Aggregate Credit Exposure; provided that, in accordance with Section 2.15 (other than Section 2.15(b) ), so long as any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculations under clauses (a)  and (b) above. The initial amount of each Lender’s Applicable Percentage is as set forth on Schedule  2.01 . If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentage of any Lender shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

Approved Bank ” means any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks.

Approved Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04 .

Approved Petroleum Engineer ” means Lee Keeling & Associates, Netherland Sewell & Associates, Inc., Ryder Scott Petroleum Consultants or any other reputable firm of independent petroleum engineers selected by the Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Asset Sale ” means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “ disposition ”) of (a) 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 Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), (b) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (c) any other assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that none of the following shall constitute an “Asset Sale” for purposes of this Agreement:

(a)    a disposition by (i) a Guarantor to the Borrower or by the Borrower or a Guarantor to a Guarantor, (ii) a Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Guarantor and (iii) a Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary to a Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary;

(b)    for purposes of Section 6.04 only, a disposition that constitutes a Restricted Payment (or would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusions from the definition thereof) and that is not prohibited by Section 6.04 ;

(c)    a disposition of Crude Oil, Natural Gas or other Hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business of the oil and gas production operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (but, excluding, among other things and for the avoidance of doubt, the disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole);

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


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

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

(f)    the trade or exchange by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Oil and Gas Property of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary for any Oil and Gas Properties of another Person or for the Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, including any de minimis amount of cash or Cash Equivalents necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value (but, excluding, among other things and for the avoidance of doubt, the disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole); provided , however , that the value of the Oil and Gas Properties therein received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such trade or exchange (including any cash or Cash Equivalents) is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an executive officer of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with the responsibility for such transaction (if the Board of Directors has delegated such determination to such executive officer, which delegation may occur for Oil and Gas Properties for which the fair market value is less than $30,000,000), which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) of the Oil and Gas Properties or Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business (including any cash or Cash Equivalents) so traded or exchanged; provided , further, that any Net Cash Proceeds are applied pursuant to the requirements of Section 2.08 ;

(g)    the creation or perfection of a Lien permitted pursuant to this Agreement;

(h)    the abandonment, farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business;

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

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

(k)    the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property (including without limitation the licensing of seismic data) or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property (other than any Oil and Gas Properties or other interest in real property) in the Borrower’s ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


(m)     the following transactions:

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

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

(n)    a disposition of assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions with a fair market value of less than $6,000,000.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.04 ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit  A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

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

Backstop Commitment Parties ” means Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. and its Affiliates (including Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited), ESAS, OCM EXCO Holdings LLC and Gen IV and, in each case, their respective Affiliates (excluding, in each case, the Company and its Subsidiaries) and any arranger, representative or agent appointed by such parties to act on their behalf in their collective capacity as the Backstop Commitment Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereinafter in effect, or any successor statute.

Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of (i) any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person or any parent thereof by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof or (ii) in the case of a solvent Person, the precautionary appointment of an administrator, guardian, custodian or other similar official by a Governmental Authority under or based on the law of the country where such Person is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment not be publicly disclosed where such action does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States of America or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality), to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

Bankruptcy Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code and any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law.

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

BG Joint Development Agreement ” means that certain Joint Development Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2009 (as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified or restated), by and among BG US Production Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and EOC, pursuant to which the parties thereto entered into a joint development agreement to develop and operate certain oil and gas properties located in the East Texas/North Louisiana Area.

BG JV Documents ” means the BG Joint Development Agreement and any other documents, instruments, agreements or certificates contemplated by or executed in connection therewith.

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

Bluescape Agreement ” means that certain Services and Investment Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2015, between Borrower and Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time.

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Board of Directors ” means: (a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; (b) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership; (c) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and (d) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Borrower ” means EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation.

Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Term Loan made on the same date.

Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04 .

Business Day ” means each day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of Section 6.07 , a Capital Lease Obligation will be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased.

Capital Stock ” means: (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation; (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be Capital Stock unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following:

(a)    Dollars;

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


(b)    securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition;

(c)    certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of three years or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with an Approved Bank;

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

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

(f)    marketable short-term money market and similar liquid funds having a rating of at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency selected by the Borrower);

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

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

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

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


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

Cash Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  2.10 .

Cash Management Obligations ” means any obligations in respect of treasury management arrangements, depositary or other cash management services, including commercial credit card and merchant card services.

Change in Law ” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty (including any rules or regulations issued under or implementing any existing law) after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.11(b) , by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States of America or foreign regulatory authorities, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

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

(a)    any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any Permitted Investor, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause (a) such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower (or its successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets);

(b)    the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower;

(c)    the merger or consolidation of the Borrower with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Borrower, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than, in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, a transaction in which holders of securities that represented 100% of the Voting Stock of the Borrower immediately prior to such transaction (or other securities into which such securities are converted as part of such merger or consolidation transaction) become the beneficial owners directly or indirectly of at least a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction; or

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


(d)    the occurrence of any “Change of Control” (or similar term) as such term is defined under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or under any Senior Priority Lien Document, Priority Lien Document, Junior Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document.

Charges ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.13 .

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute.

Collateral ” means all assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by any Borrower or any other Credit Party, in which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to any Secured Party or the Collateral Trustee as security for any Obligation.

Collateral Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) the sum of (without duplication) (i) the PV-10 of Proved Reserves and Unproved Reserves of the Mortgaged Properties and other Oil and Gas Properties as evaluated in the Collateral Coverage Reserve Report most recently delivered pursuant to Section  5.11 , and (ii) the value for net undeveloped acres that do not have scheduled locations within the Collateral Coverage Reserve Report derived from Credit Parties’ land records and recent leasing activity for comparable acreage, to (b) the aggregate outstanding Secured Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date.

Collateral Coverage Reserve Report ” means a report setting forth, as of the end of the Borrower’s most recent fiscal year, (i) the PV-10 of the Proved Reserves, as evaluated in the Reserve Report most recently delivered pursuant to Section  5.11 , based upon the economic assumptions consistent with the First Lien RBL Agent’s lending requirements at the time, (ii) the PV-10 of the Unproved Reserves of the Mortgaged Properties and other Oil and Gas Properties, and (iii) the value for net undeveloped acres that do not have scheduled locations within the Proved Reserves and Unproved Reserves derived from Credit Parties’ land records and recent leasing activity for comparable acreage attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, based upon NYMEX Prices as of the report date.

Collateral Trust Agreement ” means that certain Collateral Trust Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015 among (after giving effect to the amendment and restatement to be made thereto on the Effective Date) the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Collateral Trustee, the Administrative Agent and the Junior Lien Administrative Agent, as the same was amended on the Effective Date in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F and as may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) modified or restated in accordance with the terms thereof.

Collateral Trust Joinder Agreement ” means, with respect to the Collateral Trust Agreement, (x) in the case of additional debt, a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Collateral Trust Agreement or (y) in the case of an additional grantor, a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C to the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


Collateral Trustee ” means the collateral trustee for all holders of the Junior Priority Lien Obligations and Junior Lien Obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement. Wilmington Trust, National Association will initially serve as the Collateral Trustee.

Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule  2.01 , or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. As of the Effective Date, the aggregate principal amount of the Commitments is $682,753,719.

Commodity Agreement ” means any oil or natural gas hedging agreement and other agreement or arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business and designed to protect the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary against fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices.

Common Stock ” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Borrower.

Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Coverage Ratio ” as of any date of determination means the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters; provided , that:

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

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

(c)    if since the beginning of such period the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale, EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the

 

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subject of such Asset Sale 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 Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Borrower and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Sale 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 Borrower and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

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

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

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

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness Incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower. 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 twelve (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).

 

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

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

(a)    PIK Interest, “PIK Interest” (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), and interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations;

(b)    capitalized interest;

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

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

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

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

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

(h)    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 Borrower) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense (1) Consolidated Interest Expense with respect to any Production Payments to the extent such Production Payments are excluded from the definition of “Indebtedness” and (2) noncash interest expense incurred in connection with interest rate caps and other interest rate and currency options that, at the time entered into, resulted in the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries being either neutral or net payors as to future payouts under such caps or options.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income the following items, in each case adjusted for income

 

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taxes, using the Borrower’s estimated income tax rate for the applicable period, attributable to such items excluded from Consolidated Net Income:

(a)    any net income of any Person (other than the Borrower) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except that:

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

(2)    the Borrower’s cash contributions (net of cash contributions or other cash distributions from such Person) in connection with a net loss of any such Person for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

(b)    any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the Borrower or a consolidated Restricted 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;

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

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

(2)    the Borrower’s cash contributions in connection with a net loss of any such consolidated Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

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

 

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(e)    any impairment losses on Oil and Gas Properties;

(f)    extraordinary or non-recurring gains or losses;

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

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

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

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

(k)    to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, any non-cash or non-recurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded, in each case, for such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 6.02 only (but not the calculation of the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for purposes of determining compliance with such covenant), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any repurchases, repayments or redemptions of Investments, proceeds realized on the sale of Investments or return of capital to the Borrower 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 6.02(a)(3)(iii) . In addition, for purposes of this definition, the term “ non-recurring ” means any charge, expense, loss or gain as of any date that is not reasonably likely to recur within the two years following the date of occurrence of such charge, expense, loss or gain; provided that if there is a charge, expense, loss or gain similar to such expense, loss or gain within the two years preceding such date, such expense, loss or gain shall not be deemed non-recurring and; provided further , that severance payments shall be considered “non-recurring” regardless of the frequency of the payment of such payments.

Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means, for any Person, any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(a)    to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

 

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(b)    to advance or supply funds:

(1)    for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

(2)    to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(c)    to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Counterpart Agreement ” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit  C delivered by a Guarantor pursuant to Section  5.14 .

Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its Term Loans outstanding.

Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, this Agreement and the Junior Lien Credit Agreement), capital markets financings or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, bankers acceptances, notes or other long-term indebtedness, including any mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, supplemental or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof or adds additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

Credit Parties ” means collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor and each individually, a “ Credit Party ”.

Crude Oil ” means all crude oil and condensate.

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

 

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Default ” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans or (ii) pay over to the Administrative Agent or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular Default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing, or has made a public statement, to the effect that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular Default, if any) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, (d) has, or has a parent that has, on or after the Effective Date, become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event or (e) becomes the subject of a Bail-In Action.

Deposit Account Control Agreement ” means a deposit account control agreement to be executed and delivered among any Credit Party, the Collateral Trustee and each bank at which such Credit Party maintains any deposit account, in each case, in accordance with such bank’s standard form of control agreement and acceptable to the Collateral Trustee as to its rights and obligations, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Determination Date ” means, February 28 (or February 29 in a leap year) and August 31 of each year.

DIP Financing ” means any post-petition financing under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of any other Bankruptcy Law.

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

 

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Disclosed Matters ” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule  3.06 .

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, conveyance, license, lease, farm-out, exchange or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Disqualified Institution ” means a Person identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower on or prior to the Effective Date, which list may be updated from time to time after the Effective Date at the request of the Borrower with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to post the list Disqualified Institutions to the Lenders, and any additional list of Disqualified Institutions will be available for inspection by any Lender upon request to the Administrative Agent.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest 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:

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

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

(c)    is mandatorily redeemable or must be purchased upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise, in whole or in part; in each case on or prior to the 181st day after the Term Loan Maturity Date; provided , however , that any Equity Interest that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or “change of control” occurring prior to the 181st day after the Term Loan Maturity Date shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if:

(1)    the “asset sale” or “change of control” provisions applicable to such Equity Interest are not more favorable to the holders of such Equity Interest than the terms applicable to the Loans in Section 2.08 and 6.04 and

(2)    any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to the Loans, including the prepayment or repayment of any Loans tendered pursuant thereto. The amount of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were redeemed, repaid or repurchased on any date on which the amount of such Disqualified Stock is to be determined pursuant to this Agreement; provided , however , that if such Disqualified Stock could not be

 

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required to be redeemed, repaid or repurchased at the time of such determination, the redemption, repayment or repurchase price will be the book value of such Disqualified Stock as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person.

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

Dollar Equivalent ” means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than Dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the amount of Dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “Exchange Rates” column under the heading “Currency Trading” on the date two (2) Business Days prior to such determination. Except as described in Section 6.01 , whenever it is necessary to determine whether the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has complied with any covenant in this Agreement or a Default has occurred and an amount is expressed in a currency other than Dollars, such amount will be treated as the Dollar Equivalent determined as of the date such amount is initially determined in such currency.

Dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person that is incorporated or formed under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Dutch Auction ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(e).

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

EBG Resources ” means EBG Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

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

(a)    all income tax expense of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b)    Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c)    depreciation, depletion, exploration and amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) expense of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding amortization of expenses attributable to a prepaid operating activity item that was paid in cash in a prior period);

 

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

(e)    unrealized non-cash foreign exchange losses of the Borrower and the consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries,

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:

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

(2)    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 noncash charges of, a consolidated 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 Borrower 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.

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section  4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02 ).

 

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Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) a Related Fund or an Approved Fund of a Lender, (d) any and all of the Backstop Commitment Parties and (e) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower, any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or a Disqualified Institution ( provided , further , that the immediately preceding proviso shall not apply to Fairfax or the ESAS Parties). Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Credit Party and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment made to a Disqualified Institution.

Environmental Laws ” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Credit Party directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

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

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be an Equity Interest unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged, except, solely for purposes of a pledge of Equity Interests in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, to the extent such instrument could be treated as “stock” of a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.956-2(c)(2).

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Credit Party, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

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ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

ESAS Parties ” means (a) ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c) any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants.

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VIII .

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

Exchange Agreement ” means that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and between the Borrower and certain of the Lenders under the Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements and the other parties thereto as in effect on the Effective Date and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments delivered in connection therewith, or related thereto.

Exchange Term Loan Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Exchange Term Loan Amendment ” means the First Amendment, dated as of March 15, 2017, to the Exchange Term Loan Agreement, among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent thereunder.

Excluded Accounts ” means deposit accounts that (a) do not contain for a period of more than three (3) Business Days, deposits in an aggregate amount in excess of $150,000, (b) are designated solely as accounts for, and are used solely for, payroll (and related payroll tax) funding, “flex” funding or similar employee benefits, sales and other tax obligations or trust funds or a Credit Party’s general corporate overhead costs and expenses (including internal administrative, legal and accounting costs and expenses, except a Credit Party’s expenses for

 

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payroll and related taxes), (c) are operating accounts used solely for the purpose of accruing overnight interest, (d) are used in connection with escrow agreements or arrangements to which a Credit Party is a party, (e) that certain interest bearing escrow account held by EOC pursuant to that certain Resolution adopted by the Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board as of August 10, 2011, or (f) the BG Operating Account.

Excluded Information ” means any non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities to the extent such information could have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to, an assigning Lender’s decision to assign Loans or a purchasing Lender’s decision to purchase Loans.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) income or franchise Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America or such other jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section  2.14(b) ), any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.12(e) , except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.12 and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed by FATCA.

EXCO PA ” means EXCO Production Company (PA), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

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

EXCO WV ” means EXCO Production Company (WV), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Existing Exchanged Loans ” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto. As of the Effective Date, the aggregate principal amount of Existing Exchanged Loans is $682,753,719.

Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements ” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Existing Unsecured Notes ” means, collectively, the Issuer’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “ 2018 Notes ”) and 8.500% Senior Notes due 2022, in each case, as outstanding on the Effective Date.

 

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EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Disinterested Members of the Borrower’s Board of Directors in good faith.

Fairfax ” means Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, and any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

Fairfax Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in recitals hereto.

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

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

FASB ” means Financial Accounting Standards Board.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any intergovernmental agreement that implements or modifies the provisions of the foregoing (together with any law implementing such agreement).

FCPA ” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 th of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 th of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letter ” means any fee letter executed and delivered by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Trustee in connection with the execution and delivery of any Loan Document, including any amendment, modification, waiver or consent to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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First Lien RBL Agent ” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

First Lien RBL Amendment ” means the Seventh Amendment, dated as of March 15, 2017, to the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder which amends the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement to, among other things, (x) provide for an aggregate amount of revolving commitments in an amount equal to $150,000,000, with other terms and economic provisions (including financial covenants and covenant levels) reasonably satisfactory to the Backstop Commitment Parties, (y) permit the maximum issuances of warrants and equity interests in the Borrower contemplated hereunder and under the Senior Secured Notes Documents and (z) provide that the Backstop Commitment Parties shall be reasonably satisfied with any new or additional lenders to be party to the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement on or after the Effective Date in connection with any permitted increase to the outstanding loans or commitments thereunder.

First Lien RBL Credit Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 2013 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder, as the same was amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced on or prior to the Effective Date and as may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Effective Date in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that any increase in the principal amount of the Loans or Letters of Credit (each as defined in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement) together with any other borrowings or other extensions of credit thereunder is permitted solely under Section 6.01(b)(1) .

First Lien RBL Documents ” means, collectively, the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and each security document, mortgage, note, guarantee, instrument and other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement) executed or delivered in connection with the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement at any time.

First Lien RBL Lenders ” means the financial institutions from time to time party to the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement as lenders.

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the Effective Date.

Gen IV ” means Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC and its Affiliate Vega Asset Partners, LP.

Governing Body ” means, as to any Person, the Board of Directors or, if such Person is managed by a single entity and not a Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the managing entity of such Person.

 

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Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Requirement ” means any applicable law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization or other directive or requirement, whether now or hereinafter in effect, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy and public utility laws and regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (in this definition, the “ guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided , that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Guaranteed Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01 .

Guarantor ” means Borrower (with respect to the Obligations of the other Credit Parties) and each Restricted Subsidiary that is a party hereto or hereafter executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a Counterpart Agreement pursuant to Section  5.14 or otherwise.

Guaranty ” means a Guarantee by a Guarantor of the Obligations.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any Swap Agreement, including Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and Commodity Agreements.

 

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Hydrocarbons ” means all Crude Oil and Natural Gas produced from or attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties.

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

Solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 6.01 of this Agreement the following will not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness:

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

(b)    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;

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

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

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

(a)    the principal in respect of (1) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (2) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, including, in each case, any premium on such indebtedness to the extent such premium has become due and payable;

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

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

 

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(d)    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 (a)  through (c) 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);

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

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

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

(h)    to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations (after giving effect to any netting obligations) of such Person; and

(i)    any warranties or guaranties by such Person of production or payment with respect to a Production Payment;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations (other than of a type (x) referenced in clause (b)(2) of the definition thereof, (y) the primary obligation (as referenced in such definition) of which constitutes damages (of any kind whatsoever, including actual, special, direct, consequential or punitive) or a claim therefor as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination (but excluding any such damages or claims with respect to which the applicable third party insurance provider has not denied coverage) or (z) in accordance with GAAP, that would be required to be shown on the balance sheet of any obligor as indebtedness) incurred in the ordinary course of business ( provided that this clause (1)  shall not apply for purposes of determining what constitutes a “primary obligation” for purposes of the definition of Contingent Obligations); (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) any obligation (but excluding any obligation constituting debt for borrowed money, including under obligations referenced under immediately preceding clauses (a)  and (b) ) of a Person in respect of a Farm-In Agreement, Farm-Out Agreement, joint

 

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development arrangements or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an Oil and Gas Property; (5) in-kind obligations relating to net oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business; (6) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations between and among Credit Parties; (7) any obligations in respect of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto; (8) non-compete or consulting obligations incurred in connection with any acquisition; (9) reserves for deferred income taxes; and (10) obligations with respect to prepayments received in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, development agreements, offtake agreements or similar arrangements.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Agreement as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

Indemnified Taxes ” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) , Other Taxes.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03 .

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

Information ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.12 .

Initial Reserve Report ” means collectively, the reserve report prepared by the Approved Petroleum Engineers with respect to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015, among (after giving effect to the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment) the First Lien RBL Agent, the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (and acknowledged and agreed by the Credit Parties), as the same may be amended, restated,

 

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amended and restated, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) modified or restated in accordance with the terms thereof. The Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date (after giving effect to the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment) is in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G .

Intercreditor Agreement Amendment ” means the Amendment, dated as of March 15, 2017, to the Intercreditor Agreement, among the First Lien RBL Agent and the Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements) (and acknowledged and agreed by the Credit Parties, the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee and the Collateral Trustee).

Interest Payment Date ” means, with respect to any Term Loan, commencing June 20, 2017, (i) March 20, June 20, September 20 and December 20 of each year and (ii) the Term Loan Maturity Date.

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

Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, credit card and debit card receivables, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, manufacturers and consultants, in each case, made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 6.02 :

(a)    “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Borrower at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (1) the Borrower’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (2) the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation;

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

(c)    the amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any subsequent dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

 

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Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P or any equivalent rating by any Rating Agency.

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Junior Lien ” means a Lien junior in priority to the Senior Priority Liens and the Priority Liens and equal in priority to the Junior Priority Liens, but which is junior in right of the payment waterfall (as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement) to the Junior Priority Lien, granted by the Borrower or any Guarantor in favor of holders of Junior Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith) at any time, upon any Property of the Borrower or any Guarantor to secure Junior Lien Obligations ( provided that, in all events, such Property shall also be subject to Liens securing such aforementioned Senior Priority Liens, the Priority Liens and Junior Priority Liens).

Junior Lien Administrative Agent ” means the administrative agent under the Junior Lien Credit Agreement designated pursuant to the Junior Lien Credit Agreement, together with its successors and assigns. As of the Effective Date, the Junior Lien Administrative Agent is Wilmington Trust, National Association.

Junior Lien Credit Agreement ” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, the Junior Lien Administrative Agent and the Junior Lien Collateral Agent, as the same was amended on the Effective Date pursuant to the Exchange Term Loan Amendment and as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Effective Date in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that any increase in the principal amount of the Loans (as defined in the Junior Lien Credit Agreement) together with any other borrowings or other extensions of credit thereunder is permitted solely under Section 6.01(b)(3)(y) . For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Effective Date the “Junior Lien Credit Agreement” shall be the Exchange Term Loan Agreement, as amended pursuant to the Exchange Term Loan Amendment.

Junior Lien Collateral Agent ” means the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Lien Documents, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, together with its successors and assigns. The initial Junior Lien Collateral Agent shall be the Collateral Trustee.

Junior Lien Debt ” means (a) the Indebtedness and other Obligations (as defined in the Junior Lien Credit Agreement) under the Junior Lien Credit Agreement and (b) any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) of the Borrower or any Guarantor permitted to be Incurred under Section 6.01(b)(3)(y) or (z) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Junior Lien Debt with other Junior Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement) that is secured by a Junior Lien and that is permitted to be Incurred and so

 

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secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (b)  of this definition:

(a)    (i) such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to one-hundred eighty (180) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date (except as a result of a customary change of control, events of loss or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

(b)    on or before the date on which any such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Borrower or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Borrower, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent and Collateral Trustee, as “Junior Lien Debt,” and such Officers’ Certificate also certifies that such Indebtedness is permitted and with respect to any other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(c)    a Junior Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers an Additional Secured Debt Designation on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness;

(d)    all relevant filings and recordations necessary to ensure that such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable security documents are authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded in each appropriate jurisdiction ( provided that this clause (d)  may be satisfied on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Junior Lien Representative); and

(e)    all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement and in any applicable security documents as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Lien Debt to secure such Indebtedness or obligations in respect thereof are satisfied;

provided that, unless the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree in writing (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders), all such Indebtedness (other than any DIP Financing that is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement and other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Junior Priority Lien Debt) shall be pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of Junior Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, but, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agree in writing (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders), the principal amount of Indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment. Any such Indebtedness (other than any such DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing condition for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the loans under the Junior Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Junior Lien Debt.

Junior Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Loan Documents (as defined in the Junior Lien Credit Agreement), any indenture, credit agreement or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which Junior Lien Debt is Incurred and the documents pursuant to which Junior Lien Obligations are granted.

 

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Junior Lien Obligations ” means Junior Lien Debt and all other principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof.

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

Junior Priority Lien ” means a Lien junior in priority to the Senior Priority Liens and the Priority Liens and senior in priority to the Junior Liens, in each case, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, granted by the Borrower or any Guarantor in favor of holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith) at any time, upon any Property of the Borrower or any Guarantor to secure Junior Priority Lien Obligations (provided that, in all events, such Property shall also be subject to Liens securing such aforementioned Senior Priority Liens and Priority Liens).

Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, together with its successors and assigns. As of the Effective Date the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent is the Collateral Agent.

Junior Priority Lien Debt ” means (a) the Indebtedness and other Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (b) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) of the Borrower or any Guarantor permitted to be Incurred under Section 6.01(b)(3)(x) (including any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Junior Priority Lien Debt with other Junior Priority Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) that is secured by a Junior Priority Lien and that is permitted to be Incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (b) of this definition:

(1)    (i) such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to one-hundred eighty (180) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior Priority Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

 

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(2)    on or before the date on which any such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Borrower or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Borrower, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Priority Lien Collateral Agent and Collateral Trustee, as “Junior Priority Lien Debt,” and such Officers’ Certificate also certifies that such Indebtedness is permitted and with respect to any other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3)    a Junior Priority Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers an Additional Secured Debt Designation on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness;

(4)    all relevant filings and recordations necessary to ensure that such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable security documents are authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded in each appropriate jurisdiction (provided that this clause (5) may be satisfied on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Junior Priority Lien Representative); and

(5)    all other requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement and in any applicable security documents as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt to secure such Indebtedness or obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

provided that, unless the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree in writing (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders), all such Indebtedness (other than any DIP Financing that is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement and, for the avoidance of doubt, Junior Lien Debt) shall be pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of Junior Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, but, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in writing (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders), the principal amount of Indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment. Any such Indebtedness (other than any such DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing condition for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the revolving credit loans under the Junior Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Junior Priority Lien Debt

Junior Priority Lien Documents ” means, collectively, any indenture, credit agreement or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which Junior Priority Lien Debt is Incurred and the documents pursuant to which Junior Priority Lien Obligations are granted. As of the Effective Date the Loan Documents constitute Junior Priority Lien Documents.

Junior Priority Lien Obligations ” means Junior Priority Lien Debt and all other principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof. As of the Effective Date the Obligations constitute Junior Priority Lien Obligations.

 

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

Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule  2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

Liabilities ” means, as to any Person, all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of such Person, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, primary or secondary, direct or indirect, absolute, fixed or contingent, and whether or not required to be considered pursuant to GAAP.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Liquidity ” means an amount equal to (a) the sum of (1) the Borrower’s Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and (2) any amounts available to be borrowed under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement (to the extent then available) less (b) the face amount of any letters of credit outstanding under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement. With respect to any Interest Payment Date, Liquidity shall be calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any payment of cash interest on the Senior Secured Notes and Cash Interest on the Term Loans expected to be paid on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, any promissory notes executed in connection herewith, the Security Instruments, any Fee Letter, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment, the Collateral Trust Agreement and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates now or hereafter executed and delivered by a Credit Party to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Loans ” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and shall include the Term Loans.

Majority Lenders ” means, (a) at any time where Fairfax has Credit Exposures representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the Aggregate Credit Exposure,

 

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Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel, Ltd., acting on behalf of its Affiliates that are Lenders or (b) at any time the condition in clause (a) of this definition is not met, Lenders having Credit Exposures representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the Aggregate Credit Exposure. The Credit Exposures of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Majority Lenders at any time.

Make -Whole Amount ” means (x) in the case of the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans, with respect to any applicable repayment date, the greater of (a) 1.0% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loans prepaid; and (b) the excess of (1) the present value at such repayment date of (i) the prepayment price of the applicable Term Loans at October 26, 2018 (such prepayment price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 2.07 hereof) plus (ii) all interest that would have accrued on the applicable Term Loans from the date of repayment through October 26, 2018, computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate as of such repayment date plus 50 basis points discounted to the repayment date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (2) the principal amount of the applicable Term Loans prepaid and (y) in the case of the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans, with respect to any applicable repayment date, with respect to any payment of such Term Loans, an amount equal to all interest payments which would have accrued, from the date of such payment through the Term Loan Maturity Date, on an amount equal to such Term Loans being paid, such interest to be calculated on such amount at the rate of Cash Interest in effect on such payment date, without giving effect to any default rate interest which would be due under Section 2.10(b) hereunder.

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

Marcellus Holding Companies ” means one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries formed in connection with the Marcellus Joint Venture to facilitate the transfer of an undivided 49.75% interest in the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets to the Marcellus JV Partner.

Marcellus Joint Development Agreement ” means that certain Joint Development Agreement dated as of June 1, 2010, among one or more of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, the Marcellus JV Partner, the Marcellus Holding Companies and the Marcellus JV Operator with respect to the Marcellus Joint Venture.

Marcellus Joint Venture ” means that certain joint venture arrangement between the Borrower and one or more of its Subsidiaries and an unrelated third party (the “ Marcellus JV Partner ”) and one or more of its Subsidiaries to develop and operate the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets.

Marcellus JV Closing Date ” means June 1, 2010.

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

 

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Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Subject Oil and Gas Assets” in the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement as in effect on the Marcellus JV Closing Date and as amended or restated thereafter so long as the Administrative Agent receives an executed copy of any agreement evidencing any amendment or restatement of such definition (or any definition used in such definition).

Marcellus JV Operator ” means the operator of the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets located in the Appalachian Area.

Marcellus JV Partner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Marcellus Joint Venture”.

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

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

Marcellus Midstream Owner ” means the direct or indirect owner of the Marcellus Midstream Assets.

Marcellus Operator LLC Agreement ” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Marcellus JV Operator dated as of June 1, 2010.

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

 

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Marcellus Transfer Agreement ” means that certain Membership Interest Transfer Agreement dated as of June 1, 2010, among the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the Marcellus JV Partner pursuant to which the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries transfers to the Marcellus JV Partner (a) 100% of the Equity Interests of the Marcellus Holding Companies and (b) 50% of the Equity Interests of each of the Marcellus JV Operator and the Marcellus Midstream Owner.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the assets or properties, financial condition, businesses or operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Credit Party to carry out its business as of the date of this Agreement or as proposed at the date of this Agreement to be conducted, (c) the ability of any Credit Party to perform fully and on a timely basis its respective obligations under any of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, or (d) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Material Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that owns or holds, directly or indirectly, assets, properties or interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) with an aggregate fair market value, on a consolidated basis, greater than five percent (5%) of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets, properties and interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; provided that if the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets, properties and interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) of all Domestic Subsidiaries that would not constitute Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds 5% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets, properties and interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, then one or more of such excluded Domestic Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement be deemed to be Material Domestic Subsidiaries in descending order based on the aggregate fair market value of their assets, properties or interests (including Oil and Gas Properties, whether owned directly or indirectly) until such excess has been eliminated.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness under the First Lien RBL Documents, the Senior Secured Notes Documents, the Junior Lien Documents, and the Existing Unsecured Notes (and, in each case, any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) and any other Indebtedness (other than the Loans) of the Borrower or any one or more of the Restricted Subsidiaries that in each case is in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of any Hedging Obligations at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Guarantor would be required to pay if the agreements with respect to such Hedging Obligations were terminated at such time.

Material Sales Contract ” means, as of any date of determination, any agreement for the sale of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party if the aggregate volume of Hydrocarbons sold pursuant to such agreement during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding such date equals or exceeds

 

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ten percent (10%) of the aggregate volume of Hydrocarbons sold by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, from the Oil and Gas Properties during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding such date.

Maximum Liability ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.10 .

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.13 .

Minimum Mortgaged Value ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(d).

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

Mortgaged Properties ” means the Oil and Gas Properties described in one or more duly executed, delivered and filed Mortgages evidencing a Lien prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Priority Lien Collateral Agent) in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and subject only to the Liens permitted pursuant to Section  6.07 .

Mortgages ” means all mortgages, deeds of trust, amendments to mortgages, security agreements, assignments of production, pledge agreements, collateral mortgages, collateral chattel mortgages, collateral assignments, financing statements and other documents, instruments and agreements evidencing, creating, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens required by Section 5.12. All Mortgages shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

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

Net Cash Proceeds ” means:

(a)    with respect to any issuance, Incurrence or Disposition of Capital Stock or Indebtedness, the cash proceeds of such issuance Incurrence or Disposition net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance, Incurrence or Disposition and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; and

(b)    with respect to any Asset Sale, cash payments received therefrom, including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and cash proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received as consideration, but only as and

 

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when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to such properties, in each case net of (without duplication):

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

(2)    all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale, 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 Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale;

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

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

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

provided that, with respect to proceeds of any Asset Sale that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 2.08(a) , no such unapplied or uninvested proceeds shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds until the aggregate amount of all such unapplied or uninvested proceeds shall exceed $20,000,000, and then all of such unapplied or uninvested proceeds shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds.

Net Working Capital ” means (a) all current assets of the Borrower and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries excluding current assets under any Commodity Agreements less (b) all current liabilities of the Borrower and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries, excluding (1) the current liabilities included in Indebtedness and (ii) any current liabilities under any Commodity Agreements, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non -Consenting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(c) .

 

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Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Credit Party.

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

(a)    as to which neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (2) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor, surety or otherwise or (3) constitutes a lender;

(b)    as to which the lenders thereof will not have any recourse to the Equity Interests or Property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (to the extent such Unrestricted Subsidiary is the borrower or guarantor of such Non-Recourse Debt)); and

(c)    no default or event of default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default or event of default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to any scheduled principal payment, scheduled sinking fund payment or stated maturity.

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

(a)    the holders of such Indebtedness agree that they will look solely to the fixed assets so acquired which secure such Indebtedness, and neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary (1) is directly or indirectly liable for such Indebtedness (whether as a guarantor, surety or otherwise) or (2) provides credit support, including any undertaking, Guarantee, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness (other than the grant of a Lien on such acquired fixed assets); and

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

NYMEX ” means the New York Mercantile Exchange.

NYMEX Prices ” means, as of any date of determination, the forward month prices for the most comparable hydrocarbon commodity applicable to such future production

 

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month for a sixty month period (or such shorter period if forward month prices are not quoted for a reasonably comparable hydrocarbon commodity for the full sixty month period), with such prices increased by five percent of the last quoted forward month price of such period for the sixty first month and then held constant thereafter, as such prices are (a) quoted on the NYMEX (or its successor) calculated as of a date not more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of determination (the “calculation date”) and (b) adjusted for energy content, quality and basis differentials; provided that with respect to estimated future production for which prices are defined, within the meaning of SEC guidelines, by contractual arrangements excluding escalations based upon future conditions, then such contract prices shall be applied to future production subject to such arrangements.

Obligations ” means any and all obligations of every nature, contingent or otherwise, whether now existing or hereafter arising, of the Borrower or any other Credit Party from time to time owed under any Loan Document, whether for principal, interest, funding indemnification amounts, fees, premium (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Make-Whole Amount), expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, agents and advisors), indemnification or otherwise.

OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of Treasury.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Borrower by any two Responsible Officers of the Borrower, one of whom must be either the principal executive officer, the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, principal accounting officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Borrower, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

(a)    the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, operation and disposition of interests in Hydrocarbons;

(b)    the gathering, marketing, distribution, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and the marketing of Hydrocarbons obtained from unrelated Persons;

(c)    any business relating to or arising from exploration for or exploitation, development, production, treatment, processing, storage, refining, transportation, gathering or marketing of Hydrocarbons and products produced in association therewith;

(d)    any other related energy business, including power generation and electrical transmission business where fuel required by such business is supplied, directly or indirectly, from Hydrocarbons produced substantially from properties in which the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, participate;

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

 

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(f)    any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the preceding clauses (a)  through (e) of this definition.

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

Organizational Documents ” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as amended, and (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its certificate of formation or articles of organization, as amended, and its limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, as amended.

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes (other than a connection arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, enforced, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or enforced, any Loan Document), or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes ” means any present or future stamp, court, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar excise or property Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or from the registration, receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.12(b)) .

 

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Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04 .

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04 .

Payment Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.07 .

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $60,000,000 ( less the aggregate principal amount outstanding pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(7) to the extent constituting Refinancing Indebtedness of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness) (the foregoing cap, the “ Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness Dollar Cap ”) any time and solely to the extent such Indebtedness was Indebtedness of:

(a)    an acquired Person Incurred prior to the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of having been acquired and not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, or

(b)    a Person that was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and was not Incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation.

provided on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, if, after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio either (x) equals or exceeds 2.25 to 1.00 or (y) is greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such transaction.

Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments and expenditures in respect of Unproved Reserves made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business as means of actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including:

(a)    ownership interests in Oil and Gas Properties or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems; and

(b)    entry into, and Investments and expenditures in the form of or pursuant to, operating agreements, joint venture agreements (including, without limitation, those relating to the Marcellus Midstream Owner), partnership agreements, working interests,

 

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royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, Farm-In Agreements, Farm-Out Agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of Hydrocarbons, production sharing agreements, development agreements (including without limitation the BG Joint Development Agreement and the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement), area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts and other similar agreements with third parties (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries), excluding, however, Investments in any corporation or publicly traded partnership or limited liability company.

Permitted Investment ” means:

(a)    Investments by (i) a Credit Party in another Credit Party or a Person that will, together with all of such Person’s Subsidiaries, upon the making of such Investment, become Credit Parties (other than any of such Person’s Subsidiaries that are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), (ii) by a Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary in another Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) by a Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary in a Credit Party; and (iv) by a Credit Party in a Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount, together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (a)(iv) since the Effective Date, not in excess of $30,000,000; provided, that to the extent constituting Indebtedness, any such Investment under this clause (a) shall be made in accordance with Section 6.01(b)(4);

(b)    Investments in another Person (1) 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 Borrower or another Credit Party (and so long as (A) the Borrower or such other Credit Party is the survivor of any such merger or consolidation and (B) in connection with any such Investment all of such Person’s Subsidiaries, upon the making of such Investment, will become Credit Parties (other than any of such Person’s Subsidiaries that are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement)) or (2) for consideration consisting solely of Capital Stock of the Borrower; provided , that, in both cases, such Person’s primary business is a Related Business and provided, further, the aggregate amount of all such Investments shall not exceed $30,000,000 during the term of the Loans;

(c)    Investments in cash and Temporary Cash Investments;

(d)    receivables owing to the Borrower 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 Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

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

 

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(f)    loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary but in any event not to exceed $3,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

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

(h)    Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for (1) an Asset Sale as permitted pursuant to Section  6.04 or (2) a disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(i)    Investments in any Person where such Investment was acquired by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (1) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Borrower 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 (2) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

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

(k)    Investments in any Person to the extent such Investments consist of Hedging Obligations otherwise permitted under Section  6.01 ;

(l)    Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment (1) exists on the Effective Date or (2) is an extension, modification or renewal of any such Investments described under the immediately preceding clause (1)  but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments of cash or other assets or other increases thereof (other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such Investment as in effect on the Effective Date);

(m)    Permitted Business Investments;

(n)    Guarantees issued in accordance with Sections 5.14 and 6.01 ;

(o)    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;

 

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

(q)    other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (q)  since the Effective Date, do not exceed $60,000,000.

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

Permitted Investors ” means (a) the ESAS Parties, (b) Fairfax, (c) any holder of Senior Secured Notes or Lender under this Agreement and (d) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a) , (b) and (c)  of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower that is owned by such group.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(a)    Senior Priority Liens securing Senior Priority Lien Debt (i) under Credit Facilities Incurred under Section 6.01(b)(1) and Senior Priority Liens securing Cash Management Obligations constituting Senior Priority Lien Obligations, in each case to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding (when added to the amount of all other outstanding Senior Priority Lien Obligations) not exceeding the Senior Priority Lien Cap and (ii) under Hedging Obligations to the extent that the Majority Lenders have provided their prior written consent to the Borrower’s program pursuant to which such Hedging Obligations were incurred and subject to any limitations (including in amount) contained therein;

(b)    (x) Liens securing the Senior Secured Notes and any PIK Notes in respect thereof and the Guarantees thereof and (y) to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, Priority Liens securing other Priority Lien Debt Incurred under Section  6.01(b)(2) ;

(c)    (x) Junior Priority Liens securing the Loans and other Obligations to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Junior Priority Liens securing other Junior Priority Lien Debt Incurred under Section 6.01(b)(3)(x) and (y) Junior Liens securing the Junior Lien Credit Agreement and to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, Junior Liens securing other Junior Lien Debt Incurred, in each case, under Section 6.01(b)(3)(y) or (z) ;

(d)    pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such

 

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Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e)    Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review and Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided , however , that (1) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Borrower in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (2) such deposit account is not intended by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

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

(g)    Liens in favor of issuers of performance, bid or surety bonds, completion guarantees or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided , however , that such performance, bid or surety bonds, completion guarantees or letters of credit do not constitute, or secure, any Indebtedness in an aggregate amount in excess of $12,000,000 (in addition to and not in limitation of any letters of credit which may be issued pursuant to Credit Facilities permitted under clause (a)  above);

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

(i)    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 of any other property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether at the time the Lien is Incurred or otherwise) (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto), and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon) secured by the Lien may not be Incurred more than one-hundred eighty (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; provided , further , that after giving effect to the Incurrence of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

 

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(j)    Liens securing Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness granted in connection with the acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business of fixed assets used in the Oil and Gas Business (including the office buildings and other real property used by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in conducting its operations); provided that (1) such Liens attach only to the fixed assets acquired with the proceeds of such Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness and (2) such Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness is not in excess of the purchase price of such fixed assets; provided , further , that after giving effect to the Incurrence of the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

(k)    Liens existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.07 other than as described under clause (a) , (b) and (c)  of this definition;

(l)    Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of another Person at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of such Person (and not incurred in anticipation of or in connection with such transaction); provided , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto); provided , further , that at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

(m)    Liens on property at the time such Person or any of its Subsidiaries acquires the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person (and not Incurred in anticipation of or in connection with such transaction); provided , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any other property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto; provided , further , that at the time of such acquisition, the Collateral Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.5 to 1.0;

(n)    (x) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor owing to the Borrower or any Guarantor ( provided that such Liens and Indebtedness and other obligations are subject to a subordinated intercompany note, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), (y) Liens on the property of any Subsidiary of the Borrower securing Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary of the Borrower owing to the Borrower or any Guarantor of the Borrower ( provided that such Liens and Indebtedness and other obligations are subject to a subordinated intercompany note, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (z) Liens on the property of any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

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(o)    Liens on, or related to, assets to secure all or part of the costs (not constituting Indebtedness for borrowed money) incurred in the ordinary course of a Related Business for the surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair, improvement, processing, transportation, marketing, storage or operation thereof;

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

(q)    Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbon and mineral leases, Farm-Out Agreements or Farm-In Agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil or natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, master limited partnership agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, re-pressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business provided , however , that in all instances such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract; provided , further , that such Liens do not secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $6,000,000 at any time outstanding);

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

(s)    Liens to secure any Refinancing (or successive Refinancings) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clause (i) , (k) , (l) or (m) ; provided , however , that (1) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to such property or proceeds or distributions thereof) and (2) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clause (i) , (k) , (l) or (m)  above at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such Refinancing.

(t)    judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (j)  of Article VIII (but excluding judgments in respect of debt for borrowed money);

 

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

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

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

(x)    preferential rights to purchase, and provisions requiring a third party’s consent prior to assignment and similar restraints on alienation, in each case, granted pursuant to an oil and gas operating agreement and arising in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties; provided such right, requirement or restraint does not materially affect the value of such Oil and Gas Properties;

provided that in each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include Liens on all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and all products and proceeds thereof; provided , further , that for purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

Permitted Marketing Obligations ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under letter of credit or borrowed money obligations or, in lieu of or in addition to such letters of credit or borrowed money, Guarantees of such Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary by any other Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, related to the purchase by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Hydrocarbons for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has contracts to sell; provided , however , that in the event that such Indebtedness or obligations are guaranteed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, then either: (a) the Person with which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has contracts to sell has an Investment Grade Rating or, in lieu thereof, a Person guaranteeing the payment of such obligated Person has an Investment Grade Rating or (b) such Person posts, or has posted for it, a letter of credit (issued by a Person that has an Investment Grade Rating and is not an Affiliate of the Borrower) in favor of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to all such Person’s obligations to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary under such contracts.

Permitted Prior Liens ” means Liens incurred pursuant to clauses (d) , (e) , (f) , (g) , (h) , (j) , (p) and (q)  of the definition of “Permitted Liens”.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

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PIK Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(b) of this Agreement.

PIK Notes ” means any additional Senior Secured Notes issued from time to time in respect of any PIK interest payment in accordance with the indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes.

PIK Shares ” means Common Stock issued as provided in Section  2.10 of this Agreement.

Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Pledge Agreement ” means a Pledge and Security Agreement in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the other holders of Junior Priority Lien Obligations covering, among other things, the rights and interests of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Equity Interest of each Restricted Subsidiary and of each Affiliate that is an operator of any Oil and Gas Properties (other than the Equity Interests of the Borrower) and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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.

Priority Lien ” means a Lien junior in priority to the Senior Priority Liens and senior in priority to the Junior Priority Liens and Junior Liens granted by the Borrower or any Guarantor in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Priority Lien Security Document, at any time, upon any Property of the Borrower or any Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Replacement Credit Facility).

Priority Lien Collateral Trustee ” means the collateral trustee for all holders of the Priority Lien Obligations under the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement. Wilmington Trust, National Association will initially serve as the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee.

Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ” means that certain Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee and the Senior Secured Notes Trustee, as representative for the Senior Secured Notes, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or otherwise modified or restated in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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Priority Lien Debt ” means (a) the Senior Secured Notes and other Obligations; and (b) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) of the Borrower or any Guarantor permitted to be Incurred under Section 6.01(b)(2) (including Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Priority Lien Debt with other Priority Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement and the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement) that is secured equally and ratably with the Obligations by a Priority Lien and that is permitted to be Incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (b) of this definition:

(1)    (i) such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations on or prior to ninety-one (91) days after the Stated Maturity of the Senior Secured Notes (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Priority Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

(2)    on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Borrower or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Borrower in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt,” and such Officers’ Certificate also certifies that such Indebtedness is permitted and with respect to any other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3)    a Priority Lien Representative is designated with respect to such Indebtedness and executes and delivers an Additional Secured Debt Designation on behalf of itself and all holders of such Indebtedness;

(4)    all relevant filings and recordations necessary to ensure that such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Security Documents are authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded in each appropriate jurisdiction (provided that this clause (4) may be satisfied on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Priority Lien Representative with respect to such Indebtedness); and

(5)    requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (5) will be conclusively established if the Borrower delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”);

provided that all such Indebtedness (other than any DIP Financing that is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) shall be pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, but the principal amount of Indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment. Any such Indebtedness (other than any such DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing condition for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the Senior Secured Notes under the Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Priority Lien Debt.

 

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Priority Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Senior Secured Note Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Priority Lien Debt and the Priority Lien Security Documents (other than any Priority Lien Security Documents that do not secure Priority Lien Obligations).

Priority Lien Obligations ” means Priority Lien Debt and all other principal (including reimbursement obligations), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof.

Priority Lien Representative ” means (a) in the case of the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Notes Trustee and (b) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who (1) is appointed as a Priority Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Priority Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (2) has become a party to the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a Collateral Trust Joinder Agreement.

Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, the Pledge Agreement (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), the Security Agreement (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Borrower or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Priority Lien upon Collateral (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms.

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

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Proved Reserves ” means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved (in accordance with SEC rules and regulations) in the Reserve Report most recently delivered to Administrative Agent pursuant to Section  5.01 .

PV-10 ” means, as of any date of determination, the present value of future cash flows from the Proved Reserves and Unproved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties,

 

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as set forth in the most recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section  5.11 or a more a recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report, utilizing a 10% discount rate and using NYMEX Prices.

Rating Agency ” means each of S&P and Moody’s or if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the applicable obligations publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Borrower (as certified by a resolution of the Governing Body of the Borrower) which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

Recipient ” means, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and any Lender.

Record Date ” for the interest, if any, payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means February 20, May 20, August 20 and November 20 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

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

Refinancing Indebtedness ” means (a) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) Disqualified Stock issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (c) Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, which, in each case, serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, including Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as:

(1)    the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness, the amount of such new Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed (i) the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid PIK or cash interest on, the Indebtedness, the amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Preferred Stock, or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the “ Applicable Refinanced Debt ”), plus (ii) an amount equal to the sum of (A) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Applicable Refinanced Debt and (B) any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such Applicable Refinanced Debt;

(2)    such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased;

 

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(3)    such Refinancing Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (A) the final scheduled maturity date of the Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased and (B) the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the latest Stated Maturity date of the Loans;

(4)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (a) Subordinated Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the obligations at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased, (b) the Existing Unsecured Notes, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall, if secured, constitute Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (subject, in each case to the Intercreditor Agreement) or, if initially unsecured, shall be unsecured at all times and, in each case, no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor) shall, directly or indirectly, be an obligor (whether a borrower or otherwise), guarantor or surety under, or for, such Refinancing Indebtedness and shall not provide any Guarantee of any such Refinancing Indebtedness or (c) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and

(5)    to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases the Existing Unsecured Notes, Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, the covenants (affirmative and negative), default and event of default provisions, interest rate (including interest rate floor and default rate), repayment, prepayment, repurchase and/or sinking fund provisions, reporting provisions, and other material provisions of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be no more favorable to the creditors thereunder, or more burdensome to the debtors or guarantors thereunder, than the correlative and/or corresponding provisions under the Loan Documents ( provided , further , that, in all events, for the avoidance of doubt, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not contain any financial maintenance covenants not otherwise contained in the Indebtedness being refinanced );

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:

(1)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower;

(2)    Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

(3)    Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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In addition, with respect to any Refinancing Indebtedness of Refinancing Indebtedness, all limitations, restrictions, qualifying criteria and other standards set forth in this definition shall equally apply.

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  10.04 .

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the registration rights agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Borrower and the holders of the Borrower’s Common Stock.

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

Related Fund ” means, with respect to any Lender that is a fund or commingled investment vehicle that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in bank loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Replacement Credit Facility ” means any Credit Facility that refunds, refinances or replaces the RBL Credit Agreement or any other Replacement Credit Facility, in each case, in whole and with all commitments thereunder terminated.

Requisite Shareholder Approvals ” means the Borrower’s receipt of the requisite votes or consents of the holders of its shares of Common Stock, (1) to the issuances of Common Stock represented by the Warrants, the PIK Note Payments (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), the issuance of PIK Shares under the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and the PIK Shares issued pursuant to the Loan Documents for purposes of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange to the extent the Common Stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange and such approval is required for the issuances of the Warrants, the PIK Note Payments (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), the issuance of PIK Shares under the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and the PIK Shares issued pursuant to the Loan Documents and (2) with respect to the amendment of the Borrower’s existing charter to (a) increase its authorized Common Stock or (b) effect a reverse stock split, in each case under applicable Texas law (the “ Charter Amendment Approval ”); provided , that the Borrower may waive, in its sole discretion, the Charter Amendment Approval.

Resale Registration Statement ” mean a registration statement filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act on Form S-3 under the Securities Act (or in the event that the Borrower is ineligible to use such form, such other form as the Issuer is eligible to use under the Securities Act provided that such other form shall be converted into a Form S-3 promptly after Form S-3 becomes available to the Borrower) covering resales by the Lenders as selling shareholders (not underwriters) of any PIK Shares received as payment of interest on the Loans.

 

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Reserve Report ” means a report setting forth, as of the end of the Borrower’s most recent fiscal year, the Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions consistent with SEC reporting requirements at the time.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Credit Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Credit Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Credit Party.

Restricted Payment ” means:

(a)    the declaration or payment of any dividends or any other distributions of any sort in respect of the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (other than (1) dividends made or distributions payable solely in the Borrower’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), (2) dividends made or distributions payable solely to the Borrower or (to the extent made to all equity-holders on a pro rata basis) a Restricted Subsidiary and (3) pro rata dividends or other distributions made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to the holders of its common Equity Interests on a pro rata basis);

(b)    the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interest of (1) the Borrower or (2) a Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Borrower (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary), including in connection with any merger or consolidation and including the exercise of any option to exchange any Equity Interest (other than into Equity Interests of the Borrower that are not Disqualified Stock);

(c)    the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor or any Existing Unsecured Notes, Junior Priority Lien Debt (other than the Obligations), Junior Lien Debt or Senior Debt (other than, except with respect to the Existing Unsecured Notes, (1) from the Borrower or a Guarantor or (2) in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or payment due at final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition); or

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

 

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

Right of First Refusal ” means the bona fide right, but not the obligation, of the Backstop Commitment Parties, or their permitted transferees or assignees, to acquire, by way of assignment, on a ratable basis in accordance with the applicable Backstop Commitment Party’s ROFR Applicable Percentage and in accordance with Section 10.04(f) of this Agreement, all or a portion of the rights and obligations of any Lender under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) that are to be assigned by any such Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, on the same terms and subject to the same conditions offered by such Lender to the applicable Eligible Assignee(s) prior to the consummation of such assignment to such Eligible Assignee(s).

ROFR Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. and its Affiliates (including Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited), 50.33%, with respect to ESAS, 23.33%, with respect to Oaktree Capital Management, 13.17% and with respect to Gen IV, 13.17%; provided that between and among all or any of the Backstop Commitment Parties, from time to time, such Backstop Commitment Parties may agree to transfer (as between any two Backstop Commitment Parties, whether permanently or temporarily), reduce (unilaterally by any individual Backstop Commitment Parties, whether permanently or temporarily) or otherwise modify their ROFR Applicable Percentages (as agreed between all Backstop Commitment Parties).

ROFR Notice ” means written notice from a Backstop Commitment Party notifying the Administrative Agent that such Backstop Commitment Party intends to exercise its Right of First Refusal as to a proposed assignment of Loans under this Agreement.

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

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to Property owned by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Effective Date or thereafter acquired by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

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

Secured Indebtedness ” means, as of any date, any Indebtedness for borrowed money secured as (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured as) Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt (or any Replacement Credit Facility) or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by a Lien which is not expressly subordinated to the Obligations and the obligations in respect of the Senior Priority Lien Debt and in respect of the Priority Lien Debt.

 

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Secured Party ” means the Administrative Agent, Collateral Trustee, any Lender and any other holder of Obligations.

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

Security Agreement ” means a Security Agreement in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and the other holders of Junior Priority Lien Obligations covering, among other things, the rights and interests of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the property of such Restricted Subsidiary and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Security Instruments ” means collectively, the Collateral Trust Agreement, all Collateral Trust Joinder Agreements, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Deposit Account Control Agreements, all Guarantees of the Obligations evidenced by the Loan Documents and all mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments and other collateral documents covering the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Equity Interests of the Restricted Subsidiaries and other personal property, equipment, oil and gas inventory and proceeds of the foregoing, all such documents to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Trustee.

Senior Debt ” means unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred under the terms of this Agreement, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is Incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and all Obligations with respect to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

(a)    any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates; or

(b)    any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Senior Priority Lien” means a Lien granted by the Borrower or any Guarantor in favor of the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent at any time, upon any Property of the Borrower or any Guarantor to secure Senior Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Replacement Credit Facility).

Senior Priority Lien Cap ” means, $200,000,000.

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

 

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Senior Priority Lien Debt ” means (1) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement (including letters of credit (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) or any Replacement Credit Facility, in each case, that is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and permitted to be Incurred under Section 6.01(b)(1) and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided, in the case of Indebtedness under any Replacement Credit Facility, that:

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

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

(c)    the aggregate outstanding amount of the Senior Priority Lien Obligations, after giving effect to such Replacement Credit Facility, shall not exceed the Senior Priority Lien Cap; and

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

(2)    Cash Management Obligations permitted to be secured by Senior Priority Liens pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;” and

(3)    Hedging Obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor to the extent that the Administrative Agent has provided its prior written consent to the Borrower’s program pursuant to which such Hedging Obligations were incurred and subject to any limitations (including in amount) contained therein.

For purposes of this definition, all letters of credit will be valued at the face amount thereof, whether or not drawn.

Senior Priority Lien Documents ” means the First Lien RBL Documents, the Replacement Credit Facility and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Replacement Credit Facility.

 

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Senior Priority Lien Obligations ” means (a) the “Obligations” as defined in the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and (b) all other Senior Priority Lien Debt and principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses, and other liabilities in respect thereof, including any make-whole payments, together with any Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Obligations, in each case, to the extent that such obligations are secured by Senior Priority Liens. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations shall only constitute Senior Priority Lien Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations are secured under the terms of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and the security documents creating Senior Priority Liens. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Senior Priority Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, and costs incurred under any Senior Priority Lien Document, whether incurred before or after commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, and whether or not allowable in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding. To the extent that any payment with respect to the Senior Priority Lien Obligations (whether by or on behalf of any Guarantor, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

Senior Priority Lien Representative ” means (a) the First Lien RBL Agent or (b) in the case of any Replacement Credit Facility, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Senior Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Senior Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Senior Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents related to such Senior Priority Lien Debt) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Senior Priority Lien Debt.

Senior Secured Notes ” means the Borrower’s $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 issued pursuant to the Senior Secured Notes Indenture on the Effective Date and any PIK Notes.

Senior Secured Notes Documents ” means the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and all other instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing or governing the Senior Secured Notes or providing for any guarantee or other right in respect thereof.

Senior Secured Notes Indenture ” means that certain Indenture dated as of March 15, 2017 among Exco Resources, Inc., as the Issuer, certain subsidiaries of Exco Resources, Inc., as guarantors, the Senior Secured Notes Trustee and the Priority Lien Collateral Trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced on or prior to the Effective Date and as may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Effective Date in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different noteholders and/or trustees in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Senior Secured Notes Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association in its capacity as Trustee (under and as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), and any of its assignees or successors permitted in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

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

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

Series of Priority Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Senior Secured Notes, the Guarantees of the Senior Secured Notes and each other issue or series of Priority Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

Series of Secured Debt ” means the Senior Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each series of Junior Priority Lien Debt and each Series of Junior Lien Debt.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Effective Date.

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

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).

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Borrower, any Indebtedness of the Borrower which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and the other Obligations and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantor’s guarantee of the Loans and other Obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

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Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a “Subsidiary” refer to a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Super -Majority Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposures representing at least eighty percent (80%) of the sum of the Aggregate Credit Exposure at such time. The Credit Exposures of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Super-Majority Lenders at any time.

Swap Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that in no event shall any (a) phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) near term spot market purchase and sale of a commodity in the ordinary course of business based on a price determined by a rate quoted on an organized exchange for actual physical delivery, be a Swap Agreement.

Swap Modification ” means the amendment, modification, cancellation, monetization, sale, transfer, assignment, early termination or other disposition of any Swap Agreement for Crude Oil or Natural Gas.

Taxes ” means any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Temporary Cash Investments ” means any of the following:

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

(b)    investments in demand and time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 270 days after the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of

 

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America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated “A” (or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

(c)    investments in deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank that is organized under the laws of any country in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an office or is engaged in the Oil and Gas Business; provided , however , that (1) all such deposits have been made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business and (2) such deposits do not at any one time exceed $12,000,000 in the aggregate;

(d)    repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above;

(e)    investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than ninety (90) days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Borrower) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P;

(f)    investments in securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A” by S&P or “A” by Moody’s; and

(g)    investments in money market funds that invest 95% or more of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a)  through (f) above.

Term Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having a Term Loan Commitment or a Term Loan.

Term Loan Commitment ” means (a) as to any Tranche A Term Loan Lender, the commitment of such Tranche A Term Loan Lender to make Tranche A Term Loans in accordance with its Tranche A Term Loan Commitment, and (b) as to all Term Lenders, the aggregate Tranche A Term Loan Commitments, which aggregate commitments on the Effective Date shall be $682,753,719. After advancing an applicable Term Loan, each reference to a Term Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall refer to such Term Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Term Loan.

Term Loans ” means the Tranche A Term Loans extended by the Tranche A Term Loan Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section  2.01(a) on the Effective Date.

Term Loan Maturity Date ” means October 26, 2020.

 

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Trading Day ” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or other exchange or the over-the-counter-market if the Common Stock is not then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is open for trading.

Tranche A Exchange Term Loan ” means the Loans and Commitments under the Exchange Term Loan Agreement that are held by Tranche A Exchange Term Loan Lenders and that were exchanged for Term Loans on the Effective Date pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and this Agreement.

Tranche A Exchange Term Loan Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

Tranche A Fairfax Term Loan ” means the Loans and Commitments under the Fairfax Term Loan Agreement that are held by Tranche A Fairfax Term Loan Lenders and that were exchanged for Term Loans on the Effective Date pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and this Agreement.

Tranche A Fairfax Term Loan Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

Tranche A Term Loan ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  2.01(a) .

Tranche A Term Loan Commitment ” means the several commitments of the Tranche A Term Loan Lenders to make Tranche A Term Loans as set forth in Schedule  2.01 or in the most recent Assignment and Assumption executed by such Tranche A Term Loan Lender, which commitments on the Effective Date shall be $682,753,719 in the aggregate.

Tranche A Term Loan Lender ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having a Tranche A Term Loan Commitment or a Tranche A Term Loan.

Transactions ” means (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Credit Parties of this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (b) the borrowing of Loans, (c) the use of the proceeds thereof, including the cashless settlement of the loans and other obligations outstanding on the Effective Date under the Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements, (e) the grant of Liens by the Credit Parties on the Mortgaged Properties and the other Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments and (f) the amendment of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, the execution of the Senior Secured Notes Documents, the amendment of the Junior Lien Credit Agreement and the settlement of certain amounts outstanding under the Junior Lien Credit Agreement with the proceeds of this Agreement.

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

Unproved Reserves ” means probable reserves and/or possible reserves as defined in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X.

 

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Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents ” means, as of any date of determination, that portion of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ aggregate cash and Cash Equivalents that (x) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower, (y) is maintained with a depositary bank in the United States and is subject to perfected Lien in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (z) that is not encumbered by or subject to any Lien (including, without limitation, any Lien permitted hereunder, other than (a) Liens securing Junior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt and Senior Priority Lien Debt, (b) Liens securing Junior Lien Debt and (c) bankers’ liens), setoff (other than ordinary course setoff rights of a depository bank arising under a bank depository agreement for customary fees, charges and other account-related expenses due to such depository bank thereunder), counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right in favor of any Person.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Borrower in the manner provided below, (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) EBG Resources and any of its Subsidiaries, (d) Bonchasse Land Company, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company and any of its Subsidiaries, (e) the Marcellus JV Operator and any of its Subsidiaries (f) the Marcellus Midstream Owner and any of its Subsidiaries, and (g) PCMWL, LLC, Moran Minerals, LLC and Moran Land Company, LLC. The Board of Directors of the Borrower may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries at the time of such designation or at any time thereafter (i) is a Material Domestic Subsidiary or owns, directly or indirectly, a Material Domestic Subsidiary, (ii) owns Oil and Gas Properties or owns, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary that owns Oil and Gas Properties or (iii) guarantees, or is a primary obligor of, any indebtedness, liabilities or other obligations under any Senior Debt (including the Existing Unsecured Notes), Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any of the foregoing) or owns, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary that provides such a guarantee, or is such a primary obligor.

U.S. Person ” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(d) .

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.

Warrants ” means those warrants issued to the holders of the Senior Secured Notes as of the date hereof to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Borrower.

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (1) the amount of each then remaining scheduled installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payments of principal, including payment at final scheduled maturity, in respect thereof by (2) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that the effects of any prepayments made on such Indebtedness shall be disregarded in making such calculation.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary, all the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Borrower or one or more other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Withholding Agent ” means the Borrower, any other Credit Party and the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Section 1.02     Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments restatements, amendments and restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” or “Property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, and (f) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time. No provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be construed or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by reason of such party’s having, or being deemed to have, drafted, structured, or dictated such provision.

 

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Section 1.03     Accounting Terms; GAAP . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Majority Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

Section 1.04     Time of Day . Unless otherwise specified, all references to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

Section 2.01     Term Loans .

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Tranche A Term Loan Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make a Term Loan in connection with the exchange, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, of one or both of a Tranche A Fairfax Term Loan or Tranche A Exchange Term Loan, as applicable, (each a “ Tranche A Term Loan ”) to the Borrower on the Effective Date, in an amount equal to such Lender’s Tranche A Term Loan Commitment, in each case as provided in subsection (b)  below. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Tranche A Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

(b)    The Borrower agrees that each Lender’s obligation to make a Tranche A Term Loan to the Borrower as provided hereunder shall be satisfied only by the deemed exchange by such Lender of 100% of its Existing Exchanged Loans as provided in the Exchange Agreement, as prepayment in full and on a cashless basis, for such Lender’s Commitment as specified on Schedule 2.01 pursuant to the cashless settlement mechanism specified in the Exchange Agreement. The Borrower hereby directs each Lender to so deliver the proceeds of the Tranche A Term Loans. For the avoidance of doubt, the deemed exchange and delivery of the proceeds of the Tranche A Term Loans as described in this Section 2.01(b) shall be the only means by which the Lenders shall make the Tranche A Term Loans hereunder, and nothing in this Agreement shall require any Lender to make its Tranche A Term Loans by making funds available to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower.

Section 2.02     Termination and Reduction of the Commitments . Unless previously terminated, the Tranche A Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the earlier to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m. on the Effective Date and (y) in the case of any Lender’s Commitment, the date of termination of the Exchange Agreement.

 

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Section 2.03     Loans and Borrowings . The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

Section 2.04     Requests for Borrowings . To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone not later than 11:00 a.m. New York time, ten (10) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing (other than the initial Borrowing hereunder, which shall be deemed funded on the Effective Date). Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section  2.03 :

(i)    the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing (which shall be the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders);

(ii)    the date of such Borrowing, which shall be the Effective Date and a Business Day; and

(iii)    the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section  2.05 .

Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.05     Deemed Funding of Borrowings .

(a)    Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Effective Date as provided for in Section 2.01(b) above.

(b)    Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender prior to the Effective Date that such Lender will not make such Lender’s Loans on the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made its Loans on the Effective Date in accordance with clause (a)  of this Section and Section 2.01(b) .

Section 2.06     Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt .

(a)    The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon in cash, on the Term Loan Maturity Date.

 

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(b)    The Borrower and each surety, endorser, guarantor and other party ever liable for payment of any sums of money payable under this Agreement, jointly and severally waive presentment and demand for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity, protest, notice of protest and nonpayment, as to the payments due under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and as to each and all installments hereunder and thereunder, and agree that their liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not be affected by any renewal or extension in the time of payment hereof, or in any indulgences, or by any release or change in any security for the payment of the Obligations, and hereby consent to any and all such renewals, extensions, indulgences, releases or changes.

(c)    Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(d)    The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e)    The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to clauses  (c) or  (d) of this Section  2.06 shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(f)    Any Lender or Participant may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender or Participant a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender or Participant (or, if requested by such Lender or Participant, to such Lender or Participant and its registered assigns) and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit  E . Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section  10.04 ) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.07     Optional Prepayment of Loans .

(a)     Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans .

(1)    Subject to Section 2.07(b)(6) , the Borrower shall not have the right at any time to optionally or voluntarily prepay any Borrowing of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans (whether in whole and or in part).

(2)    If, notwithstanding immediately preceding clause (a), an optional or voluntary prepayment of any Borrowing of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans shall occur, each such prepayment shall be applied

 

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ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans and each such prepayment shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section  2.10 (but, for the avoidance of doubt, which interest shall be paid entirely in cash) and the Make-Whole Amount.

(b)     Tranche A Exchange Term Loans .

(1)    Subject to clause (b)(6) below, at any time prior to October 26, 2018, the Borrower may, on one or more occasions, prepay all or any portion of the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans, upon notice as provided in Section 2.07(b)(5) , at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans prepaid, plus the Make-Whole Amount as of the date of prepayment, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of prepayment (subject to the right of the Lenders on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is prior to the date of prepayment). Borrower shall calculate the Make-Whole Amount and provide such calculation to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at least two (2) Business Days before the date of any such prepayment; provided that such calculation shall be subject to the review and approval of the Lenders. In no event shall the Administrative Agent have any duty, responsibility, or liability with respect to the calculations of the Make-Whole Amount, which calculations shall be the sole responsibility of Borrower.

(2)    Subject to clause (b)(6) below, at any time on or after October 26, 2018, the Borrower may, on one or more occasions, prepay all or any portion of the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans, upon notice as provided in Section 2.07(b)(5) , at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans prepaid, plus the premium (expressed as percentages of the principal amount to be prepaid) set forth below if prepaid during the 12-month period beginning on October 26th of the years indicated below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the date of prepayment (subject to the right of the Lenders on the relevant regular Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is prior to the date of prepayment):

 

Year

   Premium  

2018

     6.25

2019 and thereafter

     0

(3)    For purposes hereof, “ Applicable Premium ” means either or both of the Make-Whole Amount and the premium specified in Section 2.07(b)(2) , as applicable.

(4)    Except pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(1) or (2)  or (6) , or Section  2.08 , the Loans may not be prepaid at the Borrower’s option. Any prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.07(b) shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2.13 .

 

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(5)    To make a prepayment, the Borrower shall deliver at least three Business Days’ prior written or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) to the Administrative Agent before 12:00 (noon), New York City time. Each such notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of Loans to be prepaid, which date may not be more than 30 days after the date of notice of prepayment, shall be irrevocable and shall commit the Borrower to prepay Tranche A Exchange Term Loans in the amount stated therein on the date stated therein; provided, however, that (1) if such prepayment is for all of the then outstanding Tranche A Exchange Term Loans, then the Borrower may revoke such notice by written notice to the Administrative Agent no later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on the date of prepayment and/or extend the prepayment date by not more than five Business Days and (2) if such prepayment is a partial prepayment, it shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000.

(6)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Borrower elects to make a prepayment of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(1) or (2) , the Borrower shall concurrently, on a ratable basis, make a prepayment of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans, together with accrued interest to the extent required by Section  2.10 (but, for the avoidance of doubt, which interest shall be paid entirely in cash) and the Make-Whole Amount in accordance with Section 2.07(a)(2) .

Section 2.08     Mandatory Prepayment of Loans .

(a)    If the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary receives Net Cash Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale or Disposes of any Oil and Gas Properties at any time (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary permitted pursuant to Section  6.04 or otherwise), subject to clause (e)  of this Section  2.08 and to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Borrower shall prepay Term Loans in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition on or within two (2) Business Days of the date it or any Restricted Subsidiary receives the Net Cash Proceeds from such Disposition; provided , any Net Cash Proceeds from any such Disposition received by Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may be used within three hundred sixty (360) days after such Disposition to (i) acquire property, plant and equipment or any business entity used or useful in carrying on the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or to improve or replace any existing property of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries used or useful in carrying on the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the foregoing, collectively, “ replacement assets ”), or to make capital expenditures in Oil and Gas Properties; provided , further , for purposes of this sub-clause (i) , any Net Cash Proceeds attributable to a Disposition of an asset owned by a Credit Party must be reinvested in replacement assets owned by one or more Credit Parties or to make capital expenditures in Oil and Gas Properties owned by one or more Credit Parties; (ii) subject to Section 2.13(b) (if applicable), make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to prepay in cash the Loans, on pro rata basis, pursuant to prepayment procedures reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (iii) to permanently repay, redeem or repurchase (and permanently reduce the commitments with respect to) any Senior Priority Lien Debt and other outstanding Senior Priority Lien Obligations or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. The offer price in any Asset

 

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Sale Offer shall be payable in cash and will be equal to (x) 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of prepayment plus the Make-Whole Amount in the case of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans and (y) 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of prepayment in the case of Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans.

Each Lender may accept all or a portion of its pro rata share of any Asset Sale Offer (any amounts not accepted, the “ Declined Amounts ”) by providing written notice (an “ Acceptance Notice ”) to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. ten Business Days after the date of delivery of such Asset Sale Offer. Each Acceptance Notice delivered by a Lender shall specify the principal amount of the Loans to be prepaid from such Lender; provided that (i) such amount shall not exceed such Lender’s pro rata share of the Asset Sale Offer and (ii) if such Lender fails to specify any such amount, it shall be deemed to have requested its full pro rata share of such Asset Sale Offer. If a Lender fails to deliver an Acceptance Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, such failure will be deemed a full rejection of such Asset Sale Offer. The Borrower shall prepay all Loans required to prepaid by it under this Section 2.08(a) no later than five Business Days after expiration of the time period for acceptance by the Lenders of the Asset Sale Offer. Any Declined Amounts shall no longer be subject to this Section  2.08 and may be used by the Borrower in any way not prohibited by this Agreement. If the aggregate principal amount of Loans requested to be repaid exceeds the aggregate amount to be repaid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section  2.08 , the Administrative Agent shall apply the amounts to be repaid by the Borrower to the Loans requested to be repaid on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of such Loans.

(b)    In the event and on each occasion that any Net Cash Proceeds are received by or on behalf of any Credit Party in respect of the incurrence of any Indebtedness after the Effective Date (other than Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section  7.01 , subject to clause (e)  of this Section  2.08 and to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement) the Borrower shall, immediately after such Net Cash Proceeds are received by any Credit Party, apply such amounts to prepay pro rata among the Term Lenders (x) Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds, together with the Make-Whole Amount, and (y) the Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds.

(c)    Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control the Borrower shall immediately prepay, in full, in cash, the aggregate outstanding (x) Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Fairfax Term Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of such prepayment and the Make-Whole Amount, and (y) Term Loans attributable to the exchange of the Tranche A Exchange Term Loans in an amount equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Loans, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of such prepayment.

(d)    Prepayments pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section  2.10 and any Applicable Premium (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Make-Whole Amount), if any, required under Section 2.09(b) , all of

 

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which shall be paid in cash. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Amounts applied to the payment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section may not be re-borrowed.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section  2.08 to the contrary, no prepayments of outstanding Loans that would otherwise be required to be made under clauses (a) or (b) of this Section 2.08 shall be required if such prepayment is prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 2.09     Fees and Applicable Premium

(a)    Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee, for their own account, any such fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Trustee.

(b)    In the event any mandatory or voluntary repayment or prepayment (including, without limitation, any prepayment pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer) of the Term Loans is made prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date, including as a result of the termination of this Agreement and repayment of the Obligations at any time prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date, for any reason, including (i) termination upon the election of the Majority Lenders to terminate after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (or, in the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default described in clauses (g)  or (h) of Article  VIII with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, automatically upon the occurrence thereof), (ii) foreclosure and sale of Collateral, (iii) sale of the Collateral in any insolvency proceeding, or (iv) restructure, reorganization, or compromise of the Obligations by the confirmation of a plan of reorganization or any other plan of compromise, restructure, or arrangement in any insolvency proceeding, then, in view of the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining the actual amount of damages to the Term Lenders or profits lost by the Term Lenders as a result of such early payment or termination, and by mutual agreement of the Borrower and the Term Lenders as to a reasonable estimation and calculation of the lost profits or damages of the Term Lenders, the Borrower shall pay in cash, pro rata among the Term Lenders that hold Term Loans based on their respective outstanding principal amounts on the date of such prepayment, the Applicable Premium (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Make-Whole Amount), measured as of the date of such payment or termination. Borrower shall calculate the Applicable Premium (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Make-Whole Amount) and provide such calculation to Administrative Agent and the Term Lenders at least two (2) Business Days before the date any such prepayment is made; provided that such calculation shall be subject to the review and approval of the Term Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall disburse any such prepayment (together with the Applicable Premium (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Make-Whole Amount) which has been delivered to Administrative Agent by Borrower at the time of the prepayment) to the Term Lenders upon Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof. In no event shall the Administrative Agent have any duty, responsibility or liability with respect to the calculations of the Applicable Premium (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Make-Whole Amount), which calculation shall be the sole responsibility of Borrower.

 

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(c)    All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent. Subject to Section  10.13 , fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

Section 2.10     Interest .

(a)     Cash Interest Payments . Except as provided in this Section 2.10 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, including clause (c)  below), interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans shall be payable entirely in cash (such interest, “ Cash Interest ”) on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Cash Interest on the Tranche A Term Loans shall accrue at a rate of 12.5% per annum and be payable in cash (the “ Cash Interest Rate ”). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for so long as the Senior Secured Notes are outstanding, the Borrower shall not be permitted to make payments of Cash Interest for any applicable Interest Payment Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall instead be required to make payments of PIK Interest for such applicable Interest Payment Date) if (i) for such applicable Interest Payment Date and for the relevant quarterly interest payment period (or for the immediately prior quarterly interest payment period), the Borrower makes payments of any amount of PIK Interest (under and as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) under the Senior Secured Notes Indenture for such Interest Payment Date (except with respect to the June 20, 2017 Interest Payment Date), (ii) a Default or Event of Default (as defined under the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) has occurred and is continuing under the Senior Secured Notes or (iii) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such payment (together with any payment to be made substantially concurrently therewith under the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), the Borrower has Liquidity, on a pro forma basis, of less than $175.0 million (such sentence being herein referred to as the “ Cash Interest Payment Conditions ”).

(b)     PIK Interest Payments . Subject to the restrictions in this clause (b)  and in clause (c)  below, the Borrower may elect, at its option, to pay all or a portion of the interest due on the Tranche A Term Loans on the applicable Interest Payment Date by (1) issuing PIK Shares to the Lenders (such payments, “ PIK Share Payments ”) or (2) paying such interest in kind by capitalizing (and thereby increasing) the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans (such payments, “ PIK Loan Payments ”, with the payment of interest through PIK Share Payments or through PIK Loan Payments being herein referred to as “ PIK Interest ), and in each case, notifying the Administrative Agent as set forth in Section 2.10(f). Any PIK Interest on the Tranche A Term Loans shall accrue at a rate of 15.0% per annum (the “ PIK Interest Rate ”). (ii) The Borrower’s ability to pay PIK Interest as PIK Share Payments is subject to the following conditions: (A) the Borrower shall have received the Requisite Shareholder Approvals, (B) the PIK Share Payment shall not result in a beneficial owner of Obligations owed under the Term Loans, such beneficial owner’s Affiliates and any person subject to aggregation with such beneficial owner or its Affiliates under Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, beneficially owning (as defined in Rules 13d-3 or 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this provision such holder shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares of Common Stock that any such holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent entities (or their successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets), (C) the number of PIK Shares to be issued shall not be in excess of the

 

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authorized amount of Common Stock available under the Borrower’s charter therefor, (D) the PIK Shares shall be (x) listed on the New York Stock Exchange or any other exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or the over the counter market and (y) duly authorized, validly issued and non-assessable, and the issuance of such PIK Shares shall not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights and (E) the Borrower’s Resale Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC subject to any limitations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. If the foregoing conditions are not met and the Borrower otherwise has the ability to elect to pay PIK Interest, the Borrower may pay such PIK Interest as PIK Loan Payments. To the extent the Shelf Registration Statement is not effective and/or any PIK Share Payments are issued in any manner not involving a registered issuance under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, the certificates or book-entry interests representing such shares shall bear a legend to such effect which shall be removed at the request of a lender subject to receipt of customary certificates and opinions. The Borrower will cooperate with the Lenders with respect to any such request.

(c)    For any Interest Payment Date on or prior to December 31, 2018 and subject to the Cash Interest Payment Conditions, (1) the Borrower shall be permitted to pay PIK Interest in its sole discretion and (2) interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans for the relevant quarterly interest payment period shall accrue at the PIK Interest Rate unless, and only unless, the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent, no later than the 20 th day prior to each Interest Payment Date, written notification, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, of its intention to pay Cash Interest for the applicable Interest Payment Date, setting forth the amount of Cash Interest to be paid on such Interest Payment Date and certifying that the Borrower is permitted to pay Cash Interest in accordance with this Agreement. For any Interest Payment Date after December 31, 2018 and subject to the Cash Interest Payment Conditions, interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans for the relevant quarterly interest payment period shall accrue at the Cash Interest Rate, unless, and only unless to the extent applicable, if the Liquidity for such applicable quarter shall:

(1)    equal or exceed $225.0 million, then the Borrower must pay Cash Interest on 100% of the principal amount of Tranche A Term Loans outstanding, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate, and no PIK Interest may be paid;

(2)    equal or exceed $200.0 million but be less than $225.0 million, then the Borrower shall pay interest on (x) up to 25% (the applicable percentage determined by the Borrower) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans as PIK Interest, such PIK Interest payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate (and shall otherwise be deemed to have accrued at such rate), and (y) 100% ( minus the applicable, if any, elected percentage under immediately preceding clause (x) ) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate;

(3)    equal or exceed $175.0 million but be less than $200.0 million, then the Borrower shall pay interest on (x) up to 50% (the applicable percentage determined by the Borrower) of the then

 

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outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans as PIK Interest, such PIK Interest payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate (and shall otherwise be deemed to have accrued at such rate), and (y) 100% ( minus the applicable, if any, elected percentage under immediately preceding clause (x) ) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate;

(4)    equal or exceed $150.0 million but be less than $175.0 million, then the Borrower shall pay interest on (x) up to 75% (the applicable percentage determined by the Borrower) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans as PIK Interest, such PIK Interest payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate (and shall otherwise be deemed to have accrued at such rate), and (y) 100% ( minus the applicable, if any, elected percentage under immediately preceding clause (x) ) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate; and

(5)    be less than $150.0 million, then the Borrower shall pay interest on (x) up to 100% (the applicable percentage determined by the Borrower) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans as PIK Interest, such PIK Interest payable at the applicable PIK Interest Rate (and shall otherwise be deemed to have accrued at such rate), and (y) 100% ( minus the applicable, if any, elected percentage under immediately preceding clause (x) ) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans as Cash Interest, payable at the applicable Cash Interest Rate.

(d)     Payment of PIK Share Payments .

(1)    PIK Share Payments shall be payable in PIK Shares in an amount calculated by the Borrower by dividing the outstanding balance of the accrued PIK Interest after giving effect to any interest to be paid in Cash Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans by the 20-day volume weighted average price per share of the Borrower’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or the over-the-counter market or other exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed) calculated as at the end of the three Trading Days prior to the Determination Date, rounded up to the nearest share of Common Stock (a “ PIK Share Payment ”). With respect to any PIK Share Payments, the Borrower shall deliver the applicable PIK Shares to the Lenders on the relevant Interest Payment Date. On the relevant Interest Payment Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) written notification, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the issuance of the PIK Shares as payment of all or a portion of PIK Interest on such Interest Payment Date has been made in accordance with this Agreement and (y) the written notification, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the applicable Lenders with respect to such Interest Payment Date pursuant to Section 2.10(f) .

 

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(2)    PIK Loan Payments shall be effected, by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Tranche A Term Loans by a dollar amount equal to the percentage of PIK Interest to be paid thereon, after giving effect to any interest to be paid in Cash Interest, less any PIK Share Payment to be made on such Interest Payment Date (rounded up to the nearest $1.00), automatically without any further action by any Person.

(3)    In the event that the Borrower is permitted to and elects to pay a portion of the interest on the Term Loans as Cash Interest and a portion as PIK Interest, such Cash Interest and PIK Interest shall be paid to (or for the account of) Lenders pro rata in accordance with their interests.

(4)    PIK Share Payments shall be made by the Borrower to the respective Lenders and certified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.10(d)(1) .

(e)    The insufficiency or lack of funds available to the Borrower to pay Cash Interest as required pursuant to this Section  2.10 shall not permit the Borrower to pay PIK Interest in respect of any Interest Payment Date and the sole right of the Borrower to elect to pay PIK Interest shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 2.10(b) and (c) .

(f)    No later than the 20th day prior to each Interest Payment Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent written notification, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (i) that the Borrower is permitted to pay PIK Interest in the amounts set forth in the notice on the next Interest Payment Date in accordance with this Agreement and is electing to pay PIK Interest on the next Interest Payment Date, (ii) the amount of interest to be paid on the next Interest Payment Date, (iii) the amount of PIK Interest to be paid as PIK Loans, if any, on the next Interest Payment Date and (iv) the amount of PIK Interest to be paid as PIK Shares, if any, on the next Interest Payment Date and the number of PIK Shares, if any, to be issued in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy of such notice to the Lenders.

(g)    (i) If the Borrower shall default in the payment of any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount due hereunder or under any other Loan Document, by acceleration or otherwise, or (ii) if any Event of Default under Article  VIII (other than clauses (a)  or (b) thereunder) has occurred and is continuing and the Majority Lenders so vote (or, in the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default described in clauses (g)  or (h) of Article  VIII with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, automatically upon the occurrence thereof), then, in the case of clause (i)  above, until such defaulted amount shall have been paid in full or, in the case of clause (ii)  above, from the date such vote has been exercised by the Majority Lenders (or, in the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default described in clauses (g)  or (h) of Article  VIII with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, automatically upon the occurrence thereof) and for so long as such Event of Default is continuing, to the extent

 

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permitted by law, all overdue amounts under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall bear interest (after as well as before judgment), payable on demand (including accrued and unpaid PIK Interest which for the avoidance of doubt shall be paid in cash), (x) in the case of overdue principal, at the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan pursuant to Section  2.10 plus 2.00% per annum and (y) in all other cases, at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the interest rate applicable to Loans pursuant to Section  2.10 plus 2.00% per annum.

(h)    Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and on the Term Loan Maturity Date; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section  2.10(b) shall be payable on demand (including accrued and unpaid PIK Interest which for the avoidance of doubt shall be paid in cash) and (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment.

(i)    All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(j)    Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment Dates applicable to such Loan except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

(k)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of accrued interest in connection with any optional or mandatory prepayment of the Tranche A Term Loans as described under Sections 2.07 or 2.08 shall be payable solely in cash at the applicable Cash Interest rate for the applicable calendar quarter in which such Interest Payment Date occurs.

(l)     In the event that any PIK Share Payment is made, the Borrower shall use its best efforts to keep a Resale Registration Statement continuously effective until such time as no PIK Shares are held by any Lender, subject to any rights to delay or suspend or limit such registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

(m)    The Administrative Agent shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Lenders. Upon request by the Borrower in respect of an Interest Payment Date, the Administrative Agent shall furnish to the Borrower, no later than two Business Days after the related Record Date, a list of names, addresses, federal tax identification numbers and principal amounts of Obligations of the Lenders as of such Record Date. Upon request by the Borrower, in respect of any date that is not an Interest Payment Date, the Administrative Agent shall furnish such information to the Borrower within two Business Days of such request.

Section 2.11     Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances .

(a)    If any Change in Law shall (1) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender; (2) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (i) Indemnified Taxes, (ii) Taxes described in clauses (b)  through (d ) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (iii) Connection Income Taxes)

 

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on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or (3) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making or maintaining any Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)    If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)    A certificate of a Lender setting forth (i) the amount or amounts reasonably necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in clause  (a) or  (b) of this Section  2.11 , (ii) the factual basis for such compensation, and (iii) the manner in which such amount or amounts were calculated, and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d)    Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section  2.11 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender under immediately preceding clauses (a)  or (b) with respect to increased costs or reductions with respect to any period prior to the date that is 120 days prior to such request if such Lender knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the fact that such circumstances would result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions; provided , further , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions arising out of the retroactive application of any Change in Law within such 120-day period. The protection of this Section  2.11 shall be available to each Lender regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the Change in Law that shall have occurred or been imposed.

Section 2.12     Taxes .

(a)    Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any other Credit Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or

 

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withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section  2.12 ) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(b)    In addition, the Credit Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c)    The Credit Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section  2.12 ) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d)    As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower or any other Credit Party to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(1)    Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections  2.12(d)(2)(i) , 2.12(d)(2)(ii) and 2.12(d)(4) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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(2)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

(i)    any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;

(ii)    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(A)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(B)    executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(C)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (as applicable); or

(D)    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit  H-2 or Exhibit  H-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

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(3)    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(4)    if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (4), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(5)    Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(e)    Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (1) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (2) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section  10.04 relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (3) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (e) .

 

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(f)    If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section  2.12 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section  2.12 ), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section  2.12 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this clause (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (f) , in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this clause (f)  the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This clause (f)  shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(g)    Each party’s obligations under this Section  2.12 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document. For purposes of this Section  2.12 , the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

Section 2.13     Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .

(a)    The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.11 or Section  2.12 , or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made (x) to the Administrative Agent at its offices at Wilmington Trust, National Association, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or (y) directly to the applicable Lender as may be specified in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent, except that payments pursuant to Section  2.11 , Section  2.12 and Section  10.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

 

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(b)    Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting either (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall, to the extent not otherwise specified in the Loan Documents, be applied to the payment of such principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents as specified by the Borrower), or (B) a mandatory prepayment or prepayment pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer (which shall be applied in accordance with Section  2.08 ) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, shall be applied ratably first , to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party, second , to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower or any other Credit Party, third , to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth , to pay the portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, in each case, ratably among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and fifth , to the payment of any other Obligations due to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Secured Party by any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Obligations.

(c)    Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise (including any right of set-off exercised with respect to a Swap Agreement), obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this clause (c)  shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this clause (c)  shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(d)    Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in

 

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accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, but shall have no obligation to do so, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(e)    If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section  2.13(d) or Section  10.03(c) , then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections, in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

Section 2.14     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders; Illegality .

(a)    If any Lender requests compensation under Section  2.11 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section  2.12 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section  2.11 or Section  2.12 , as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all documented and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)    If any Lender requests compensation under Section  2.11 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section  2.12 , then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section  10.04 ), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any amounts attributable to the Applicable Premium), from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other

 

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amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section  2.11 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section  2.12 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

(c)    If (i) in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that requires approval of all of the Lenders under Section  10.02 , the consent of Super-Majority Lenders shall have been obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders (each a “ Non -Consenting Lender ”) whose consent is required has not been obtained or (ii) a Lender is a Defaulting Lender; then, in each case, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, elect to replace such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, as the case may be, as a Lender party to this Agreement in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by Section  10.04 ; provided that (x) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, and (y) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any amounts attributable to the Applicable Premium), from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts). A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a consent by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply or, in the case of a Defaulting Lender, such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender.

Section 2.15     Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a)    Such Defaulting Lender shall not have the right to vote on any issue on which voting is required (other than to the extent expressly provided in Section  10.02(b) ) and the Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Majority Lenders or the Super-Majority Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder.

(b)    If a Defaulting Lender (or a Lender who would be a Defaulting Lender but for the expiration of the relevant grace period) as a result of the exercise of a set-off shall have received a payment in respect of its Credit Exposure which results in its Credit Exposure being less than its Applicable Percentage of the Aggregate Credit Exposure, then no payments will be made to such Defaulting Lender until such time as such Defaulting Lender shall have complied with this Section  2.15 and all amounts due and owing to the Lenders has been equalized in accordance with each Lender’s respective pro rata share of the Obligations. Further, if at any time prior to the acceleration or maturity of the Loans, the Administrative Agent shall receive any payment in respect of principal of a Loan while one or more Defaulting Lenders shall be party to this Agreement, the

 

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Administrative Agent shall apply such payment first to the Borrowing(s) for which such Defaulting Lender(s) shall have failed to fund its pro rata share until such time as such Borrowing(s) are paid in full or each Lender (including each Defaulting Lender) is owed its Applicable Percentage of all Loans then outstanding. After acceleration or maturity of the Loans, subject to the first sentence of this Section  2.15(b) , all principal will be paid ratably as provided in Section  2.15(b) .

Section 2.16     Returned Payments . If after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations, the Administrative Agent or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason, then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The provisions of this Section  2.16 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section  2.16 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

Section 2.17     Collection of Proceeds of Production . The Security Instruments contain an assignment by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors to and in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties of all of the Borrower’s or each Guarantor’s interest in and to production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or allocated to the Mortgaged Properties. The Security Instruments further provide in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of the Obligations and other obligations described therein and secured thereby. Notwithstanding the assignment contained in such Security Instruments, (a) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, neither the Collateral Trustee nor the Administrative Agent nor any Lender will notify the purchaser or purchasers of such production nor take any other action to cause such proceeds to be remitted to the Collateral Trustee nor the Administrative Agent nor any Lender, but the Collateral Trustee, Administrative Agent and each Lender will instead permit such proceeds to be paid to the relevant Credit Party and (b) the Lenders hereby authorize the Collateral Trustee to take such actions as may be necessary to cause such proceeds to be paid to the relevant Credit Party so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Credit Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that (it being understood and agreed that such representations and warranties are deemed to be made concurrently with and after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions on the Effective Date):

Section 3.01     Organization; Powers . Each Credit Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

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Section 3.02     Authorization; Enforceability . The Transactions are within each Credit Party’s corporate, limited liability company or partnership powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement and each of the Loan Documents to which a Credit Party is party have been duly executed and delivered by such Credit Party and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Credit Party, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 3.03     Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and, after the Effective Date, the filing of this Agreement and related Loan Documents by the Borrower with, and other required disclosures required by, the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other Organizational Documents of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument evidencing Material Indebtedness or a Material Sales Contract binding upon the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted under Section  6.07 .

Section 3.04     Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change .

(a)    The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders the consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2015, reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 31, 2015, setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Responsible Officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, in the case of the statements referred to in clause  (ii) above.

(b)    Since December 31, 2015, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (it being understood that changes in commodity prices for Hydrocarbons affecting the oil and gas industry as a whole do not constitute a material adverse change).

 

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Section 3.05     Properties .

(a)    Except as otherwise provided in Section  3.15 with respect to Proved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all such real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

(b)    All material leases and agreements (excluding oil and gas leases which are addressed in Section  3.15 ) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, and there exists no default or event of default, or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default or event of default, under any such lease or agreement which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    The rights and Properties presently owned, leased or licensed by the Credit Parties including all easements and rights of way, include all material rights and Properties necessary to permit the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to conduct their business.

(d)    All of the material Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Oil and Gas Properties, which are addressed in Section  3.15 ) which are reasonably necessary for the operation of their businesses are in good working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards.

(e)    The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, trade-names, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and such Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.06     Litigation and Environmental Matters .

(a)    There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b)    Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower’s knowledge (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or

 

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comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

(c)    Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.07     Compliance with Laws and Agreements . The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it, its Oil and Gas Business, and its Property and there are no pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, threatened or anticipated complaints, investigations, enforcement actions or other proceedings (formal or informal, public or non-public) alleging that Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is not in compliance with any Governmental Requirements applicable to it, its Oil and Gas Business, or its Property which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary are in compliance with all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. As of the Effective Date and immediately after giving effect to any extensions of credit hereunder, no default or event of default has occurred and is then continuing under any of the First Lien RBL Documents, Senior Secured Notes Documents, the Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements or under any indenture or similar document related to the Existing Unsecured Notes.

Section 3.08     Investment Company Status; Energy Regulatory Status .

(a)    Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(b)    Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary (i) is subject to regulation as a “natural-gas company,” under the Natural Gas Act or the regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“ FERC ”) thereunder, (ii) subject to regulation as a “gas utility company,” a “public-utility company,” or a “holding company” under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, or FERC’s regulations thereunder, or (iii) subject to regulation as a “public utility, “ a “natural gas utility,” a “natural gas company,” a “holding company,” or similar term under any state law or regulation.

Section 3.09     Taxes . The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 3.10     ERISA . No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of FASB Statement 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of FASB Statement 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

Section 3.11     Disclosure . The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any Restricted Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

Section 3.12     Labor Matters . There are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other Law dealing with such matters to the extent that such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.13     Capitalization and Credit Party Information . Schedule 3.13 lists, as of the Effective Date (a) each Subsidiary that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and for each Unrestricted Subsidiary (x) the full legal name, its jurisdiction of organization, its organizational identification number, its federal tax identification number, the number of shares of capital stock or other Equity Interests outstanding and the owner(s) of such Equity Interests and (y) each Subsidiary of each such Unrestricted Subsidiary and each such Subsidiary, the full legal name, its jurisdiction of organization, its organizational identification number, its federal tax identification number, the number of shares of capital stock or other Equity Interests outstanding and the owner(s) of such Equity Interests, (b) for the Borrower, its full legal name, its jurisdiction of organization, its organizational identification number and its federal tax identification number, and (c) each Restricted Subsidiary and for each Restricted Subsidiary its full legal name, its jurisdiction of organization, its organizational identification number, its federal tax identification number, the number of shares of capital stock or other Equity Interests outstanding and the owner(s) of such Equity Interests.

Section 3.14     Margin Stock . Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of

 

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extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board), and no part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

Section 3.15     Oil and Gas Properties . Each Credit Party has good and defensible title to all Proved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties (for purposes of this Section  3.15 , “proved Oil and Gas Properties”) described in the most recent Reserve Report provided to the Administrative Agent, free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted pursuant to Section  6.07 . All such proved Oil and Gas Properties are valid, subsisting, and in full force and effect, and all rentals, royalties, and other amounts due and payable in respect thereof have been duly paid. Without regard to any consent or non-consent provisions of any joint operating agreement covering any Credit Party’s proved Oil and Gas Properties, such Credit Party’s share of (a) the costs for each proved Oil and Gas Property described in the Reserve Report is not materially greater than the decimal fraction set forth in the Reserve Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the respective designations “working interests,” “WI,” “gross working interest,” “GWI,” or similar terms (except in such cases where there is a corresponding increase in the net revenue interest), and (b) production from, allocated to, or attributed to each such proved Oil and Gas Property is not materially less than the decimal fraction set forth in the Reserve Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the designations “net revenue interest,” “NRI,” or similar terms. Each well drilled in respect of proved producing Oil and Gas Properties described in the Reserve Report (1) is capable of, and is presently, either producing Hydrocarbons in commercially profitable quantities or in the process of being worked over or enhanced, and the Credit Party that owns such proved producing Oil and Gas Properties is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders, and (2) has been drilled, bottomed, completed, and operated in compliance with all applicable laws, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), except where any failure to satisfy clause (1) or to comply with clause (2) would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such well which is currently producing Hydrocarbons is subject to any penalty in production by reason of such well having produced in excess of its allowable production.

Section 3.16     Insurance . Each Credit Party has (a) all insurance policies sufficient for the compliance by each of them with all material Governmental Requirements and all material agreements to which such Credit Party is a party and (b) insurance coverage in such amounts and against such risk (including, without limitation, public liability) that are usually insured against by companies similarly situated and engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Credit Parties. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders have been named as additional insureds in respect of such liability insurance policies and the Administrative Agent has been named as loss payee with respect to Property loss insurance.

Section 3.17     Solvency . After giving effect to the Transactions and any contribution provisions contained in any Loan Document, the Credit Parties and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are Solvent.

 

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Section 3.18     Deposit Accounts . Except for the Excluded Accounts, no Credit Party maintains any deposit or investment account other than such accounts listed on Schedule 3.18 .

Section 3.19     Maintenance of Properties . Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties (and Properties unitized therewith) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all Governmental Requirements and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. Specifically in connection with the foregoing, except for those as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) no Oil and Gas Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) and (b) none of the wells comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or Properties unitized therewith) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by Governmental Requirements, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, the Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on Properties unitized therewith, such unitized Properties) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. The wells drilled in respect of proved producing Oil and Gas Properties described in the Reserve Report (other than wells drilled in respect of such proved producing Oil and Gas Properties that have been subsequently Disposed of in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) are capable of, and are presently, either producing Hydrocarbons in commercially profitable quantities or in the process of being worked over or enhanced, and the Credit Party that owns such proved producing Oil and Gas Properties is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders. All pipelines, wells, gas processing plants, platforms and other material improvements, fixtures and equipment owned in whole or in part by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are necessary to conduct normal operations are being maintained in a state adequate to conduct normal operations, and with respect to such of the foregoing which are operated by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in a manner consistent with the past practices of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than those the failure of which to maintain in accordance with this Section  3.19 could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

Section 3.20     Foreign Corrupt Practices; OFAC .

(a)    No Credit Party, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of any Credit Party is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a material violation by such Persons of the FCPA, including without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any

 

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candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and, the Credit Parties and their Affiliates have conducted their business in material compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(b)    No Credit Party, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of any Credit Party is currently subject to any material U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC, and the Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the Loans or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, Affiliate, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

Section 3.21     USA PATRIOT Act . The Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable statutes, regulations and orders of (including any laws relating to terrorism, money laundering, embargoed persons or the Act), and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all governmental bodies, domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property (including, without limitation, applicable statutes, regulations, orders and restrictions relating to environmental standards and controls).

Section 3.22     Security Interest in Collateral .

(a)    The provisions of the Mortgages create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral described therein in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3.22 (in the case of Mortgages to be executed and delivered on the Effective Date) or in the recording office designated by the Borrower (in the case of any Mortgage to be executed and delivered pursuant to Section  5.12 ), each Mortgage shall constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ right, title and interest in the Collateral described therein, securing the Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Credit Party and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens.

(b)    Each of the Pledge Agreement and the Security Agreement creates legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral described therein in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3.22 at any time, each of the Pledge Agreement and the Security Agreement shall constitute perfected and continuing Liens on each Credit Party’s right, title and interest in the Collateral described therein, securing the Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Credit Party and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except for Liens permitted by Section  6.02 .

 

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ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS

Section 4.01     Effective Date . This Agreement shall take effect upon, and the rights and obligations (other than the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder) of each party under this Agreement are subject to, the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement (together with the Schedules hereto) signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Lenders (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received duly executed copies of the Loan Documents (other than this Agreement) and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(c)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Credit Party, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Credit Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

(d)    (x) Each of the First Lien RBL Amendment, Senior Secured Notes Indenture, the Exchange Term Loan Amendment (which shall include the Junior Lien Credit Agreement), the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment and the Exchange Agreement shall have become effective and (y) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (1) certifying that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 (other than, in each case, clauses (d) and (f) thereof) of the Exchange Agreement has been satisfied and (2) attaching a duly executed and delivered copy of each of the First Lien RBL Amendment, Senior Secured Notes Indenture, the Exchange Term Loan Amendment (which shall include the Junior Lien Credit Agreement), the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment and the Exchange Agreement, in each case certified by such Responsible Officer as being a true, correct and complete copy of each such agreement.

(e)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Credit Parties, and such local counsel to the Credit Parties as the Majority Lenders may reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Lenders and, in each case, covering such other matters relating to the Credit Parties and this Agreement as the Majority Lenders shall reasonably request.

 

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(f)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming that the Credit Parties have (i) complied with the conditions set forth in clauses  (g) and (h)  of this Section  4.01 , (ii) complied with the covenants set forth in Section  5.06 (and demonstrating such compliance by the attachment of insurance certificates and endorsements) and (iii) complied with the requirements of Section  5.12 and Section  5.13 .

(g)    The representations and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) on and as of the Effective Date (at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the Borrower hereunder), except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.

(h)    At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(i)    The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, and, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, including all fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee to the extent invoiced on or prior to the Effective Date, together with such additional amounts as shall constitute such counsel’s reasonable estimate of expenses and disbursements to be incurred by such counsel in connection with the recording and filing of Mortgages (and/or Mortgage amendments) and financing statements and the completion of post-closing matters contemplated by the Loan Documents (it being understood that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude further settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

(j)    The Lenders shall have received the Initial Reserve Report, which report shall be identical to the report most recently delivered under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and certified by the Chief Operating Officer of the Borrower as being true, correct and complete.

(k)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received the results of a Lien search, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory thereto, made against the Credit Parties under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in each jurisdiction in which filings or recordations under the Uniform Commercial Code should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in all assets of such Credit Party, indicating among other things that the assets of each such Credit Party are free and clear of any Lien (except for Liens permitted by Section  6.02 or discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation satisfactory to the Majority Lenders).

(l)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received the Intercreditor Agreement Amendment and the Collateral Trust Agreement, in each case, duly executed by and delivered by each party thereto.

 

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(m)    Prior to, or concurrently with, the making of the Loans on the Effective Date, (x) the Lenders shall have exchanged 100% of their respective Existing Exchanged Loans as a lender under the Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements, as applicable, as prepayment, in full and on a cashless basis, for each such Lender’s Commitment as specified on Schedule 2.01 pursuant to the cashless settlement mechanism specified in the Exchange Agreement (and such outstanding Existing Exchanged Loans shall have been deemed exchanged pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement and such Existing Exchanged Loans shall have been deemed prepaid and satisfied in full) such that (i) the outstanding term loans under the Junior Lien Credit Agreement, immediately upon giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, shall be in an aggregate principal amount of no more than $17,250,000 and (ii) the outstanding term loans under the Fairfax Credit Agreement, immediately upon giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, shall be in an aggregate principal amount of no more than $0.

(n)    The applicable Lenders shall have received promissory notes duly executed by the Borrower for each such Lender that has requested the delivery of a promissory note pursuant to and in accordance with Section  2.06(f) .

(o)    [Reserved].

(p)    [Reserved].

(q)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower that (i) after giving effect to the Transactions, (A) the Borrower’s unrestricted cash (including, for the avoidance of doubt, undrawn availability under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement) on the Effective Date is not less than $50,000,000 and (B) the aggregate amount of revolving commitments available to the Borrower under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement are equal to $150,000,000 and (ii) that no Credit Party has made any Swap Modifications in respect of proved developed producing reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of such Credit Party that would be adverse to any Lender in any material respect.

(r)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such UCC financing statements as the Majority Lenders shall specify to fully evidence and perfect all Liens contemplated by the Loan Documents, all of which shall be filed of record in such jurisdictions as the Majority Lenders shall require in its sole discretion.

(s)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a Solvency Certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit  D , dated the Effective Date, and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

(t)    Each Credit Party shall have obtained all approvals required from any Governmental Authority and all consents of other Persons, in each case that are necessary or advisable in connection with the Transactions and each of the foregoing shall be in full force and effect and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Lenders. All applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on

 

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the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or the financing thereof and no action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration, or appeal with respect to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any applicable agency to take action to set aside its consent on its own motion shall have expired.

(u)    There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding or other legal or regulatory developments, pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, singly or in the aggregate, materially impairs the Transactions, the financing thereof or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v)    All partnership, corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the Transactions and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Majority Lenders, and the Majority Lenders shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as the Majority Lenders may reasonably request.

(w)    The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all of the financial statements described in Section  3.04(a) .

(x)    The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a description of the sources and uses of funding for the Transactions that is consistent with the terms of the Loan Documents and otherwise satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the capitalization, structure and equity ownership of the Borrower after the Transactions shall be satisfactory to the Lenders in all respects.

(y)    The Lenders shall have received such other instruments and documents incidental and appropriate to the transactions provided for herein as the Lenders may reasonably request prior to the Effective Date, and all such documents shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders.

(z)    The Backstop Commitment Parties shall be reasonably satisfied that, as of the Effective Date and after giving effect to the Transactions and the effectiveness of the Exchange Term Loan Amendment and the Exchange Agreement and, in each case, the transactions contemplated thereby, there shall not have occurred and be continuing any “going concern” or similar default or event of default under the documentation governing the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, the Existing Second Lien Credit Agreements or the Senior Secured Notes.

Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in the conditions set forth in clauses (g) and (h) of this Section  4.01 .

Section 4.02     Compliance with Conditions to Effective Date . For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Article IV , each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Lenders unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest and premium on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, each Credit Party covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 5.01     Financial Statements; Other Information . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a)    within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited consolidated (and unaudited consolidating) balance sheet and related consolidated (and with respect to statements of operations, consolidating) statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by a firm of independent public accountants registered with the PCAOB (and following the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated and consolidating financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; provided , that if the Borrower has established any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, such consolidated statements shall be accompanied by a balance sheet as of such date, and a statement of income and cash flows for such period, reflecting on a combined basis, for Restricted Subsidiaries and on a combined basis for Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the consolidating entries for each of such types of Subsidiaries;

(b)    within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the consolidated (and unaudited consolidating) balance sheet and related consolidated (and with respect to statements of operations, consolidating) statements of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Responsible Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated and consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; provided , that if the Borrower has established any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, such consolidated statements shall be accompanied by a balance sheet as of such date, and a statement of income and cash flows for such period, reflecting on a combined basis, for Restricted Subsidiaries and on a combined basis for Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the consolidating entries for each of such types of Subsidiaries;

 

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(c)    concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate in a form reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(d)    promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; provided, however that this clause (d) shall be deemed satisfied by the filing with the SEC of the documentation required within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC;

(e)    as soon as available, the Reserve Report required pursuant to Section  5.11 together with a certificate in a form reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(f)    together with the Reserve Report required under clause (e)  above, a report, in reasonable detail, setting forth the Commodity Agreements then in effect, the notional volumes of and prices for, on a monthly basis and in the aggregate, the Crude Oil and Natural Gas for each such Commodity Agreement and the term of each such Commodity Agreement;

(g)    if requested by the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders) and within thirty (30) days of such request, a monthly report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, indicating the next preceding month’s sales volumes, sales revenues, production taxes, operating expenses and net operating income from the Oil and Gas Properties, with detail, calculations and worksheets, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(h)    prompt written notice (and in any event within thirty (30) days prior thereto) of any change (1) in any Credit Party’s corporate, partnership or limited liability company name or status, (2) in the location of any Credit Party’s chief executive office or principal place of business, (3) in any Credit Party’s corporate structure, (4) in any Credit Party’s jurisdiction of organization or such Person’s organizational identification number in such jurisdiction of organization, and (5) in any Credit Party’s federal taxpayer identification number;

(i)    promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the execution thereof, copies of any amendment, modification or supplement to the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, any preferred stock designation or any other Organizational Document of any Credit Party;

(j)    [ Reserved ];

 

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(k)    promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the designation thereof, any designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Borrower; and

(l)    promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Credit Party, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

Section 5.02     Lender Conference Calls . Concurrently with the distribution of the financial statements required under Sections 5.01(a) and (b) , notice of the date and time of a conference call with Lenders to discuss such financial information, which conference calls the Borrower shall host not later than 10 Business Days after such distribution ( provided that any conference call hosted by the Borrower which is generally available to holders of its debt or equity securities shall satisfy this covenant).

Section 5.03     Notices of Material Events . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a)    the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(b)    the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)    the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $6,000,000;

(d)    any written notice or written claim to the effect that any Credit Party is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by any Credit Party, or any other Person of any Hazardous Materials into the environment, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e)    any written notice alleging any violation of any Environmental Law by any Credit Party, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f)    the occurrence of any material breach or default under, or repudiation or termination of, any Material Sales Contract that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect;

(g)    the receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any management letter or comparable analysis prepared by the auditors for the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(h)    promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after receiving notice thereof or a Responsible Officer becoming aware of, the occurrence of any material breach or default under, or repudiation or termination of, or notice of any material dispute or claim arising under or in connection with the BG JV Documents and the Marcellus JV Documents by any party thereto, including any Default Notice under and as defined in Section 5.1 of the BG Joint Development Agreement and Section 5.1 of the Marcellus Joint Development Agreement;

(i)    promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after receiving notice thereof or a Responsible Officer becoming aware of, the occurrence of any default or event of default under the First Lien RBL Documents, the indenture or any similar documents related to the Existing Unsecured Notes or under any Senior Priority Lien Documents, Priority Lien Documents, Junior Priority Lien Documents or Junior Lien Documents; and

(j)    any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 5.04     Existence; Conduct of Business . The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution that is otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

Section 5.05     Payment of Obligations . The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.06     Insurance . The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each operator of Oil and Gas Properties to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. On or prior to the Effective Date and thereafter, upon request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent from time to time a summary of the respective insurance coverage of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and, if requested, will furnish the

 

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Administrative Agent copies of the applicable policies. Upon demand by Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders), the Borrower will cause any insurance policies covering any such property to be endorsed (a) to provide that such policies may not be cancelled, reduced or affected in any manner for any reason without fifteen (15) days prior notice to Administrative Agent, (b) to include the Administrative Agent as loss payee with respect to all property/casualty policies and additional insured with respect to all liability policies and (c) to provide for such other matters as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may reasonably require.

Section 5.07    Operation and Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

(a)    operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, applicable pro ration requirements and Environmental Laws, and all applicable laws, rules and regulations of every other Governmental Authority from time to time constituted to regulate the development and operation of its Oil and Gas Properties and the production and sale of Hydrocarbons and other minerals therefrom, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b)    keep and maintain all Property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted); preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear and obsolescence excepted) all of its material Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities;

(c)    promptly pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas Properties and will do all other things necessary to keep materially unimpaired its rights with respect thereto and prevent any forfeiture thereof or default thereunder, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d)    promptly perform, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e)    operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or cause or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated in accordance with the practices of the industry and in

 

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material compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements; and to the extent that a Credit Party is not the operator of any Property, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator to comply with this Section  5.07 .

Section 5.08     Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and, provided an officer of the Borrower has the reasonable opportunity to participate, its independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

Section 5.09     Compliance with Laws . The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it, its Oil and Gas Business and its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.10     Use of Proceeds .

(a)    The proceeds of the Tranche A Term Loans will be used as provided for in Section 2.01(b) .

(b)    No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

Section 5.11     Reserve Reports .

(a)    On or before March 15 th of each year, commencing on March 15, 2018, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report, which Reserve Report shall be prepared or audited by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers.

(b)    With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying that to his knowledge, after reasonable investigation, in all material respects: (1) the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is based on information that was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time, (2) the Borrower or its Subsidiaries owns good and defensible title to the Proved Reserves evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Proved Reserves are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section  6.07 , (3) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no material gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report which would require the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to deliver Hydrocarbons either generally or produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (4) none of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ Proved Reserves have been

 

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sold since the date of the last Reserve Report except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all of its Proved Reserves sold and in such detail as reasonably required by the Administrative Agent and (5) attached thereto is a schedule of the Proved Reserves evaluated by such Reserve Report that are Mortgaged Properties.

(c)    On or before March 15 th of each year, commencing on March 15, 2018, the Borrowers shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Collateral Coverage Reserve Report.

Section 5.12     Liens on Collateral and Additional Property .

(a)    The Borrower and each of the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Junior Priority Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected first-priority Liens upon the Collateral (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens) (including any acquired Property or other Property required by any Junior Priority Lien Document to become Collateral after the Effective Date), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Junior Priority Lien Documents, and in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of assets of the Borrower or any Guarantor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into any Borrower or any Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Security Instruments, shall be treated as after-acquired property and the Borrower or such Guarantor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Junior Priority Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Junior Priority Lien Documents.

(b)    Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee or any Junior Priority Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Instruments, instruments, certificates, financing statements, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Junior Priority Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Junior Priority Lien Obligations; provided that no such Security Instrument, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Borrower and the Guarantors than the Junior Priority Lien Documents executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Guarantors in connection with the making of the Loans on the Effective Date.

(c)    From and after the Effective Date, if the Borrower or any Guarantor acquires any Property that constitutes (x) Collateral or (y) collateral for the Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document, Senior Priority Lien Document, Junior Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document, as applicable, requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Borrower shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, promptly (but not in any event no later than the date that is ten (10) Business Days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Document, Senior Priority Lien Document, Junior

 

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Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Documents, as applicable), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Instruments (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary to grant the Collateral Trustee a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and holders of any other Junior Priority Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Additionally, subject to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Loan Documents, if the Borrower or any Guarantor creates any additional Lien upon any Property that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Priority Lien Debt, the holders of the Junior Priority Lien Debt, or the holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt, after the Effective Date, the Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within ten (10) Business Days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) upon such Property, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Senior Priority Lien Representative, the Junior Priority Lien Representative or Junior Lien Representative, as applicable, in each case as security for the Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Senior Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Senior Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Section  5.12(c) shall not be required with respect to such Collateral.

(d)    The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent semi-annually on or before March 20 and September 20 in each calendar year, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that, as of the date of such certificate, the Collateral includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than (i) 95% of the PV-10 of Proved Reserves, (ii) 95% of the PV-10 of Unproved Reserves and (iii) 95% of the value of net undeveloped acres, in each case attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Guarantors, as evaluated in the most recent Collateral Coverage Reserve Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report (the “ Minimum Mortgaged Value ”). In the event that the Collateral does not represent at least 95% of such value, then the Borrower shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, within 30 days of delivery of the certificate required under this Section  5.12(d) , execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee: (1) such executed Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as may be necessary to cause the minimum mortgage requirement to be satisfied, (2) satisfactory evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages, amendments or supplements in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) and (3) local counsel opinion or opinions (each, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected

 

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first-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Prior Liens) with respect to the real property that is subject to the applicable Mortgage; provided that, to the extent (i) corresponding mortgages securing the Senior Priority Lien Obligations are being delivered and (ii) Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Senior Priority Lien Collateral Agent.

Section 5.13     Title Data .

(a)    Within thirty (30) days (or such longer time period as acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders)) after the delivery to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the Collateral Coverage Reserve Report required by Section  5.11 , the Borrower will deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Majority Lenders covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Collateral Coverage Reserve Report so that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received, together with title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, satisfactory title information on at least 95% of the Minimum Mortgaged Value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report.

(b)    If title information for additional Properties has been provided under Section  5.13(a) , the Borrower shall, within sixty (60) days of notice from the Administrative Agent that title defects or exceptions exist with respect to such additional Properties that are not permitted by Section  6.07 , either (1) cure any such title defects or exceptions (including defects or exceptions as to priority), (2) substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no title defects or exceptions (other than Liens which are permitted by Section  6.07 ) having an equivalent value or (3) deliver title information in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent so that the Administrative Agent shall have received, together with title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, satisfactory title information on at least 95% of the Minimum Mortgaged Value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Collateral Coverage Reserve Report.

Section 5.14     Additional Guarantors . If the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) acquires or creates any wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) (y) acquires or creates a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date and, for purposes of this clause (y), that Subsidiary (a) guarantees any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility or (b) is a Domestic Subsidiary and becomes an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility, then, in the case of either of the foregoing clauses (x) or (y), within 10 Business Days after the date that Subsidiary was acquired or created or on which it became obligated with respect to such Indebtedness the Borrower: (1) will cause that Subsidiary to become a Guarantor and a party to this Agreement and Guarantee the Obligations by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Counterpart Agreement in the form of Exhibit C , (2) will deliver to the Collateral Trustee stock certificates or other instruments representing all the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary and stock powers and instruments of transfer, endorsed in blank, with respect to such stock certificates or other instruments, or, if any Equity Interests pledged

 

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pursuant to such Security Instrument are uncertificated securities, confirmation and evidence satisfactory to the Majority Lenders that the security interest in such uncertificated securities has been transferred to and perfected by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code, (3) will deliver to the Collateral Trustee all agreements, deeds of trust, mortgages, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements (Form UCC-1), required by law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders) to be executed, filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the Liens on the Property of such Subsidiary (except to the extent not required under the applicable Security Instrument), (4) will deliver to the Administrative Agent Uniform Commercial Code searches, all dated reasonably close to the date of the joinder agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Lenders, and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Lenders that any Liens indicated in such Uniform Commercial Code searches are Liens permitted pursuant to Section  6.07 or have been released, (5) will deliver to the Administrative Agent the corporate resolutions or similar approval documents of such Restricted Subsidiary approving the execution and delivery of the joinder agreement and the performance by such Restricted Subsidiary of the Security Instruments, the Guaranty and any other Loan Document to which it is a party and (6) will deliver to the Administrative Agent a legal opinion reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders, opining favorably on the execution, delivery and enforceability of the Loan Documents to which such Restricted Subsidiary is a party, and the grant and perfection of the security interest or trust lien purported to be made or effected by any such Loan Document and otherwise being in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall cause any Subsidiary which Guarantees obligations under any Senior Priority Lien Document to contemporaneously become a Guarantor hereunder. Each Credit Party expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Credit Party hereunder. This Agreement shall be fully effective as to any Credit Party that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Credit Party hereunder.

Section 5.15     Deposit Accounts . On or within thirty (30) days following the date hereof (or such longer time as acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders)), each Credit Party shall, to the extent not prohibited by a Governmental Authority, cause each deposit account established or maintained for the benefit of such Credit Party, other than Excluded Accounts, at all times to be subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement among such Credit Party, the First Lien RBL Agent and the Collateral Trustee, and cause all revenue derived by any such Credit Party and all distributions and dividends on any Equity Interests owned by any such Credit Party to be paid and deposited into deposit accounts.

Section 5.16     Credit Ratings . Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a corporate and a credit facility credit rating for the Term Loans (but not a specific credit rating).

 

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Section 5.17     Further Assurances .

(a)    Each Credit Party at its sole expense will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee, as applicable, all such other documents, agreements and instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders) to comply with, cure any defects or accomplish the conditions precedent, covenants and agreements of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, as the case may be, in the Loan Documents, including the Notes, or to further evidence and more fully describe the Collateral intended as security for the Obligations, or to correct any omissions in this Agreement or the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the obligations secured therein, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments or the priority thereof, or to make any recordings, file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee, as applicable (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders), in connection therewith.

(b)    Each Credit Party hereby authorizes the Collateral Trustee to file one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relative to all or any part of the Collateral without the signature of such Credit Party or any other Credit Party where permitted by law. A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of the Security Instruments or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law. Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that any such financing statement may describe the collateral as “all assets” of the applicable Credit Party or words of similar effect as may be required by the Collateral Trustee.

Section 5.18     Post-Closing Matters . The Borrower will (a) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent each of the agreements, documents, instruments or certificates described on Schedule 5.18 , all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders; (b) perform each of the actions described on Schedule 5.18 in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders, and (c) cause all such matters described in clauses (a) and (b) to be completed within the time periods set forth opposite each such item or action on such Schedule 5.18 (in each case, unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent (acting at the written direction of the Majority Lenders)).

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest and premium on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full, each Credit Party covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 6.01     Limitation on Indebtedness .

(a)    The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness, and the Borrower will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided , however , that the Borrower shall be entitled to Incur Indebtedness and issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Guarantor may incur Indebtedness, issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(b) .

(b)     Section  6.01(a) will not prohibit the Incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Indebtedness ”):

(1)    the Incurrence of Senior Priority Lien Debt by the Borrower or any Guarantor, including Senior Priority Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace any such Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that immediately after giving effect to such Incurrence (and the application of proceeds therefrom) the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1)  and then outstanding (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof), when combined with the aggregate amount of all other Senior Priority Lien Obligations then outstanding, does not exceed $200,000,000;

(2)    the Incurrence by the Borrower and the Guarantors of (x) the Indebtedness represented by the Senior Secured Notes and any Guarantee thereof Incurred on the Effective Date or any PIK Notes, and (y) to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, other Priority Lien Debt, including Priority Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (2) , in an aggregate amount outstanding (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) under this clause (2)  not to exceed $360,000,000 plus the aggregate principal amount of any PIK Notes (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) issued from time to time in respect of any PIK Interest (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) in accordance with the terms of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture;

(3)    the Incurrence by the Borrower or any Guarantor of (x) Junior Priority Lien Debt represented by the Term Loans and other Obligations Incurred on the Effective Date and, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Priority Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (x) , (y) Junior Lien Debt represented by the Junior Lien Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $17,250,000 less the aggregate amount of principal payments made in respect thereof after the Effective Date and, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement, Junior Lien Debt consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund or replace Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (x)  or this clause (y)  and (z) Junior Lien Debt, to the extent subject to and not prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement, or Senior Debt, in each case, consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance the Existing Unsecured Notes;

 

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(4)    Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Equity Interests which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon not permitted by this clause  (4) , (ii) if a non-Credit Party is the obligor with respect to such Indebtedness and a Credit Party is the obligee, such Indebtedness shall be subject to the limitation set forth in c lause (a)(iv) of the definition of “Permitted Investment” and (iii) if the Borrower or a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness shall be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations of such obligor pursuant to a subordinated intercompany note in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(5)    Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Sections 6.01(b)(1) , (2) and (3) ) outstanding on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01 ;

(6)    Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(7)    Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clauses (5) , (6) or (12)  of this Section  6.01(b) or this clause  (7) ; provided , that to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness directly or indirectly Refinances Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to clause  (6) , such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Incurred only by such Subsidiary;

(8)    Hedging Obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of limiting risks that arise in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(9)    the Incurrence by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with health or other types of social security benefits, unemployment or other insurance or self-insurance obligations, reclamation, statutory obligations, banks’ acceptances and obligations in respect of performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(10)    Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) 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 and (ii) pursuant to Cash Management Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(11)    Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness at any time outstanding not to exceed $30,000,000;

(12)    any Guarantee by the Borrower or a Credit Party of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Credit Party so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Credit Party is permitted to be incurred under this covenant, or any Guarantee by a Credit Party of Indebtedness of the Borrower so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Borrower is permitted under this covenant;

(13)    in-kind obligations relating to net oil or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business

(14)    Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations Incurred to finance all or any part of the design, development, installation, construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not more than one hundred and eighty (180) days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of such property, plant or equipment, in an aggregate principal amount which, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding, taken together with all Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, not to exceed at any time outstanding $24,000,000;

(15)    Permitted Marketing Obligations;

(16)    Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(17)    Guarantees by the Borrower of the obligations of EOC to pay the BG Development Costs under Section  2.3 of the BG Joint Development Agreement with respect to Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower or the Guarantors or any of the Borrower’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(18)    Guarantees by the Borrower of the obligations of certain of its Subsidiaries to pay such Subsidiaries’ share of the Marcellus Development Costs with respect to the Marcellus JV Oil and Gas Assets in accordance with the terms of the Marcellus JV Documents;

(19)    Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business or assets of the Borrower or any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person

 

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acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that:

(i)    the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds, including non-cash proceeds (the Fair Market Value of such non-cash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), actually received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition; and

(ii)    such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause  (19) ); and

(20)    Indebtedness of, or Disqualified Stock issued by, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted pursuant to this clause (b) , in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding $24,000,000;

(21)    Indebtedness arising from Guarantees by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness incurred in connection with Permitted Business Investments at any time outstanding not to exceed $72,000,000.

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor shall Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to Section  6.01(b) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Indebtedness or to the applicable Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness.

(d)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  6.01 : (1) all Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement or under any Replacement Credit Facility shall be deemed Incurred under Section  6.01(b)(1) ; (2) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) at the time of Incurrence and may later reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section  6.01 and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses; (3) at the time of Incurrence, the Borrower shall be entitled to divide and classify (or later classify, reclassify or re-divide in whole or in part in its sole discretion) an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above; (4) Guarantees of or obligations in respect of letters or credit relating to Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included; (5) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and are being treated as Incurred pursuant to Section  6.01(b)(1) and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included; (6) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; and (7) Indebtedness of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been Incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(e)    For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness where the Indebtedness Incurred is denominated in a different currency, the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided , however , that if any such Indebtedness denominated in a different currency is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to Dollars covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness expressed in Dollars shall be as provided in such Currency Agreement. The principal amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness being Refinanced shall be the Dollar Equivalent of the Indebtedness Refinanced, except to the extent that (1) such Dollar Equivalent was determined based on a Currency Agreement, in which case the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and (2) the principal amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds the principal amount of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, in which case the Dollar Equivalent of such excess shall be determined on the date such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred.

Section 6.02     Limitation on Restricted Payments .

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

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

(2)     immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is equal to or less than 2.25 to 1.0; or

(3)    the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments since the Effective Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (3) , (5) , (6), (7) , (8) , (9) , (10) and (13) , (other than, in the case of such clause (13), Restricted Payments in the form of dividends) of Section  6.02(b) ) would exceed the sum of (without duplication):

(i)    100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and 100% of the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) of property other than cash received by the Borrower from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock or of debt securities of the Borrower that have been converted into or exchanged for such Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to the Effective Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Borrower and other than an issuance or sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) and 100% of any cash capital contribution received by the Borrower from its shareholders subsequent to the Effective Date; plus

 

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(ii)    the amount by which Indebtedness is reduced on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Borrower) subsequent to the Effective Date of any Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower (plus the amount of any accrued interest then outstanding on such Indebtedness to the extent the obligation to pay such interest is extinguished less the amount of any cash, or the fair market value of any other property, distributed by the Borrower upon such conversion or exchange) provided , that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of such Indebtedness (excluding Net Cash Proceeds from sales to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or, in the case of a sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness, to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees); plus

(iii)    an amount equal to the sum of (A) the net reduction in the Investments (other than Permitted Investments) made subsequent to the Effective Date by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person resulting from repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such Investments by such Person, proceeds realized on the sale of such Investment and proceeds representing the return of capital (excluding dividends and distributions), in each case received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that such amount shall not exceed the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person, and (B) to the extent such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary or is sold; provided , that (x) such amount shall not exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary other than the Marcellus Midstream Owner, the amount of Investments (excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated as a Restricted Payment) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary and (y) in the case of the Marcellus Midstream Owner, the amount of any Permitted Investments made since the Effective Date by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Marcellus Midstream Owner shall be deducted from such amount; and provided , further , that such amounts under this clause (iii)  may not be applied toward Restricted Payments of the types described in clauses (a)  and (b) of the definition thereof.

(b)    The provisions of Section  6.02(a) shall not prohibit:

(1)    the payment of any dividends by the Borrower within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this Section  6.02 (and such payment shall be deemed to be paid on the date of payment for purposes of any calculation required by this Section  6.02 );

 

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(2)    any Restricted Payment made out of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or a cash capital contribution received by the Borrower from its shareholders; provided , that 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  6.02(a)(3)(i) ;

(3)    the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor, Existing Unsecured Notes, Senior Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, in each case with the Net Cash Proceeds from or in exchange for Indebtedness constituting Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section  6.01 or in exchange for an issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock);

(4)    the payment of any dividend or other distribution by a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or another wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary;

(5)    so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Restricted Payments to effect the repurchase or other acquisition of shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees, directors or former directors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or heirs, estates or other permitted transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to the terms of the agreements (including employment agreements or management equity subscription agreements), stock options or plans (or amendments thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell, shares of such Capital Stock; provided , that the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other acquisitions (excluding amounts representing cancelation of Indebtedness) shall not exceed $2,400,000 in any 12-month period plus any unused amount permitted under this clause (5)  for the immediately preceding year, but not to exceed $3,600,000 in any 12-month period;

(6)     (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof and (ii) repurchases or other acquisitions of Capital Stock made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any such exercise or exchange; provided that the aggregate amount of such repurchases, redemptions or acquisitions to satisfy federal income tax obligations shall not exceed $2,400,000 in any 12-month period;

 

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(7)    cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Borrower; provided , that any such cash payment shall not be for the purpose of evading this Section  6.02 (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors);

(8)    payments of intercompany Indebtedness that was permitted to be Incurred under this Agreement; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result therefrom;

(9)    payments to dissenting stockholders (i) pursuant to applicable law or (ii) 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 Agreement;

(10)    repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of value of Existing Unsecured Notes in exchange for Junior Lien Debt to the extent permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01(b)(3) and/or with the Net Cash Proceeds of any such Junior Lien Debt; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom;

(11)    repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or other acquisitions of value of Existing Unsecured Notes for consideration for all such repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or acquisitions not exceeding $84,000,000 in the aggregate since the Issue Date; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom;

(12)    repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or other acquisitions of value of the 2018 Notes for consideration for all such repurchases, exchanges, redemptions or acquisitions not exceeding $25,000,000 in the aggregate since the Effective Date Date; provided, that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom; and

(13)    other Restricted Payments not to exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate; provided , that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would otherwise result immediately therefrom.

(c)    For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  6.02 , at the time a Restricted Payment is made, the Borrower shall be entitled to divide and classify such Restricted Payment in more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described above. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The amount of any Restricted Payment paid in cash shall be equal to its face amount. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued at the time of such Restricted Payment by this Section  6.02 shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate which shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than ten (10) Business Days following the date of the making of any Restricted Payment. Such certificate shall state that such Restricted Payment is permitted together with a copy of any related resolutions of the Board of Directors.

 

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(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to (1) repurchase, exchange, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or Refinance any Existing Unsecured Notes in exchange for, or with the Net Cash Proceeds of, any Indebtedness other than (i) Junior Lien Debt in reliance on Section 6.02(b)(3) or (ii) additional unsecured Indebtedness (provided that such unsecured Indebtedness does not mature prior to ninety-one (91) days after the Term Loan Maturity Date) (in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement) or (iii) with the issuance of Capital Stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or (2) repurchase, exchange, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or Refinance any Junior Priority Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Senior Debt (other than the Existing Unsecured Notes) in exchange for, or with the Net Cash Proceeds of, any Senior Priority Lien Debt or Priority Lien Debt. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this clause (d) shall prohibit repurchases of any Existing Unsecured Notes otherwise permitted under this Section 6.02 for cash; provided , however, that any such repurchase shall also comply with Section 6.06 hereof.

Section 6.03     Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries . The Borrower 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 Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower; provided that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction of the ability to make distributions of Capital Stock;

(b)    make any loans or advances to the Borrower; provided that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction of the ability to make loans or advances; or

(c)    transfer any of its Property or assets to the Borrower,

except with respect to clauses (a) , (b) and (c)  above:

(1)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Effective Date including, for the avoidance of doubt, the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement, Senior Secured Notes Documents, the Junior Lien Credit Agreement and the Existing Unsecured Notes;

(2)    any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary, or otherwise binding on such Restricted Subsidiary,

 

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on or prior to the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or was so designated by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, and other than any encumbrance or restriction entered into in contemplation of, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Borrower) and outstanding on such date;

(3)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (1) or (2) above; provided , that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such Refinancing agreement or amendment are no more restrictive than the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreements;

(4)    any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary (or any of its Property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the Property or assets subject to such restrictions) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(5)    customary encumbrances and restrictions contained in agreements of the type described in the definition of the term “Permitted Business Investments”;

(6)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement relating to any Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money Indebtedness, in each case not Incurred in violation of this Agreement; provided , that with respect to purchase money Indebtedness or Capital Lease Obligations, such restrictions relate only to the Property financed with such Indebtedness;

(7)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to provisions in agreements or instruments which prohibit the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions with respect to any Capital Stock of a Person other than on a pro rata basis;

(8)    any encumbrance or restriction existing pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

(9)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to supermajority voting requirements under corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders agreements and similar documents and agreements; and

(10)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an instrument or agreement governing Indebtedness permitted by the terms of this Agreement to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary to fund, in whole or in part, the acquisition of any Property or assets; provided such Indebtedness is repaid or otherwise refinanced in full with Refinancing Indebtedness on or prior to the date twelve (12) months after the date such Indebtedness was initially Incurred; and

 

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and except, with respect to clause (c)  only:

(1)    any encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary non-assignment provisions (including provisions forbidding subletting) in leases governing leasehold interests or Farm-In Agreements or Farm-Out Agreements to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the Property leased thereunder;

(2)    any encumbrance or restriction contained in Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the Property (including Capital Stock) subject to such Capital Lease Obligations, security agreements, mortgages, purchase money agreements or similar instruments;

(3)    Permitted Liens or Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section  6.07 that limit the right of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of the assets subject to such Lien;

(4)    customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale;

(5)    customary restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any Property or asset that is subject to a lease, license, sub-license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease, license, sub-license or other contract;

(6)    encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value of, Property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(7)    any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or Property in operating agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, joint venture agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business and entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 6.04     Fundamental Changes and Dispositions .

(a)    The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or

 

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consolidate with it, or Dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions, including any Asset Sale) all or any substantial part of its assets, or any of its Oil and Gas Properties or any of the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell Hydrocarbons produced from its Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business, and if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(1)    any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving entity;

(2)    (i) any Credit Party may merge into any other Credit Party ( provided that, in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the surviving entity); (ii) any Non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary may merge into any other non-Credit Party Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) any non-Credit Party may merge into any Credit Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Credit Party;

(3)    any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided , that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of by a Credit Party to a non-Credit Party during the term of this Agreement pursuant to this clause (3)  shall not exceed $12,000,000 in the aggregate;

(4)    the Borrower may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to any Guarantor;

(5)    any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and such Restricted Subsidiary and is not materially disadvantageous to interests of the Lenders;

(6)    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of equipment and related items in the ordinary course of business, that are obsolete or no longer necessary in the business of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that is being replaced by equipment of comparable value and utility;

(7)    subject to Section 2.08(a) , to the extent permitted under the terms of the First Lien RBL Credit Agreement and the other Senior Priority Lien Documents, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of Oil and Gas Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of all, but not less than all, of the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise) so long as:

(i)     the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any Person assuming responsibilities for any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at the time of such Asset Sale 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

 

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Board of Directors or an executive officer of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with the responsibility for such transaction, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Sale; and

(ii)     unless such Disposition is in connection with a joint development arrangement, drilling agreement or similar arrangement contemplating a contribution or conveyance of Oil and Gas Properties in exchange for a commitment to bear future development costs in respect of such Oil and Gas Properties, at least 85% of the consideration thereof received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the following are deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents: (i) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than (1) liabilities that are subordinated to the Obligations, (2) Junior Priority Lien Obligations, (3) Junior Lien Obligations or (4) Senior Debt) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement or similar agreement that releases the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from all further liability; (ii) securities received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted within one hundred and eighty (180) days by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of cash received in that conversion; and (iii) accounts receivable of a business retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, following the sale of such business, provided that such accounts receivable (c) are not past due more than thirty (30) days and (y) do not have a payment greater than ninety (90) days from the date of the invoice creating such accounts receivable.

provided , that for purposes of this clause (a)(7) , the Credit Parties may not sell, transfer, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise Dispose of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of the Oil and Gas Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise) without the prior written consent of all of the Lenders.

(8)    the Borrower may consummate the following Dispositions:

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

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

 

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(b)    The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and after giving effect to the Transactions and businesses reasonably related thereto.

Section 6.05     Limitation on Affiliate Transactions .

(a)    The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates (an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), (1) except (i) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (ii) transactions between or among the Borrower and the other Credit Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (iii) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.02 or (iv) Permitted Investments of the kind referred to in clauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of the definition thereof; and (2) unless (i) the terms of the Affiliate Transaction are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained at the time of the Affiliate Transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate and if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, such Affiliate Transaction is commercially reasonable and otherwise fair to the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and (ii)(x) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $12,000,000, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with the requirements of clause (1) above, and (y) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration to or from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $30,000,000, a majority of the Disinterested Members of the Board of Directors (or, if there is only one Disinterested Member, such Disinterested Member) have determined that the criteria set forth in clause (1) are satisfied with respect to such Affiliate Transaction(s) and have approved such Affiliate Transaction(s), as evidenced by a resolution delivered to the Administrative Agent and certified by an officers’ certificate as having been adopted by the Board of Directors.

(b)     Section 6.05(a) shall not prohibit or apply to:

(1)    any Investment by a Credit Party in another Credit Party or other Restricted Payment between Credit Parties;

(2)    any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors;

(3)    loans or advances to officers or employees in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, only as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

 

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(4)    the payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by, directors of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in attending meetings of such directors and indemnification payments made to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to charter, bylaw, statutory or contractual provisions;

(5)    the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to, or the receipt by the Borrower of any capital contribution from, its stockholders or Affiliates;

(6)    any agreement as in effect on the Effective Date (including each of the agreements in respect of the Transactions) and described on Schedule 6.05 or any amendments or other modifications, renewals or extensions of any such agreement (so long as such amendments or other modifications, renewals or extensions are not materially less favorable to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries) and the transactions evidenced thereby;

(7)    transactions contemplated by the Marcellus JV Documents, the BG JV Documents or the Bluescape Agreement, in each case as in effect on the Effective Date, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, which are fair to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, an executive officer of the Borrower or an executive officer of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction (whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) and amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions or renewals of such agreements from time to time, so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement, extension or renewal is not more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, when taken as a whole, than the terms of such agreements in effect on the Effective Date;

(8)    transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with this Agreement, which are fair to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, an executive officer of the Borrower or an executive officer of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction (whose determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(9)    transactions between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Borrower and such director is the sole cause for such Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided , however , that such director shall abstain from voting as a director of the Borrower on any matter involving such other Person;

 

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(10)    any transaction in which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as the case may be, delivers to the Administrative Agent a written opinion from an Independent Qualified Party to the effect that such Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or is not less favorable to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries than could reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time in an arm’s-length transaction with a Person who was not an Affiliate;

(11)    guarantees of performance by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money; or

(12)    if such Affiliate Transaction is with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary where such Person is treated no more favorably than the holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 6.06     Prepayment of Junior Lien Credit Agreement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, to make any payment at maturity of the outstanding term loans under the Junior Lien Credit Agreement prior to payment in full at maturity of the Obligations.

Section 6.07     Limitation on Liens . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur or permit to exist any Lien of any nature whatsoever on any of its Properties (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Effective Date or thereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens.

Section 6.08     Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any Property unless (a) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to (1) Incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section  6.01 and (2) create a Lien on such Property securing such Attributable Debt; (b) the net proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Sale/Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of such Property and (c) the Borrower applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with Sections 2.08 and 6.04 .

Section 6.09     Payment of Fees . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Lender or holder of any Junior Priority Lien Debt for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of any Junior Priority Lien Document unless (a) in the case of any consent, waiver or amendment of any

 

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Loan Document, such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Lenders that consent, waive or agree to amend any comparable provisions of the Loan Documents and (b) in the case of any consent, waiver or amendment of any Junior Priority Lien Document (other than any Loan Documents), the Borrower shall also pay such consideration, in the amount and in the same form as that paid to such other lenders or holders of Junior Priority Lien Debt.

ARTICLE VII

GUARANTEE OF OBLIGATIONS

Section 7.01     Guarantee of Payment . Each Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the punctual payment of all Obligations now or which may in the future be owing by any Credit Party (the “ Guaranteed Liabilities ”). This Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection only. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to exhaust any right or remedy or take any action against the Borrower or any other Person or any collateral. The Guaranteed Liabilities include interest accruing after the commencement of a proceeding under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws of any jurisdiction at the rate or rates provided in the Loan Documents, regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim. Each Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent, the Guaranteed Liabilities may be declared to be due and payable for the purposes of this Guarantee notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition which may prevent, delay or vitiate any declaration as regards the Borrower or any other Guarantor and that in the event of a declaration or attempted declaration, the Guaranteed Liabilities shall immediately become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purposes of this Guarantee.

Section 7.02     Guarantee Absolute . Each Guarantor guarantees that the Guaranteed Liabilities shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement The liability of each Guarantor hereunder is absolute and unconditional irrespective of: (a) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Loan Documents or the Guaranteed Liabilities, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any of the terms of any Loan Document or Guaranteed Liability, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon; (b) any release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty or support document, or any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, for all or any of the Loan Documents or Guaranteed Liabilities; (c) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, restructure or otherwise affect any term of any Loan Document or Guaranteed Liability; (d) without being limited by the foregoing, any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or Guaranteed Liability; and (e) any other setoff, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) with respect to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby which might constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of, the Borrower or a Guarantor.

Section 7.03     Guarantee Irrevocable . This Guarantee is a continuing guaranty of the payment of all Guaranteed Liabilities now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all Guaranteed

 

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Liabilities and other amounts payable hereunder and until this Agreement are no longer in effect or, if earlier, when the Guarantor has given the Administrative Agent written notice that this Guarantee has been revoked; provided that any notice under this Section shall not release the revoking Guarantor from any Guaranteed Liability, absolute or contingent, existing prior to the Administrative Agent’s actual receipt of the notice at its branches or departments responsible for this Agreement and reasonable opportunity to act upon such notice.

Section 7.04     Reinstatement . This Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Liabilities is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Secured Party on the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, or any other Credit Party, or otherwise, all as though the payment had not been made.

Section 7.05     Subrogation . No Guarantor shall exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation, by any payment made under this Guarantee or otherwise, until all the Guaranteed Liabilities have been paid in full and this Agreement is no longer in effect. If any amount is paid to the Guarantor on account of subrogation rights under this Guarantee at any time when all the Guaranteed Liabilities have not been paid in full, the amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Lenders and shall be promptly paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Liabilities, whether matured or unmatured or absolute or contingent, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Guarantor makes payment to the Administrative Agent or Lenders of all or any part of the Guaranteed Liabilities and all the Guaranteed Liabilities are paid in full and this Agreement is no longer in effect, the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall, at such Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Guaranteed Liabilities resulting from the payment.

Section 7.06     Subordination . Without limiting the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under any other agreement, any liabilities owed by the Borrower to any Guarantor in connection with any extension of credit or financial accommodation by any Guarantor to or for the account of the Borrower, including but not limited to interest accruing at the agreed contract rate after the commencement of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, are hereby subordinated to the Guaranteed Liabilities, and such liabilities of the Borrower to such Guarantor, if the Administrative Agent so requests, shall be collected, enforced and received by any Guarantor as trustee for the Administrative Agent and shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent on account of the Guaranteed Liabilities but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guarantee.

Section 7.07     Payments Generally . All payments by the Guarantors shall be made in the manner, at the place and in the currency (the “ Payment Currency ”) required by the Loan Documents; provided , however , that (if the Payment Currency is other than Dollars) any Guarantor may, at its option (or, if for any reason whatsoever any Guarantor is unable to effect payments in the foregoing manner, such Guarantor shall be obligated to) pay to the Administrative Agent at its principal office the equivalent amount in Dollars computed at the selling rate of the Administrative Agent or a selling rate chosen by the Administrative Agent,

 

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most recently in effect on or prior to the date the Guaranteed Liability becomes due, for cable transfers of the Payment Currency to the place where the Guaranteed Liability is payable. In any case in which any Guarantor makes or is obligated to make payment in Dollars, the Guarantor shall hold the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from any loss incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising from any change in the value of Dollars in relation to the Payment Currency between the date the Guaranteed Liability becomes due and the date the Administrative Agent or such Lender is actually able, following the conversion of the Dollars paid by such Guarantor into the Payment Currency and remittance of such Payment Currency to the place where such Guaranteed Liability is payable, to apply such Payment Currency to such Guaranteed Liability.

Section 7.08     Setoff . Each Guarantor agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have, the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be entitled, at its option, to offset balances (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) held by it for the account of any Guarantor at any office of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any amount payable by such Guarantor under this Guarantee which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Guarantor), in which case it shall promptly notify such Guarantor thereof; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

Section 7.09     Formalities . Each Guarantor waives presentment, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of acceptance of this Guarantee or incurrence of any Guaranteed Liability and any other formality with respect to any of the Guaranteed Liabilities or this Guarantee.

Section 7.10     Limitations on Guarantee . The provisions of the Guarantee under this Article  VII are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Guarantor’s liability under this Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Guarantor’s “ Maximum Liability ”). This Section  7.10 , with respect to the Maximum Liability of the Guarantors, is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Guarantor nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section  7.10 with respect to the Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that none of the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder shall be rendered voidable under applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur:

(a)    the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan (including any payments required under Section  2.08 ) when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b)    the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) days;

(c)    any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder or in any Loan Document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

(d)    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Article VI ;

(e)    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a) , (b) or (d)  of this Article) or any Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

(f)    the occurrence of the following:

(1)    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

(2)    any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause  (f) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness (other than the Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt and Junior Lien Debt) that

 

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becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Indebtedness to the extent such voluntary sale or transfer of property is permitted hereunder;

(g)    an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (1) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (2) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(h)    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (1) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (2) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (g)  of this Article, (3) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (4) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (5) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (6) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(i)    the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(j)    one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $6,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(k)    an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(l)    any Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or, except as permitted by the Agreement, shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee, in each case with respect to any Guarantor that is also a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

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(m)    the occurrence of the following:

(1)    except as permitted by the Loan Documents, any Loan Document establishing the Junior Priority Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (m)(1) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Loan Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Junior Priority Lien purported to be granted under such Loan Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $18,000,000, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Junior Priority Lien; provided , that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until forty-five (45) days after any officer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

(2)    except as permitted by the Loan Documents, any Junior Priority Lien purported to be granted under any Loan Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $18,000,000, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected first-priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until forty-five (45) days after any officer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; or

(3)    the Borrower or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Loan Document establishing Junior Priority Liens; or

(n)    a Change of Control shall occur;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (g)  or (h) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Majority Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon (which shall be payable in cash) and all fees and other obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Applicable Premium (including any Make-Whole Amount)) of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (g) or (h) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon (which shall be payable in cash) and all fees and other obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Applicable Premium (including

 

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any Make-Whole Amount)) of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and each Lender may protect and enforce its rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by any appropriate proceedings, including proceedings for specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and each Lender may enforce payment of any Obligations due and payable hereunder or enforce any other legal or equitable right and remedies which it may have.

ARTICLE IX

THE AGENTS

Section 9.01     Appointment and Authority . Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee (for purposes of this Article  IX , each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee are referred to as an “ Agent ” and collectively as the “ Agents ”) its agent and authorizes the Agents to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to such Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agents are hereby expressly authorized to (a) execute any and all documents (including releases of Liens, termination statements, assignments or other documents reasonably requested by the Borrower in connection with any sale or other disposition of Collateral to the extent such sale or other disposition is permitted by the terms hereof or is otherwise authorized by the terms of the Loan Documents) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Lenders with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Security Instruments, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement and (b) negotiate, enforce or the settle any claim, action or proceeding affecting the Lenders in their capacity as such, at the direction of the Majority Lenders, which negotiation, enforcement or settlement will be binding upon each Lender.

Section 9.02     Rights as a Lender . The institution serving as the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Trustee hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not an Agent hereunder.

Section 9.03     Exculpatory Provisions .

(a)    No Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (1) no Agent shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (2) no Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or

 

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exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that such Agent is instructed in writing to exercise by the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section  10.02 ), and (3) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose, nor shall it be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Trustee or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (i) no Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent, instruction, direction or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section  10.02 ); and (ii) no Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. No Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to such Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

(c)    No Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (1) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (2) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (3) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (4) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (5) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article  IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent.

(d)    No Agent shall be responsible for (i) perfecting, maintaining, monitoring, preserving or protecting the security interest or Lien granted under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) the filing, re-filing, recording, re-recording or continuing or any document, financing statement, Mortgage, assignment, notice, instrument of further assurance or other instrument in any public office at any time or times or (iii) providing, maintaining, monitoring or preserving insurance on or the payment of taxes with respect to any of the Collateral. The actions described in items (i) through (iii) shall be the sole responsibility of the Borrower.

(e)    No Agent shall be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; business interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.

 

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(f)    No Agent shall be (i) required to qualify in any jurisdiction in which it is not presently qualified to perform its obligations as such Agent or (ii) required to take any enforcement action against a Credit Party or any other obligor outside of the United States.

Section 9.04     Reliance by Agent . Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. Each Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 9.05     Delegation of Duties . Each Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by it. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of Sections 9.03 , 9.04 and 9.05 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of each Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein as well as activities as Agent. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the applicable Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub agents.

Section 9.06     Resignation of Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence by the 30th day after the date such notice of resignation was given by such Administrative Agent, such Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective immediately, such retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder, and the Majority Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of such Administrative Agent hereunder and/or under any other Loan Document until such time, if any, as the Majority Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After an Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section  10.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while acting as Administrative Agent.

 

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Section 9.07     Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Section 9.08     Right to Request and Act on Instructions . The Administrative Agent may at any time request instructions from the Lenders with respect to any actions or approvals which by the terms of this Agreement or of any of the Loan Documents the Administrative Agent is permitted or desires to take or to grant, and if such instructions are promptly requested, the Administrative Agent shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval and shall not be under any liability whatsoever to any Person for refraining from any action or withholding any approval under any of the Loan Documents until it shall have received such instructions from the Majority Lenders or all or such other portion of the Lenders as shall be prescribed by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, no Person shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or all or such other portion of the Lenders as shall be prescribed by this Agreement) and, notwithstanding the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or such other applicable portion of the Lenders), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to take any action if it believes, in good faith, that such action would violate applicable law or exposes the Administrative Agent to any liability for which it has not received satisfactory indemnification in accordance with the provisions of Section  10.03 .

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01     Notices .

(a)    Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or electronic mail (and subject to clause  (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

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(1)    if to the Borrower, to EXCO Resources, Inc., 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75251, Attention: Tyler Farquharson, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Telecopy No. (214) 368-2087, E-mail: tfarquharson@excoresources.com , with a copy to EXCO Resources, Inc., 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75251, Attention: Heather Lamparter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Telecopy No. (214) 368-2087, E-mail: hlamparter@excoresources.com . For purposes of delivering the documents pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b) and (d) , the website address is www.excoresources.com ;

(2)    if to the Administrative Agent, to Wilmington Trust, National Association, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Meghan McCauley, Telecopy No.: (612) 217-5651, E-mail: mmccauley@wilmingtontrust.com with a copy to Lindquist & Vennum LLP, 2000 IDS Center, 80 South 8th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Mark Dietzen, Telecopy No.: (612) 371-3207, E-mail: mdietzen@lindquist.com.

(3)    if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by fax or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section  10.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section  10.01 . As agreed to among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lenders from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable Person provided from time to time by such Person.

The Borrower hereby agrees, unless directed otherwise by the Administrative Agent or unless the electronic mail address referred to below has not been provided by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, that it will, or will cause its Subsidiaries to, provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents or to the Lenders under Article  V , including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (a) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (b) provides notice of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any Borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium that is properly identified in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to an electronic mail address as directed by the Administrative Agent. In addition, the Borrower agrees, and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries, to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, as the case may be, in the manner specified in the Loan Documents but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

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The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Intralinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws ( provided , that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section  10.14 ); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Investor” and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not marked as “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Borrower Materials shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC”, unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent promptly that any such document contains material non-public information: (1) the Loan Documents, (2) notification of changes in the terms of the Credit Facilities and (3) all financial statements and accompanying information and certificates delivered pursuant to Section  5.01 .

Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Communications that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT NOR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES WARRANTS THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EACH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS IS MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY RESTRICTED PERSON, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER OR NOT BASED ON STRICT LIABILITY AND INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT,

 

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CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY RESTRICTED PERSON’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY SUCH PERSON IS FOUND IN A FINAL RULING BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH PERSON’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees that receipt of notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

Section 10.02     Waivers; Amendments .

(a)    No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by clause  (b) of this Section  10.02 , and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Collateral Trustee may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b)    Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any other provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Credit Party or Credit Parties that are party thereto, the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders or by the Credit Party or Credit Parties that are party thereto and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Majority Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall:

(1)    increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender);

 

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(2)    reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, reduce the Applicable Premium, the Make-Whole Amount or reduce or forgive any interest or fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender other than fees to which such Defaulting Lender is not entitled to receive as a result of being a Defaulting Lender) affected thereby;

(3)    postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) affected thereby (it being understood that waiver of a mandatory prepayment of the Loans shall not constitute a postponement or waiver of a scheduled payment or date of expiration);

(4)    change Section  2.07 , Section  2.08 , Section  2.13(a) , Section  2.13(b) , Section  2.13(c) or Section  2.13(e) in a manner that would alter the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender);

(5)    change Section  2.13(b) or Section  10.02(b)(5) in any material respect without the consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender);

(6)    change any of the provisions of this Section  10.02(b) , 10.02(c) or the definition of “Majority Lender”, “Super-Majority Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby;

(7)    change the definition of “Change of Control” without the written consent of Super-Majority Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender);

(8)    release any Guarantor from its obligation under its Guaranty (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender); or

(9)    except as provided in Article  IX or in any Security Instrument, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender);

provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee, as the case may be. The Administrative Agent may also amend Schedule 2.01 to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section  10.04 .

 

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(c)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement may be amended in accordance with their terms, including to add additional Indebtedness as Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Senior Priority Lien Debt, Priority Lien Debt, Junior Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding.

(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section  10.02 , the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to correct any clerical errors or cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.

Section 10.03     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

(a)    The Borrower shall pay (1) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and their respective Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (2) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

(b)    THE CREDIT PARTIES SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE AND EACH LENDER, AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “ INDEMNITEE ”) AGAINST, AND HOLD EACH INDEMNITEE HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNITEE, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF (1) THE EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PARTIES HERETO OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, (2) ANY LOAN OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM, (3) ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY

 

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WAY TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, OR (4) ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE.

(c)    To the extent that any Credit Party fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee under clauses (a)  or (b) of this Section  10.03 , each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share of such unpaid amount with respect to the amounts to be paid to the Collateral Trustee and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such unpaid amount with respect to amounts to be paid to the Administrative Agent (in each case, determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of outstanding Loans (or, if all Loans have been paid in full, the aggregate remaining Obligations), determined as if no Lender were a Defaulting Lender).

(d)    TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE CREDIT PARTIES SHALL NOT ASSERT, AND HEREBY WAIVE, ANY CLAIM AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (AS OPPOSED TO DIRECT OR ACTUAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE TRANSACTIONS, ANY LOAN OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF.

(e)    All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten (10) days after written demand therefor.

Section 10.04     Successors and Assigns .

(a)    The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) no Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by such Credit Party without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors

 

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and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in clause (c)  of this Section  10.04 ) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)    

(1)    Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (b)(2) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Administrative Agent and the Backstop Commitment Parties.

(2)    Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(i)    except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents);

(ii)    each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of such Lender’s Commitment and such Lender’s Loans under this Agreement;

(iii)    the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500;

(iv)    the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and

(v)    each assignment shall be subject to the exercise of the Right of First Refusal by the Backstop Commitment Parties, as set forth in Section 10.04(f) .

For the purposes of this Section  10.04(b) , the term “ Approved Fund ” has the following meaning:

Approved Fund ” means (x) any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender and (y) Fairfax.

 

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(3)    Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to clause  (b)(4) of this Section  10.04 , from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section  2.11 , Section  2.12 and Section  10.03 ). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section  10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with clause (c)  of this Section  10.04 except that any attempted assignment or transfer by any Lender that does not comply with clause (C) of Section  10.04(b)(ii) shall be null and void.

(4)    The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment and Applicable Percentage of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Credit Parties and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(5)    Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in clause (b)  of this Section  10.04 any written consent to such assignment required by clause (b)  of this Section  10.04 , the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section  2.05 , Section  2.13(d) or Section  10.03(c) , the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon (which shall be payable in cash). No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this clause (b) .

 

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(c)    

(1)    Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section  10.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections  2.11 and 2.12 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section  2.12(d) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section  2.12(d) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section  2.12 as if it were an assignee under clause (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.11 or Section  2.12 , with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

(2)    (ii) To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section  10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section  2.13(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(d)    Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e)     Borrower Buybacks . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to (i) the Right of First Refusal and (ii) approval by a majority of the Holders (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture) of the aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Senior Secured Notes or payment of the Priority Lien Obligations, any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its Loans on a non-pro rata basis to the Borrower in accordance with procedures to be agreed, pursuant to an offer made by the Borrower available to all Lenders on a pro rata basis (a “ Dutch Auction ”), subject to the following limitations:

(1)    the Borrower shall represent and warrant, as of the date of the launch of the Dutch Auction and on the date of any such assignment, that neither it, its Affiliates nor any of its respective directors or officers has any Excluded Information that has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than to the extent any such Lender does not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities) prior to such date;

(2)    immediately and automatically, without any further action on the part of the Borrower, any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any other Person, upon the effectiveness of such assignment of Loans from a Lender to the Borrower, such Loans and all rights and obligations as a Lender related thereto shall, for all purposes under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and otherwise, be deemed to be irrevocably prepaid (together with the payment of any applicable Premium (including any Make-Whole Amount)), terminated, extinguished, cancelled and of no further force and effect and the Borrower shall neither obtain nor have any rights as a Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents by virtue of such assignment;

(3)    the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Loans for any such assignment; and

(4)    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing before or immediately after giving effect to such assignment.

(f)     Right of First Refusal of Backstop Commitment Parties .

(1)     Grant . The Borrower and each Lender hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants (and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees to such grant) to each Backstop Commitment Party, in accordance with its ROFR Applicable Percentage, a Right of First Refusal, from and after the Effective Date until the Term Loan Maturity Date.

 

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(2)     Notice and Forfeiture . In connection with the consent solicitation required to be delivered to the Backstop Commitment Parties pursuant to Section 10.04(b)(1) above, an assigning Lender must deliver all assignment documentation providing for any proposed assignment of all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) to the Backstop Commitment Parties. Such delivered assignment documentation shall consist of a completed, but unexecuted or unsigned, Assignment and Assumption, identifying, among other things, the material terms and conditions (including the price and form of consideration) of the proposed assignment and the identity of the Eligible Assignee(s). To exercise its Right of First Refusal under this Section, the applicable Backstop Commitment Party must deliver a ROFR Notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) days after receipt of the consent solicitation and assignment documentation required to be delivered to the Backstop Commitment Parties under Section 10.04(b)(1) and this subsection (f)(2) . The applicable accepting Backstop Commitment Party, if any, shall consummate the proposed assignment in accordance with its ROFR Applicable Percentage, within a reasonable period of time following delivery of the ROFR Notice to the Administrative Agent, and in no event more than fifteen (15) calendar days following such delivery, or as otherwise agreed between the applicable accepting Backstop Commitment Party and the assigning Lender. Upon receipt of such ROFR Notice, the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy of such ROFR Notice to the applicable Lender(s) and Eligible Assignee(s). Failure to deliver a ROFR Notice within the time period provided for in this subsection will result in the forfeiture of the applicable Backstop Commitment Party’s exercise of the Right of First Refusal as it applies to the proposed assignment which occasioned its application and will otherwise authorize the consummation of the proposed assignment, on the terms provided to the Backstop Commitment Parties, between the applicable Lender(s) and Eligible Assignee(s).

Section 10.05     Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 2.11, Section  2.12 and Section  10.03 and Article  IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Section 10.06     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements

 

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with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Trustee constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. Except as provided in Section  4.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 10.07     Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.08     Right of Setoff . Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of any Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section  10.08 and Section  7.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

Section 10.09     GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS .

(a)    THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b)    EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES

 

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THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c)    EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d)    EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION  10.01 . NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

Section 10.10     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.11     Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 10.12     Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors,

 

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officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or any self-regulatory authority or agency possessing investigative powers and the ability to sanction members for non-compliance, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as, or otherwise consistent with, those of this Section, to (1) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (2) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Credit Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) to the extent such Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than a Credit Party and (i) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the facilities or to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Loan Documents. For the purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from any Credit Party relating to any Credit Party or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party; provided that, in the case of information received from any Credit Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. In addition, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and each Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to service providers to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, public filings made with the SEC) with respect to this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent if Fairfax is mentioned in such press release or public announcement.

Section 10.13     Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “ Charges ”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated

 

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and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

Section 10.14     USA PATRIOT Act . Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Act ”) hereby notifies each Credit Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the Act. The Borrower shall, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee or such Lender reasonably requires to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

Section 10.15     Flood Insurance Regulation . Notwithstanding any provision in any Mortgage to the contrary, in no event is any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) located on the Mortgaged Properties within an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance is available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 included in the definition of “Mortgaged Properties” and no such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home shall be encumbered by any such Mortgage. As used herein, “Flood Insurance Regulations” shall mean (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Section 10.16     No Fiduciary Duty . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower and each other Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that: (a) (1) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and by any lead arranger, syndication agent, documentation agent or similar agent hereunder, the Collateral Trustee, and the Lenders and each of their respective Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this Section  10.16 , the “ Lenders ”) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, each other Credit Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the other agents, the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders, on the other hand, (2) each of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (3) the Borrower and each other Credit Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (1) the Administrative Agent, each other agent, the Collateral Trustee and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of

 

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their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (2) neither the Administrative Agent, any other agent, the Collateral Trustee nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Administrative Agent, the other agents, the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any other agent, the Collateral Trustee nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates. The Administrative Agent, the other agents, the Collateral Trustee and the Lenders may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries and their stockholders and/or their affiliates. Each Credit Party, for itself and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, agrees that nothing in this Agreement or the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Administrative Agent, the other agents, the Collateral Trustee and any Lender, on the one hand, and any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries, their stockholders or their affiliates, on the other. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and each other Credit Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the other agents, the Collateral Trustee or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby. Each Credit Party, for itself and its Subsidiaries, agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to such Credit Party or Subsidiary, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

Section 10.17     Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement . Each Lender hereunder (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, (b) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (c) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement or to the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement, in each case, as if it was a signatory thereto and (d) authorizes and instructs (1) the Administrative Agent to enter into the Collateral Trust Agreement (including any and all amendments, amendments and restatements, modifications, supplements and acknowledgements thereto permitted hereby from time to time) as Administrative Agent and (2) the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement (including, in each case, any and all amendments, amendments and restatements, modifications, supplements and acknowledgements thereto permitted hereby from time to time) as Collateral Trustee, in each case, on behalf of such Lender, and by its acceptance of the benefits of the Security Instruments, hereby acknowledges and agrees to be bound by all such provisions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee acknowledges that the Lien and security interest granted to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Security Instruments and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Trustee thereunder, are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement. In the event of a conflict or any inconsistency between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Instruments, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement, as applicable, shall prevail. In the event of a conflict or any

 

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inconsistency between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall prevail. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the First Lien RBL Lenders and holders of the Senior Secured Notes to permit the incurrence of Obligations under this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions.

Section 10.18     Additional Indebtedness . In connection with the incurrence by any Credit Party of any Junior Priority Lien Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the terms hereof and of any other then outstanding Junior Priority Lien Documents, each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee agree to execute and deliver any necessary supplements, joinders or confirmations to the Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or other modifications to any Security Instrument, and to make or consent to any filings or take any other actions in connection therewith, as may be reasonably deemed by the Borrower to be necessary or reasonably desirable for any Lien on the assets of any Credit Party permitted to secure such Indebtedness to become a valid, perfected lien (with such priority as may be designated by the relevant Credit Party to the extent such priority is permitted by the Loan Documents) pursuant to the Security Instrument being so amended, amended and restated, restated, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified or otherwise.

Section 10.19     Compliance with Provisions in this Agreement . For purposes of determining compliance with the provisions specified in this Agreement, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Lenders (or any required subset thereof) unless the Administrative Agent shall have received prompt written notice from such Lender specifying its objection thereto. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and its successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle the other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto.

Section 10.20     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by :

(a)    the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b)    the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(1)    a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

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    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


(2)    a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(3)    the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

  156   EXCO Resources, Inc.
    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER :
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GUARANTORS :
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

  157   EXCO Resources, Inc.
    1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement


EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Collateral Trustee
By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President


  BRIT INSURANCE (GIBRALTAR) PCC LIMITED
  BRIT SYNDICATES LIMITED
  CLEARWATER SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
  FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS MASTER TRUST FUND
  FEDERATED INSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
  NEWLINE CORPORATE NAME LIMITED (SYNDICATE)
  NORTHBRIDGE GENERAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
  NORTHBRIDGE PERSONAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
  ODYSSEY REINSURANCE COMPANY
  TIG INSURANCE (BARBADOS) LTD.
  UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
  WENTWORTH INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.
  ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
  ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY , as lenders
  By: Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Paul Rivett

Name:   Paul Rivett
Title:   Chief Operating Officer


Avenue Energy Opportunities Fund, L.P. , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Sonia Gardner

Name:   Sonia Gardner
Title:   Member


Bank of America, N.A. , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Tracey-Ann Scarlett

Name:   Tracey-Ann Scarlett
Title:   Assistant Vice President


ENERGY STRATEGIC ADVISORY SERVICES LLC , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Siegler

Name:   Jonathan Siegler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ David Evelyn

Name:   David Evelyn
Title:   General Manager
By:  

/s/ Neermala Hurry

Name:   Neermala Hurry
Title:   Assistant General Manager


Chou Associates Fund , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou RRSP Fund , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou Bond Fund , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou Income Fund , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou Opportunity Fund , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager


JPMORGAN STRATEGIC INCOME OPPORTUNITIES , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management


ADVANCED SERIES TRUST – AST J.P. MORGAN STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES PORTOFLIO , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management


JPMORGAN TOTAL RETURN FUND , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management


JPMORGAN TAX AWARE INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management


GEN IV INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   President


VEGA ASSET PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   President


NB DISTRESSED DEBT INVESTMENT FUND LIMITED , as a Lender
By: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC as Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Michael Holmberg

Name:   Michael Holmberg
Title:   Managing Director


NB DISTRESSED DEBT MASTER FUND LP ,

as a Lender

By: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC as Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Michael Holmberg

Name:   Michael Holmberg
Title:   Managing Director

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Version

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as the “ Amendment ”) is dated as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO RESOURCES, INC. (“ Borrower ”), CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER, as Guarantors (the “ Guarantors ”), the LENDERS party hereto, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent (“ Administrative Agent ”) and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Trustee (“ Collateral Trustee ”). Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise expressly defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement (as defined below).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS , Borrower, the Guarantors, Administrative Agent, Collateral Trustee and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) have entered into that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015 (as the same has been amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “ Existing Agreement ” and as further amended by this Amendment, the “ Credit Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS , the Lenders party hereto, Borrower, the Guarantors, Administrative Agent (acting upon the instruction of the Lenders) and Collateral Trustee (acting upon the instruction of the Lenders), desire to amend the Existing Agreement as provided herein upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW , THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, Borrower, the Guarantors, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and the Lenders party hereto hereby agree as follows:

SECTION  1. Amendments to Credit Agreement . Subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of each condition precedent set forth in Section  3 hereof, and in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment, effective as of the date hereof, the Credit Agreement shall be amended in the manner provided in this Section  1 .

1.1      Deleted Definitions . Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete in their entirety all terms and their respective definitions for which all references are eliminated in the Credit Agreement as a result of the amendments set forth below.

1.2      Additional Definitions . The following definitions shall be added to Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement in alphabetical order:

1.5 Lien Collateral Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association (or other Person designated by the 1.5 Lien Indenture Trustee), or if the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of 1.5 Lien Noteholders designated pursuant to the terms of the 1.5 Lien Note Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

1.5 Lien Indenture Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as Trustee under the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture.    

1.5 Lien Note Documents ” means the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture and each other Notes Document (as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture).

1.5 Lien Noteholders ” means each Holder (as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture).    

1.5 Lien Notes ” means (a) the Borrower’s Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due 2022 issued pursuant to the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include each “Note” issued under and as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture) and (b) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.


1.5 Lien Notes Indenture ” means that certain Indenture dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Borrower, the Guarantors (as defined therein), the 1.5 Lien Indenture Trustee, and the 1.5 Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of the Intercreditor Agreement.

1.75 Lien Agent ” means Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd, in its capacity as administrative agent under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity.

1.75 Lien Collateral Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association (or other Person designated by the 1.75 Lien Agent), or if the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of 1.75 Lien Debt designated pursuant to the terms of the 1.75 Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

1.75 Lien Debt ” means Indebtedness under the 1.75 Lien Documents.

1.75 Lien Documents ” means the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document (as defined in the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement).

1.75 Lien Debt Exchange ” means the exchange of loans contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, to occur on the First Amendment Effective Date.

1.75 Lien Lenders ” means each Lender (as defined in the 1.75 Term Loan Credit Agreement).

1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement ” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of March 15, 2017 among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, the 1.75 Lien Agent and the 1.75 Lien Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

Exchange Agreement ” means that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, by and between the Borrower and certain of the Lenders under this Agreement and certain of the Lenders under the Fairfax Term Loan Agreement and the other parties thereto (including Wilmington Trust National Association, as administrative agent) and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments delivered in connection therewith, or related thereto.

First Amendment ” means the First Amendment to this Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017.

First Amendment Effective Date ” means the effective date of the First Amendment, such date being March 15, 2017.

1.3     Applicable Premium. The definition of “Applicable Premium” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“Applicable Premium” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(d).

1.4      Credit Facilities . The definition of “Credit Facilities” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the First Lien Credit Agreement, the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture and the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement), capital markets financings or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, bankers acceptances, notes or other

 

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long- term indebtedness, including any mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, supplemental or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof or adds additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

1.5      Eligible Assignee. The definition of “Eligible Assignee” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) a Related Fund or an Approved Fund of a Lender, (d) solely with respect to the 1.75 Lien Debt Exchange, the Borrower and (e) any other Person (other than a natural person) that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act); provided that for the avoidance of doubt, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates except to the extent necessary to consummate the 1.75 Lien Debt Exchange ( provided , further , that the immediately preceding proviso shall not apply to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, and any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries).

1.6      Material Indebtedness . The definition of “Material Indebtedness” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ the First Lien Documents ” with “ the First Lien Documents, the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, the 1.75 Lien Documents ” at the beginning thereof.

1.7      Permitted Investors . The definition of “Permitted Investors” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Permitted Investors ” means (a)  ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c)  any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants, (d)  Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, and its Affiliates and/or any and all Backstop Commitment Parties (as defined in the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement) and (e)  any group (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d)  of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower that is owned by such group.

1.8      Priority Lien Collateral Agent . The definition of “Priority Lien Collateral Agent” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means, collectively or individually as the context may require, the First Lien Agent (or other Person designated by the First Lien Agent), the 1.5 Lien Collateral Agent (or other Person designated by the 1.5 Lien Collateral Agent) and/or the 1.75 Lien Collateral Agent (or other Person designated by the 1.75 Lien Collateral Agent).

1.9      Priority Lien Debt . The definition of “Priority Lien Debt” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by (x) inserting “ , the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement ” immediately before “ or any Replacement Credit Facility ” at the beginning thereof and (y) deleting clause (c) in the proviso to such definition.

1.10      Priority Lien Documents . The definition of “Priority Lien Documents” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ the First Lien Documents ” therein with “ the First Lien Documents, the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, the 1.75 Lien Documents.

1.11      Priority Lien Obligations . The definition of “Priority Lien Obligations” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ and (b) ” therein with “ , (b) all Indebtedness associated with the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, (c)  all Indebtedness associated with the 1.75 Lien Documents and (d).

 

3


1.12      Priority Lien Representative . The definition of “Priority Lien Representative” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ or (b) ” therein with “ , (b) the 1.5 Lien Indenture Trustee, (c)  the 1.75 Lien Agent or (d).

1.13      Replacement Credit Facility . The definition of “Replacement Credit Facility” in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ the First Lien Credit Agreement ” therein with “ the First Lien Credit Agreement, the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement.

1.14      Offers to Prepay Loans . Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by amending and restating clause (b) (“Change of Control”) therein in its entirety to read as follows:

(b)     [Reserved].

1.15      Compliance with Laws and Agreements . Section  3.07 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ the First Lien Documents ” with “ the First Lien Documents, the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, the 1.75 Lien Documents ” in the last sentence thereof.

1.16      Amendment of Certain Sections of the Credit Agreement . The Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the following sections of the Credit Agreement and all references thereto in the Credit Agreement in their entirety:

(a)    Article V (Affirmative Covenants) and all sections therein other than Sections 5.12, 5.14 and 5.17.

(b)    Article VI (Negative Covenants) and all sections therein.

(c)    Sections (c) through (m) of Article VIII (Events of Default).

1.17      Assignments . Section 10.04(b)(2)(i) of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by adding “ , the Borrower (for the avoidance of doubt, with such assignments to be permitted solely with respect to the 1.75 Lien Debt Exchange) ” immediately after “ an Approved Fund ”.

1.18      Borrower Buybacks . Section 10.04(e) of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any Lender may, solely in connection with the 1.75 Lien Debt Exchange on the First Amendment Effective Date, sell or assign all or a portion of its Loans to the Borrower to effectuate the 1.75 Debt Exchange in accordance with and as provided in the Exchange Agreement.

1.19      Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement . Section  10.17 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ the First Lien Lenders ” with “ the First Lien Lenders, the 1.5 Lien Noteholders and the 1.75 Lien Lenders ” in the last sentence of clause (a)  thereof.

SECTION 2. Amendment; Intercreditor Agreement; Collateral Trust Agreement; Exchange Agreement .

2.1     The Majority Lenders hereby instruct Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent and in its capacity as Collateral Trustee under the Existing Agreement and the Credit Agreement, to execute and deliver this Amendment and other documents, instruments and agreements contemplated herein (including any and all amendments, amendments and restatements, modifications, supplements and acknowledgements with respect to any of the foregoing).

 

4


2.2     The Majority Lenders hereby instruct Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent, to execute and deliver the Exchange Agreement (as defined above).

2.3     The Majority Lenders hereby instruct Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as Second Lien Collateral Agent under the Intercreditor Agreement, to execute and deliver the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (and including the Intercreditor Agreement attached to such First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement).

2.4     The Majority Lenders hereby instruct Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as a Parity Lien Representative under the Collateral Trust Agreement and as Collateral Trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement, to execute and deliver the First Amendment to Collateral Trust Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B (and including the Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Agreement attached to such First Amendment to Collateral Trust Agreement).

SECTION 3. Conditions .

3.1      Majority Lender Consent . The amendments to the Credit Agreement contained in Section  1 of this Amendment (other than Section  1.7 of this Amendment) shall be effective upon the execution and delivery of this Amendment by each Credit Party, Lenders constituting the Majority Lenders and Administrative Agent.

3.2      Super-Majority Lender Consent . The amendments to the Credit Agreement contained in Section  1.7 of this Amendment shall be effective upon the execution and delivery of this Amendment by each Credit Party, Lenders constituting the Super-Majority Lenders and Administrative Agent.

SECTION  4. Representations and Warranties of Borrower . To induce the Lenders, Administrative Agent and Collateral Trustee to enter into this Amendment, each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders, Administrative Agent and Collateral Trustee as follows:

4.1      Corporate Authority; No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Amendment and all documents, instruments and agreements contemplated herein are within such Credit Party’s corporate or other organizational powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority and do not violate or constitute a default under any provision of any applicable law or other agreements binding upon such Credit Party or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the assets of such Credit Party except for Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement.

4.2      Enforceability . This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditor’s rights generally, and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general application.

SECTION  5. Miscellaneous .

5.1      Reaffirmation of Loan Documents and Liens . Except as amended and modified hereby, any and all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed by each Credit Party. Each Credit Party hereby agrees that the amendments and modifications herein contained shall in no manner affect or impair the liabilities, duties and obligations of any Credit Party under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents or the Liens securing the payment and performance thereof.

5.2      Parties in Interest . All of the terms and provisions of this Amendment shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

5


5.3      Legal Expenses . Each Credit Party hereby agrees to pay all reasonable fees and expenses of special counsel to Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent incurred by Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and all related documents.

5.4      Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the same document. Delivery of photocopies of the signature pages to this Amendment by facsimile or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of manually executed counterparts of this Amendment.

5.5      Complete Agreement . THIS AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

5.6      Headings . The headings, captions and arrangements used in this Amendment are, unless specified otherwise, for convenience only and shall not be deemed to limit, amplify or modify the terms of this Amendment, nor affect the meaning thereof.

5.7      Severability . Any provision of this Amendment held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

5.8      Governing Law . This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of

New York.

5.9      Reference to and Effect on the Loan Documents .

(a)    This Amendment shall be deemed to constitute a Loan Document for all purposes and in all respects. Each reference in the Existing Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein” or words of like import, and each reference in the Existing Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or other agreements, documents or other instruments executed and delivered pursuant to the Existing Agreement to the “Credit Agreement”, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

(b)    The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER:  
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GUARANTORS :
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:   Raider Marketing GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

Name:   Renee Kuhl
Title:   Vice President

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

Name:   Renee Kuhl
Title:   Vice President

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


Avenue Energy Opportunities Fund, L.P.,  as a  Lender

By:  

/s/ Sonia Gardner

Name:   Sonia Gardner
Title:   Member

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


Bank of America, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Tracey-Ann Scarlett

Name:   Tracey-Ann Scarlett
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


ENERGY STRATEGIC ADVISORY SERVICES LLC,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Jonathan Siegler

Name:   Jonathan Siegler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


  BRIT INSURANCE (GIBRALTAR) PCC LIMITED
  BRIT SYNDICATES LIMITED
  CLEARWATER SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
  NEWLINE CORPORATE NAME LIMITED (SYNDICATE)
  NORTHBRIDGE PERSONAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
  ODYSSEY REINSURANCE COMPANY
  WENTWORTH INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.
  ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
  ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
  By:   Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Paul Rivett

Name:   Paul Rivett
Title:   Chief Operating Officer

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


Canadian Imperial bank of Commerce , as a Lender
By:  

/s/ David Evelyn

Name:   David Evelyn
Title:   General Manager
By:  

/s/ Neermala Hurry

Name:   Neermala Hurry
Title:   Assistant Manager

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


Chou Associates Fund, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou RRSP Fund, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou Bond Fund, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou Income Fund, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager
Chou Opportunity Fund, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Francis Chou

Name:   Francis Chou
Title:   Portfolio Manager

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN STRATEGIC INCOME OPPORTUNITIES, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


ADVANCED SERIES TRUST – AST J.P. MORGAN STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES PORTOFLIO, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN TOTAL RETURN FUND, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN TAX AWARE INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Amy Ronca

Name:   Amy Ronca
Title:   Vice President, JP Morgan Investment Management

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


NB DISTRESSED DEBT INVESTMENT FUND

LIMITED,  as a Lender

By: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC as Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Michael Holmberg

Name:   Michael Holmberg
Title:   Managing Director

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


NB DISTRESSED DEBT MASTER FUND LP,  as a Lender
By: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC as Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Michael Holmberg

Name:   Michael Holmberg
Title:   Managing Director

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


GEN IV INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   President

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement


VEGA ASSET PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   President

 

First Amendment to

Term Loan Credit Agreement

Exhibit 10.6

 

 

 

FORM OF 1.5 LIEN NOTE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated as of March     , 2017

by and between

EXCO Resources, Inc.

and

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,

as Warrant Agent

 

 

 


FORM OF 1.5 LIEN NOTE WARRANT AGREEMENT

1.5 LIEN NOTE WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of March    , 2017 by and between EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”).

WHEREAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are entering into certain refinancing and recapitalization transactions (the “ Transactions ”), including among other transactions, the issuance of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”) and 322,580,645 Warrants (as defined herein);

WHEREAS, the Notes and the Warrants will be sold in combination and the Notes and the Warrants will be immediately separable and will be issued separately;

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form, terms and provisions of the Warrants, including the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1.     Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

1.75 Lien Term Loan ” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement effective as of the date hereof among the Company, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent thereunder, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof.

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

Aggregate Exercise Price ” shall mean an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which a Warrant is then being exercised pursuant to Section  3 hereof, multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price in effect as of the Exercise Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

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Amendment Fee Warrants ” means the penny warrants for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the exchange of the Second Lien Term Loans.

Beginning Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(i) of this Agreement.

Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Stock ” shall mean (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (b) with respect to any other Person, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person and (c) with respect to the Company, the shares of Common Stock.

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

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

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

(c)    the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than, in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, a transaction in which 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) become the beneficial owners directly or indirectly of at least a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction.

Close of Business ” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Commitment Fee Warrants ” means the penny warrants for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the backstop commitment fee for the Notes.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, and any Capital Stock into which such Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged or reclassified following the date hereof.

 

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Common Stock Deemed Outstanding ” means, at any given time, the sum of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus (b) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time, plus (c) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities actually outstanding at such time (treating as actually outstanding any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time), in each case, regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time; provided , that Common Stock Deemed Outstanding at any given time shall not include shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

control ” (including the terms “ controlled by ”, “ controlling ” and “ under common control with ”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

Convertible Securities ” means any securities (directly or indirectly) convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

ESAS Warrants ” means the warrants held by ESAS for 80,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any similar or successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any applicable time.

Exchange Term Loan ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof.

Excluded Issuances ” means any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section  4.4 ) by the Company after the Original Issue Date of: (a) shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Warrant, Commitment Fee Warrant, Amendment Fee Warrant or ESAS Warrant; (b) shares of Common Stock issued directly or upon the exercise of Options or Convertible Securities to directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Company in connection with their service as directors of the Company, their employment by the Company or their retention as consultants by the Company, in each case pursuant to any plan, agreement or other arrangement authorized by the Board (including all such shares, Options and Convertible Securities outstanding on or prior to the Original Issue Date); or (c) shares of Common Stock issued as “PIK shares” for the payment of interest on the Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loan (the “ PIK Shares ”).

Exercise Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a)(i) of this Agreement.

 

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Exercise Date ” means, for any given exercise of a Warrant, the date on which the conditions to such exercise as set forth in Section  3.3 shall have been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a Business Day, including, without limitation, the receipt by the Company of the Exercise Agreement, the Warrant and the Aggregate Exercise Price.

Exercise Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Exercise Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement, as adjusted pursuant to Section  4 of this Agreement; provided, that such exercise price shall at no point decrease below the par value of the Common Stock.

Existing Notes ” shall mean the Company’s 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018 and/or 8.5% Senior Notes due 2022.

Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Fairfax ” means Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and any of its Affiliates or subsidiaries.

Fairfax Term Loan ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof.

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any particular date: (a) the volume weighted average of the closing sales prices of the Common Stock for such day on all domestic securities exchanges on which the Common Stock may at the time be listed; (b) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on any such exchange on any such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on all such exchanges at the end of such day; (c) if on any such day the Common Stock is not listed on a domestic securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association for such day; or (d) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association on such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association at the end of such day; in each case, averaged over twenty (20) consecutive Business Days ending on the Business Day immediately prior to the day as of which “Fair Market Value” is being determined; provided , that if the Common Stock is listed on any domestic securities exchange, the term “Business Day” as used in this sentence means Business Days on which such exchange is open for trading. If at any time the Common Stock is not listed on any domestic securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association, the “Fair Market Value” of the Common Stock shall be the fair market value per share as determined jointly by the Board and the Holder.

Holder ” shall mean any Person who owns a beneficial interest in a Warrant registered in the Warrant Register.

Notes ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

 

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Officers ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or any Vice-President of such Person.

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. The counsel may without limitation be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Options means any warrants or other rights or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

Original Issue Date ” means March    , 2017, the date on which the Warrants were issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

OTC Bulletin Board ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority OTC Bulletin Board electronic inter-dealer quotation system.

Permitted Investors ” means (a) ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c) any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants, (d) Fairfax, (e) any holder of Notes or lender under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan and (f) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a) , (b) , (c), (d) and (e)  of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Issuer that is owned by such group.

Person ” shall include an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust or estate, a government, foreign or domestic, and any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

Pink OTC Markets ” means the OTC Markets Group Inc. electronic inter-dealer quotation system, including OTCQX, OTCQB and OTC Pink.

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.4(b)(i) to be placed on all Warrants issued under this Agreement and all Warrant Shares, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated as of March    , 2017, among the Company and the other parties thereto.

Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Restricted Warrant ” means a Warrant bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Requisite Shareholder Approvals ” shall mean the Company’s receipt of the requisite votes or consents of the holders of its shares of Common Stock, (1) to the issuances of Common Stock represented by the Warrants and the PIK Shares for purposes of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange to the extent the Common Stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange and such approval is required for the issuances of the Warrants and the PIK Shares and (2) with respect to the amendment of the Company’s existing charter to (a) increase its authorized Common Stock or (b) effect a reverse stock split, in each case under applicable Texas law (the “ Charter Amendment Approval ”); provided , that the Company may waive, in its sole discretion, the Charter Amendment Approval.

 

5


Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 903 ” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904 ” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

Second Lien Term Loans ” means the Fairfax Term Loan and the Exchange Term Loan.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any similar or successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any applicable time.

Settlement Date ” means, in respect of a Warrant that is exercised hereunder, the third Business Day immediately following the Exercise Date for such Warrant.

Unrestricted Warrant ” means one or more Warrants that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

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.

Warrant Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Warrant Countersignature Order ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c) of this Agreement.

Warrants ” shall mean the warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company issued pursuant to this Agreement and represented by Warrant Certificates, and all warrants issued upon transfer, division or combination of, or in substitution thereof.

Warrant Certificates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  2.1 of this Agreement.

Warrant Register ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.

Warrant Shares ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock or other Capital Stock of the Company then purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.     Issuance of Warrants; Warrant Certificates .

2.1     Form and Dating . The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (each, a “ Warrant Certificate ”). The Warrants may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Warrant shall be dated the date of the countersignature. The terms and provisions contained in the Warrants shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Agreement. The Company and the Warrant Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Agreement,

 

6


expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

2.2     Execution of Warrant Certificates .

(a)    Warrants may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant Certificate shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant Certificate before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

(b)    An Officer shall sign the Warrants on behalf of the Company.

(c)    The Warrant Agent shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (a “ Warrant Countersignature Order ”), countersign any physical certificates for Warrants.

2.3     Warrant Register .

(a)    The Warrant Agent shall maintain a register (the “ Warrant Register ”), for the registration of the original issuance and transfers of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective Holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

2.4     Transfer and Exchange .

(a)     Transfer and Exchange of Warrants . Upon written request by a Holder of Warrants and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.4(a) , the Warrant Agent shall register the transfer or exchange of Warrants. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.4(a) .

(i)     Restricted Warrants to Restricted Warrants . Any Restricted Warrant may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)  thereof;

(B)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)  thereof; or

(C)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver (1) a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications required by item  (3) thereof, if applicable and (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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(ii)     Restricted Warrants to Unrestricted Warrants . Any Restricted Warrant may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Warrant or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    if the Holder of such Restricted Warrants proposes to exchange such Warrants for an Unrestricted Warrant, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto; or

(B)    if the Holder of such Restricted Warrants proposes to transfer such Warrants to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit  C hereto, including the certifications in item (4)  thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (ii) , if the Warrant Agent so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii)     Unrestricted Warrants to Unrestricted Warrants . A Holder of Unrestricted Warrants may transfer such Warrants to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant. Upon receipt of a written request to register such a transfer, the Warrant Agent shall register the Unrestricted Warrants pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(iv)     Certain Intercompany Transfers of Warrants. A Holder of Restricted Warrants that is an entity controlled directly or indirectly by Fairfax may transfer, from time to time, such Warrants to one or more entities controlled directly or indirectly by Fairfax who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit E hereto; and

(B)    prompt written confirmation from the Company in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

Transfers pursuant to this clause (iv)  shall not require a medallion signature guaranty or an opinion of counsel.

(b)     Legends . The following legends shall appear on the face of all Warrants issued under this Agreement and all Warrant Shares unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

 

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(i)     Private Placement Legend .

(A)    Except as permitted by subparagraph (B)  below, each Warrant (and all Warrants issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY AND THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON ITS EXERCISE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON ITS EXERCISE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE EXERCISED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY U.S. PERSON UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Warrant issued pursuant to subparagraphs (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) to this Section  2.4 (and all Warrants issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(C)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of a Warrant shall not bear the Private Placement Legend if, at the time of the exercise of such Warrant, the Warrant Agent shall have received a reasonably satisfactory written Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Warrant Shares delivered upon exercise of the Warrant have been registered under the Securities Act or that the delivery of such Warrant Shares are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(c)     General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall countersign Warrants upon the Company’s written order or at the Warrant Agent’s request.

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

(iii)    All Warrants issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrants shall be the duly authorized, executed and issued warrants for shares of Common Stock of the Company or such other Warrant Shares as may be issuable upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, not subject to any preemptive rights, and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrants surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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(iv)    In connection with the due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Warrant, the Warrant Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Warrant is registered as the absolute owner of such Warrant for all purposes and neither the Warrant Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v)    The Warrant Agent shall countersign any physical certificates for Warrants in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(c) hereof.

(d)     Facsimile or Electronic Submissions to Warrant Agent . All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section  2.4 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile or electronic transmission. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as to any certificates and/or certifications delivered to the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section  2.4 , the Warrant Agent’s duties shall be limited to confirming that any such certifications and certificates delivered to it are in the form of Exhibits C and D hereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for confirming the truth or accuracy of representations made in any such certifications or certificates. As to any Opinions of Counsel delivered pursuant to this Section  2.4 , the Warrant Agent may rely upon, and be fully protected in relying upon, such opinions.

2.5     Replacement Warrants .

If the Warrant Agent receives evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Warrant, the Company shall issue and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of a Warrant Countersignature Order, shall countersign a replacement Warrant of like denomination, tenor and date as the Warrant so mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen if the Warrant Agent’s requirements are met. If required by the Warrant Agent or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the reasonable judgment of the Warrant Agent and the Company to protect the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent for purposes of the countersignature from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Warrant is replaced. The Company may charge for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in replacing a Warrant.

Every replacement Warrant is an additional Warrant of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with all other Warrants duly issued hereunder.

2.6     Temporary Warrants .

Until certificates representing Warrants are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and issue and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of a Warrant Countersignature Order, shall countersign temporary Warrants. Temporary Warrants shall be substantially in the form of certificated Warrants but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Warrants and that shall be reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Warrant Agent shall countersign definitive Warrants in exchange for temporary Warrants.

Holders of temporary Warrants shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Agreement.

2.7     Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Warrants to the Warrant Agent for cancellation with the consent of the registered Holder as evidenced by a medallion guaranteed endorsement. The Warrant Agent and no one else shall cancel all Warrants surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange,

 

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exercise, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy canceled Warrants (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Warrants shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Warrants to replace Warrants that have been exercised or that have been delivered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation.

SECTION 3.     Terms and Exercise of Warrants .

3.1     Exercise Price . Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Holder thereof upon proper exercise during the Exercise Period, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company one (1) Warrant Share at a purchase price per Warrant Share equal to $0.93 (such price being referred to herein as the “ Exercise Price ”), subject to the adjustments provided in Section  4 hereof.

3.2     Duration of Warrants . Subject to the terms and conditions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, at any time or from time to time commencing on the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are received (the “ Beginning Date ”), and prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Beginning Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (the “ Expiration Date ”), a Warrant may be exercised for all or any part of the Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder (subject to adjustment as provided herein). Such period commencing on the Beginning Date and expiring on the Expiration Date is herein referred to as the “ Exercise Period .” Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the Close of Business on the Expiration Date (or Close of Business on the Settlement Date with respect to any Exercise Agreement delivered prior to the Expiration Date). The Company may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided , however , that the Company shall provide notice of not less than thirty (30) days to Holders of such extension and that such extension shall be identical in duration among all of the then outstanding Warrants.

3.3     Exercise of Warrants .

(a)     Exercise Procedure . Warrants may be exercised from time to time on any Business Day during the Exercise Period, for all or any part of the unexercised Warrant Shares, upon:

(i)    surrender of the Warrant to the Warrant Agent at its then principal executive offices (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to the Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction), together with an Exercise Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (each, an “ Exercise Agreement ”), duly completed (including specifying the number of Warrant Shares to be purchased) and executed; and

(ii)    payment to the Warrant Agent of the Aggregate Exercise Price in accordance with Section 3.3(b) .

(b)     Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price . Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall be made, at the option of the Holder, in their sole and absolute discretion, as expressed in the Exercise Agreement, by the following methods:

(i)    by delivery to the Warrant Agent, on behalf of the Company, of a certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Warrant Agent, in the amount of such Aggregate Exercise Price;

 

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(ii)    by instructing the Company to issue Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of all or any part of such Warrant on a net basis such that, without payment of any cash consideration or other immediately available funds, the Holder shall surrender such Warrant in exchange for the number of Warrant Shares as is computed using the following formula:

X = Y(A-B) ÷ A

Where:

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.

Y = the total number of Warrant Shares for which the Holder has elected to exercise the Warrant pursuant to Section 3.3(a) .

A = the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share as of the applicable Exercise Date.

B = the Exercise Price in effect under the Warrant as of the applicable Exercise Date.

(iii)    any combination of the foregoing;

provided that the Company shall have the right to require cashless exercise pursuant clause (ii)  in the event that the cash exercise of any Warrant pursuant to clause (i)  or (iii) would result, in the reasonable determination of the Company as certified by an Officer of the Company, in the limitation of any net operating loss of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In the event of any withholding of Warrant Shares pursuant to clause (ii)  or (iii) where the number of shares whose value is equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price is not a whole number, the number of shares withheld by the Company shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

(c)     Delivery of Stock Certificates . Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Agreement, surrender of the Warrant and payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price (in accordance with Section  3.3 hereof), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, execute (or cause to be executed) and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder a certificate or certificates (or deliver electronically) representing the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, together with cash in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 3.3(d) hereof. The stock certificate or certificates so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as the exercising Holder shall reasonably request in the Exercise Agreement and shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to compliance with Section  2.4 , such other Person’s name as shall be designated in the Exercise Agreement. The Warrants shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or certificates of Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Shares for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

(d)     Fractional Shares . The Company shall not be required to issue a fractional Warrant Share upon exercise of any Warrant. To the extent an exercise would result in a fractional Warrant Share, the number of Warrant Shares issued upon such exercise will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Warrant Shares.

 

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(e)     Delivery of New Warrant . Unless the purchase rights represented by the Warrant shall have expired or shall have been fully exercised, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares being issued in accordance with Section 3.3(c) hereof, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unexpired and unexercised Warrant Shares called for by such Warrant. Such new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical to the Warrant.

(f)     Valid Issuance . The Company hereby represents, covenants and agrees that:

(i)    Any Warrant issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued.

(ii)    All Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of any Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Warrants shall be, upon issuance, and the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that such Warrant Shares are, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, issued without violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any stockholder of the Company and free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges.

(iii)    The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable law or governmental regulation applicable to the Company or any requirements of any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance).

(iv)    The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Warrant Shares, immediately upon such exercise, to be listed on any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares are listed at the time of such exercise; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to maintain any listing of the shares of Common Stock.

(v)    The Company shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of a Warrant; provided , that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed with respect to any applicable withholding or the issuance or delivery of the Warrant Shares to any Person other than the Holder, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issuance has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

(g)     Conditional Exercise . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if an exercise of any portion of a Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.

 

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(h)     Reservation of Common Stock . During the Exercise Period, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants, the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants, and the par value per Warrant Share shall at all times be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price. The Company shall take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided in this Agreement without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the trading market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company shall not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares receivable upon the exercise of any Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, and shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants.

(i)     Holder s Exercise Limitations . So long as any of the Existing Notes are outstanding, the Company shall not effect any exercise of a Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of a Warrant to the extent that such issuance after exercise would result in, such Holder, any of its Affiliates and any Person subject to aggregation with such Holder or its Affiliates under Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act beneficially owning (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this calculation such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Common Stock or of the Voting Stock or any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent entities (or any of their successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets), immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (such limitation, the “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ”). To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 3.3( i ) applies, the determination of whether a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable shall be made by the Company. Promptly following the submission of a notice of exercise, as set forth in the Warrant Certificate (and in no event more than two (2) Business Days following the receipt thereof), the Company shall notify the Holder in writing of its determination of whether and to what extent a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Such notification shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the Company’s calculation of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

SECTION 4.     Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Warrant Shares . In order to prevent dilution of the purchase rights granted under this Agreement and the Warrants, the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section  4 (in each case, after taking into consideration any prior adjustments pursuant to this Section  4 ).

4.1     Adjustment to Exercise Price Upon Issuance of Common Stock .

(a)    Except as provided in Section  4.3 and except in the case of an event described in either Section  4.5 or Section  4.6 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or in accordance with  Section 4.4 , is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock without consideration or for consideration per share less than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), then immediately upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) shall be reduced (and in no event increased) to an Exercise Price equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:

(i)    the sum of (A) the product obtained by multiplying the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) by the Exercise Price then in effect plus (B) the aggregate consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale); by

 

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(ii)    the sum of (A) the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) plus (B) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued or sold (or deemed issued or sold) by the Company in such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale).

(b)    Except as provided in Section  4.3 and except in the case of an event described in either Section  4.5 or Section  4.6 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or in accordance with  Section 4.4 , is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock for consideration per share greater than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) but less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), then immediately upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), the Exercise Price shall be reduced (and in no event increased) to an Exercise Price equal to the product obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), by a fraction (which shall in no event be more than one):

(i)    the numerator of which shall be the sum of (A) the product obtained by multiplying the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) by the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), plus (B) the aggregate consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale); and

(ii)    the denominator of which shall be the product obtained by multiplying (A) the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) by (B) the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale).

4.2     Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares Upon Adjustment to Exercise Price . Upon any and each adjustment of the Exercise Price as provided in Section  4.1 , the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to any such adjustment shall be increased to a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:

(i)    the product of (A) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to any such adjustment multiplied by (B) the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of such Warrant immediately prior to any such adjustment; by

(ii)    the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment.

4.3     Exceptions to Adjustment Upon Issuance of Common Stock . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no adjustment to the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrant with respect to any Excluded Issuance.

 

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4.4     Effect of Certain Events on Adjustment to Exercise Price . For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under Section  4.1 hereof, the following shall be applicable:

(a)     Issuance of Options . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in any manner grant or sell (whether directly or by assumption in a merger or otherwise) any Options, whether or not such Options or the right to convert or exchange any Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options are immediately exercisable, and the price per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and in Section 4.4(e) ) for which Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options is less than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the time of the granting or sale of such Options, then the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Options or upon conversion or exchange of the total maximum amount of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of granting or sale of such Options (and thereafter shall be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of adjusting the Exercise Price under Section  4.1 ), at a price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the sum (which sum shall constitute the applicable consideration received for purposes of Section 4.4(e) ) of (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of all such Options, plus (y) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration payable to the Company upon the exercise of all such Options, plus (z), in the case of such Options which relate to Convertible Securities, the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the issuance or sale of all such Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities, by (B) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of all Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of all such Options. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.4(c) , no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of Common Stock or of Convertible Securities upon exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such Options.

(b)     Issuance of Convertible Securities . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in any manner grant or sell (whether directly or by assumption in a merger or otherwise) any Convertible Securities, whether or not the right to convert or exchange any such Convertible Securities is immediately exercisable, and the price per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and in Section 4.4(e) ) for which Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities is less than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the time of the granting or sale of such Convertible Securities, then the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of the total maximum amount of such Convertible Securities shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of granting or sale of such Convertible Securities (and thereafter shall be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of adjusting the Exercise Price pursuant to Section  4.1 ), at a price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the sum (which sum shall constitute the applicable consideration received for purposes of Section 4.4(e) ) of (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of such Convertible Securities, plus (y) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities, by (B) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.4(c) , (A) no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and (B) no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of the issue or sale of Convertible Securities upon exercise of any Options to purchase any such Convertible Securities for which adjustments of the Exercise Price have been made pursuant to the other provisions of this Section  4.4 .

(c)     Change in Terms of Options or Convertible Securitie s. Upon any change in any of (A) the total amount received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of

 

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any Options or Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.4(a) or Section 4.4(b) hereof, (B) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the exercise of any Options or upon the issuance, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.4(a) or Section 4.4(b) hereof, (C) the rate at which Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.4(a) or Section 4.4(b) hereof are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or (D) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with any Options referred to in Section 4.4(a) hereof or any Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.4(b) hereof (in each case, other than in connection with an Excluded Issuance), then (whether or not the original issuance or sale of such Options or Convertible Securities resulted in an adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section  4.4 ) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such change shall be adjusted or readjusted, as applicable, to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect at such time pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4.4 had such Options or Convertible Securities still outstanding provided for such changed consideration, conversion rate or maximum number of shares, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold, but only if as a result of such adjustment or readjustment the Exercise Price then in effect is reduced, and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to any such adjustment or readjustment shall be correspondingly adjusted or readjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section  4.2 .

(d)     Treatment of Expired or Terminated Options or Convertible Securities . Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option (or portion thereof) or any unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof) for which any adjustment (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) was made pursuant to this Section  4.4 (including without limitation upon the redemption or purchase for consideration of all or any portion of such Option or Convertible Security by the Company), the Exercise Price then in effect hereunder shall forthwith be changed pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4.4 to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect at the time of such expiration or termination had such unexercised Option (or portion thereof) or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof), to the extent outstanding immediately prior to such expiration or termination, never been issued.

(e)     Calculation of Consideration Received . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or is deemed to have issued or sold in accordance with Section  4.4 , any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities: (A) for cash, the consideration received therefor shall be deemed to be the net amount received by the Company therefor; (B) for consideration other than cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash received by the Company shall be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of marketable securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company shall be the market price (as reflected on any securities exchange, quotation system or association or similar pricing system covering such security) for such securities as of the Close of Business on the date of receipt of such securities; (C) for no specifically allocated consideration in connection with an issuance or sale of other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, the amount of the consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the aggregate consideration received by the Company in such transaction as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issued in such transaction; or (D) to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, the amount of consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issued to such owners. The net amount of any cash consideration and the fair value of any consideration other than cash or marketable securities shall be determined in good faith jointly by the Board and the Holder.

 

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(f)     Record Date . For purposes of any adjustment to the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares in accordance with this Section  4.4 , in case the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

(g)     Treasury Shares . The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the disposition of any such shares (other than the cancellation or retirement thereof or the transfer of such shares among the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries) shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock for the purpose of this Section  4.4 .

(h)     Other Dividends and Distributions . Subject to the provisions of this Section  4.4 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, make or declare, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or any other distribution payable in securities of the Company (other than a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities in respect of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall be subject to Section  4.5 , without duplication), cash or other property, then, and in each such event, provision shall be made so that the Holder shall receive upon exercise of any Warrant, in addition to the number of Warrant Shares receivable thereupon, the kind and amount of securities of the Company, cash or other property which the Holder would have been entitled to receive had the Warrant been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event and had the Holder thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Exercise Date, retained such securities, cash or other property receivable by them as aforesaid during such period, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section  4.4 with respect to the rights of the Holder; provided , that no such provision shall be made if the Holder receives, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such securities, cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such securities, cash or other property as the Holder would have received if such Warrant had been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event.

4.5     Adjustment to Exercise Price and Warrant Shares Upon Dividend, Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, (i) pay a dividend or make any other distribution upon the Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company payable in shares of Common Stock or in Options or Convertible Securities, or (ii) subdivide (by any stock split, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to any such dividend, distribution or subdivision shall be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section  4.5 shall become effective at the Close of Business on the date the dividend, subdivision or combination becomes effective.

4.6     Adjustment to Exercise Price and Warrant Shares Upon Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation or Merger . In the event of any (i) capital reorganization of the Company, (ii) reclassification of the stock of the Company (other than a change in par value or from par value to no par value or from no par value to par value or as a result of a stock dividend or subdivision, split-up or

 

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combination of shares), (iii) consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another Person, (iv) sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another Person or (v) other similar transaction (other than any such transaction covered by Section  4.5 ), in each case which entitles the holders of Common Stock to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, each Warrant shall, immediately after such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, remain outstanding and shall thereafter, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the number of Warrant Shares then exercisable under this Agreement, be exercisable for the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets of the Company or of the successor Person resulting from such transaction to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction if the Holder had exercised the Warrants in full immediately prior to the time of such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction and acquired the applicable number of Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder as a result of such exercise (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of the Warrants); and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder) shall be made with respect to the Holder’s rights under this Agreement to insure that the provisions of this Section  4.6 hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as possible, to this Agreement in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter acquirable upon exercise of the Warrants (including, in the case of any consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction in which the successor or purchasing Person is other than the Company, an immediate adjustment in the Exercise Price to the value per share for the Common Stock reflected by the terms of such consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, and a corresponding immediate adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares acquirable upon exercise of the Warrants without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise, if the value so reflected is less than the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction). The provisions of this Section  4.6 shall similarly apply to successive reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, sales or similar transactions. The Company shall not effect any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction unless, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor Person (if other than the Company) resulting from such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, shall assume, by written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Agreement and satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, the obligation to deliver to the Holders such shares of stock, securities or assets which, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such Holder shall be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any corporate event or other transaction contemplated by the provisions of this Section  4.6 , the Holder shall have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such event or transaction, to give effect to the exercise rights contained in Section  3 instead of giving effect to the provisions contained in this Section  4.6 with respect to any Warrants.

4.7     Certain Events . If any event of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section  4 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features but excluding any Excluded Issuance) occurs, then the Board shall make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants so as to protect the rights of the Holders in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Section  4 ; provided , that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section  4.7 shall increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares issuable that would otherwise be determined pursuant to this Section  4 .

4.8     Certificate as to Adjustment .

(a)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following any adjustment of the Exercise Price, but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to Holders a certificate of an Officer setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment,

 

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the method by which such adjustment was calculated and describing the number and kind of any other securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and any change in the Exercise Price after giving effect to such adjustment or change.

(b)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following the receipt by the Company of a written request by any Holder, but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to such Holder a certificate of an Officer certifying the Exercise Price then in effect and the number of Warrant Shares or the amount, if any, of other shares of stock, securities or assets then issuable upon exercise of a Warrant.

4.9     Notice of Certain Events .

Subject to the Company’s compliance with applicable law, including Regulation FD under the Securities Act, in each case, if the Company proposes at any time:

(i)    to take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, to vote at a meeting (or by written consent), to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security; or

(ii)    any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or the conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, or of any reclassification or change of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, or a tender offer or exchange offer by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to acquire Common Stock

(iii)    the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

(iv)    to take any action that would require an adjustment of the exercise price of the Warrants; or

(v)    any Change of Control,

then, and in each such case, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to each Holder at its address as set forth in the Warrant Register, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the applicable record date or the applicable expected effective date, as the case may be, for the event, a written notice specifying, as the case may be, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action, and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent, or (B) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company shall close or a record shall be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Warrants and the Warrant Shares; provided , that, the Holder agrees to keep any information included in such notice confidential until the

 

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time at which the Company abandons such corporate event (in which case the Company shall provide prompt written notice thereof) or such corporate event becomes public, except that such Holder shall be permitted to disclose such information (i) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or compulsory legal process, (ii) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority) having or purporting to have jurisdiction over such Holder or any of its affiliates, (iii) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by such Holder in violation of any confidentiality obligations owing to the Company, (iv) to the extent that such information is or was received by such Holder on a non-confidential basis from a third party that is not, to such Holder’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations owing to the Company, (v) to such Holder’s affiliates and such Holder’s and such affiliates’ advisors, officers, directors, employees, legal counsel, auditors and agents, in each case who are informed of the confidential nature of such information and (vi) to the extent the Company has consented to such disclosure in writing.

4.10     Form of Warrant . The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section  4 , and Warrant Certificates issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrant initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. However, the Company may, at any time, in its sole discretion, make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant Certificates thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant Certificate or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

4.11     No Rights as Stockholder . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein (including Section 4.4(h) ), prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of a Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Agreement be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. In addition, nothing contained in this Agreement or the Warrants shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of a Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section  4.11 , the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

4.12     No Impairment . The Company shall not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed by it under any Warrant or hereunder, but shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Agreement and the Warrants and in the taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by any Holder in order to protect the exercise rights of the Holders against dilution or other impairment, consistent with the tenor and purpose of this Agreement and the Warrants.

4.13     Registration of Common Stock . The Company agrees that, within one hundred eighty (180) days of the Original Issue Date (or, if the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have not been obtained by such date, within thirty (30) days of the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have been obtained), it shall file with the SEC a resale registration statement, for the registration under the Securities Act of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company will use its reasonable

 

21


best efforts to cause the same to become effective on or prior to the commencement of the Exercise Period and to use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions and subject to the exceptions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be subject to any penalties if a registration statement is not effective or a current prospectus is not on file with the SEC at the time of exercise by any Holder. In addition, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register such securities under the blue sky laws of the states of residence of the exercising Holders to the extent an exemption under the Securities Act is not available for the exercise of the Warrants.

SECTION 5.     Purchase Rights . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 4, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any shares of Common Stock, Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of Common Stock (the “ Purchase Rights ”), then the Holder shall be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder would have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Warrant Shares acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) the Holder shall not be entitled to the Purchase Rights granted herein with respect to any Excluded Issuance and (b) no Purchase Rights shall be exercisable by the Holder to the extent the that the acquisition by the Holder would cause the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to be exceeded.

SECTION 6.     Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters .

6.2     The Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent:

(a)    shall have no duties or obligations other than those expressly set forth herein and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied;

(b)    may rely on and shall be held harmless and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram or other document, or any security delivered to it, and believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties, or upon any written or oral instructions or statements from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Warrant Agent hereunder;

(c)    may consult with counsel satisfactory to it (including counsel for the Company) and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with such advice or opinion of such counsel;

(d)    shall be held harmless by the Company and any other person in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Warrant Agent hereunder in accordance with any determination as to whether or not a Warrant received by the Warrant Agent is duly, completely and correctly executed;

(e)    shall not be obligated to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that it believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability or to a risk of incurring expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with assurances of repayment or indemnity satisfactory to it;

 

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(f)    shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed pursuant to Section  4.13 or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law;

(g)    and its officers, directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, any Warrant, with the same rights that it or they would have were it not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as a depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrants, or other securities or obligations of the Company, as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as trustee under an indenture;

(h)    shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement;

(i)    shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Warrants;

(j)    may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact, and the Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any loss or expense arising out of, or in connection with, the actions or omissions to act of its agents or attorneys-in-fact, so long as the Warrant Agent acts without gross negligence or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in connection with the selection of such agents or attorneys-in-fact; and

(k)    shall act hereunder solely as agent for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the provisions hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in connection with this Agreement except for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as each is determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment made by it, unless it shall be proved that the Warrant Agent was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

6.3     Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent .

(a)     Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent . The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving thirty (30) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint, in writing, a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by any Holder (who shall, with such notice, submit any Warrant held by such Holder for inspection by the Company), then such Holder may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing

 

23


and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and be authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but, if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and, upon request of any successor Warrant Agent, the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations.

(b)     Notice of Successor Warrant Agent . In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

(c)     Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent . Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act on the part of the Company or the Warrant Agent.

6.4     Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent . The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration in an amount separately agreed to between Company and Warrant Agent for its services as Warrant Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the preparation, delivery, administration, execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Warrant Agent fees, including postage and any out-of-pocket and/or per item fees incurred by the Warrant Agent, shall be paid in accordance with the payment terms and instructions set forth on each invoice provided to the Company by the Warrant Agent. It is understood and agreed that all services to be performed by Warrant Agent shall cease if full payment for its services has not been received in accordance with such payment terms and conditions, and said services will not commence thereafter until all payment due has been received by Warrant Agent.

6.5     Further Assurances . The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

6.6     Liability of Warrant Agent .

(a)     Reliance on Company Statement . Whenever, in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by an Officer of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. Such certificate will be full authorization to the Warrant Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon such certificate, and the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any such action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with any such instructions or pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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(b)     Indemnity . The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and hold it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

(c)     Disputes . In the event any question or dispute arises with respect to the proper interpretation of this Agreement or the Warrant Agent’s duties hereunder or the rights of the Company or of any Holder, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to act and shall not be held liable or responsible for refusing to act until the question or dispute has been judicially settled (and the Warrant Agent may, if it deems it advisable, but shall not be obligated to, file a suit in interpleader or for a declaratory judgment for such purpose) by final judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, binding on all parties interested in the matter which is no longer subject to review or appeal, or settled by a written document in form and substance satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and executed by the Company and each other interested party. In addition, the Warrant Agent may require for such purpose, but shall not be obligated to require, the execution of such written settlement by all Holders and all other parties that may have an interest in the settlement.

(d)     Exclusions . The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible or have any duty to make any calculation or adjustment, or to determine when any calculation or adjustment required under the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to Section  4 hereof, should be made or have any responsibility or liability for the manner, method or amount of any such calculation or adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such calculation or adjustment, including but not limited to any calculation or determination of “fair market value” and any calculation or determination made in connection with an exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis;” nor shall it, by any act hereunder, be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

6.7     Acceptance of Agency . The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and, among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.

SECTION 7.     Miscellaneous .

7.1     Notices . Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by any Holder to or on the Company shall be delivered by hand or sent by registered or certified mail or overnight courier service, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent) as follows:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, Texas 75251

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (972) 699-5180

 

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With a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Justin Hoffman

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

Email: Justin.Hoffman@Kirkland.com

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by any Holder or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be delivered by hand or sent by registered or certified mail or overnight courier service, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10007

Attn: Compliance Department

Any notice, sent pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective, if delivered by hand, upon receipt thereof by the party to whom it is addressed, if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day of the delivery to the courier, and if sent by registered or certified mail on the third day after registration or certification thereof.

7.2     Amendment . This Agreement and any Warrant Certificate may be amended by the parties hereto by executing a supplemental warrant agreement, without the consent of any of the Holders, for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein, or making any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or the Warrants, (ii) evidencing the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained in this Agreement and the Warrants, (iii) evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Warrant Agent with respect to the Warrants, (iv) adding to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrendering any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Agreement, or (viii) amending this Agreement and the Warrants in any manner that the Company may deem to be necessary or desirable and that will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect. All other modifications or amendments to this Agreement, including any amendment to increase the Exercise Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may extend the duration of the Exercise Period in accordance with Section  3.2 without such consent.

7.3     Successors and Assigns . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

7.4     Examination of the Warrant Agreement . A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose for inspection by the Holder of any Warrant. Prior to such inspection, the Warrant Agent may require any such Holder to submit any Warrants held by such Holder for inspection by it.

 

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7.5     Headings . The descriptive headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

7.6     Governing Law; Jurisdiction . The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against either of them arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Warrant Agent may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section  6.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party receiving such service in any action, proceeding or claim.

7.7     Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE WARRANT AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR A WARRANT.

7.8     Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law, or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either party hereto. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

7.9     Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

7.10     Persons Having Rights under this Agreement . Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Holders. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Holders.

7.11     Termination . This Agreement shall terminate at the Expiration Date (or Close of Business on the Settlement Date with respect to any Exercise Agreement delivered prior to the Expiration Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement will terminate on such earlier date on which all outstanding Warrants have been exercised. All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability and limits thereon shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

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7.12     Force Majeure . In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, failure of carrier or utilities, equipment or transmission failure or damage that is reasonably beyond its control, or any other cause that is reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes. Performance under this Agreement shall resume when the affected party or parties are able to perform substantially that party’s duties; provided, that in no event shall this provision relieve the Company of its indemnification obligations hereunder.

7.13     Interpretation and Rules of Construction . In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(a)    when a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference is to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(b)    whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(c)    the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(d)    the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms; and

(e)    references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns.

7.14     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or electronic communication) in two or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement

[Signature pages follow]

 

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

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
as Warrant Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.7

 

 

 

FORM OF COMMITMENT FEE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated as of March     , 2017

by and between

EXCO Resources, Inc.

and

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,

as Warrant Agent

 

 

 


FORM OF COMMITMENT FEE WARRANT AGREEMENT

COMMITMENT FEE WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of March     , 2017 by and between EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”).

WHEREAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are entering into certain refinancing and recapitalization transactions (the “ Transactions ”), including among other transactions, the issuance of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”) together with warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (as defined herein) of the Company;

WHEREAS, as part of the Transactions, the Company has agreed to issue 6,471,433 Warrants (as defined herein) the to the Holders (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form, terms and provisions of the Warrants, including the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1.     Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

1.75 Lien Term Loan ” means that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement effective as of the date hereof among the Company, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent thereunder, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof.

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

Aggregate Exercise Price ” shall mean an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which a Warrant is then being exercised pursuant to Section  3 hereof, multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price in effect as of the Exercise Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

1


Amendment Fee Warrants ” means the penny warrants for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the exchange of the Second Lien Term Loans.

Beginning Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(i) of this Agreement.

Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Stock ” shall mean (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (b) with respect to any other Person, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person and (c) with respect to the Company, the shares of Common Stock.

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

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

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

(c)    the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than, in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, a transaction in which 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) become the beneficial owners directly or indirectly of at least a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction.

Close of Business ” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, and any Capital Stock into which such Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged or reclassified following the date hereof.

Common Stock Deemed Outstanding ” means, at any given time, the sum of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus (b) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time, plus (c) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities actually

 

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outstanding at such time (treating as actually outstanding any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time), in each case, regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time; provided , that Common Stock Deemed Outstanding at any given time shall not include shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

control ” (including the terms “ controlled by ”, “ controlling ” and “ under common control with ”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

Convertible Securities ” means any securities (directly or indirectly) convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

ESAS Warrants ” means the warrants held by ESAS for 80,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any similar or successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any applicable time.

Exchange Term Loan ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof.

Excluded Issuances ” means any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section  4.3 ) by the Company after the Original Issue Date of: (a) shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Warrant, Financing Fee Warrant, Amendment Fee Warrant or ESAS Warrant; (b) shares of Common Stock issued directly or upon the exercise of Options or Convertible Securities to directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Company in connection with their service as directors of the Company, their employment by the Company or their retention as consultants by the Company, in each case pursuant to any plan, agreement or other arrangement authorized by the Board (including all such shares, Options and Convertible Securities outstanding on or prior to the Original Issue Date); or (c) shares of Common Stock issued as “PIK shares” for the payment of interest on the Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loan (the “ PIK Shares ”).

Exercise Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a)(i) of this Agreement.

Exercise Date ” means, for any given exercise of a Warrant, the date on which the conditions to such exercise as set forth in Section  3.3 shall have been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a Business Day, including, without limitation, the receipt by the Company of the Exercise Agreement, the Warrant and the Aggregate Exercise Price.

 

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Exercise Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Exercise Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement, as adjusted pursuant to Section  4 of this Agreement.

Existing Notes ” shall mean the Company’s 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018 and/or 8.5% Senior Notes due 2022.

Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Fairfax ” means Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and any of its Affiliates or subsidiaries.

Fairfax Term Loan ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof.

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any particular date: (a) the volume weighted average of the closing sales prices of the Common Stock for such day on all domestic securities exchanges on which the Common Stock may at the time be listed; (b) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on any such exchange on any such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on all such exchanges at the end of such day; (c) if on any such day the Common Stock is not listed on a domestic securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association for such day; or (d) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association on such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association at the end of such day; in each case, averaged over twenty (20) consecutive Business Days ending on the Business Day immediately prior to the day as of which “Fair Market Value” is being determined; provided , that if the Common Stock is listed on any domestic securities exchange, the term “Business Day” as used in this sentence means Business Days on which such exchange is open for trading. If at any time the Common Stock is not listed on any domestic securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association, the “Fair Market Value” of the Common Stock shall be the fair market value per share as determined jointly by the Board and the Holder.

Financing Warrants ” means the warrants for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the Notes.

Holder ” shall mean any Person who owns a beneficial interest in a Warrant registered in the Warrant Register.

Notes ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Officers ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or any Vice-President of such Person.

 

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Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. The counsel may without limitation be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Options means any warrants or other rights or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

Original Issue Date ” means March     , 2017, the date on which the Warrants were issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

Original Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.1 .

OTC Bulletin Board ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority OTC Bulletin Board electronic inter-dealer quotation system.

Permitted Investors ” means (a) ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c) any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants, (d) Fairfax, (e) any holder of the Notes or lender under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan and (f) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a) , (b) , (c), (d) and (e) of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Issuer that is owned by such group.

Person ” shall include an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust or estate, a government, foreign or domestic, and any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

Pink OTC Markets ” means the OTC Markets Group Inc. electronic inter-dealer quotation system, including OTCQX, OTCQB and OTC Pink.

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.4(b)(i) to be placed on all Warrants issued under this Agreement and all Warrant Shares, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated as of March     , 2017, among the Company and the other parties thereto.

Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Restricted Warrant ” means a Warrant bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Requisite Shareholder Approvals ” shall mean the Company’s receipt of the requisite votes or consents of the holders of its shares of Common Stock, (1) to the issuances of Common Stock represented by the Warrants and the PIK Shares for purposes of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange to the extent the Common Stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange and such approval is required for the issuances of the Warrants and the PIK Shares and (2) with respect to the amendment of the Company’s existing charter to (a) increase its authorized Common Stock or (b) effect a reverse stock split, in each case under applicable Texas law (the “ Charter Amendment Approval ”); provided , that the Company may waive, in its sole discretion, the Charter Amendment Approval.

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

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Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 903 ” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904 ” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

Second Lien Term Loans ” means the Fairfax Term Loan and the Exchange Term Loan.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any similar or successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any applicable time.

Settlement Date ” means, in respect of a Warrant that is exercised hereunder, the third Business Day immediately following the Exercise Date for such Warrant.

Unrestricted Warrant ” means one or more Warrants that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

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.

Warrant Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Warrant Countersignature Order ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c) of this Agreement.

Warrants ” shall mean the warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company issued pursuant to this Agreement and represented by Warrant Certificates, and all warrants issued upon transfer, division or combination of, or in substitution thereof.

Warrant Certificates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  2.1 of this Agreement.

Warrant Register ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.

Warrant Shares ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock or other Capital Stock of the Company then purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.     Issuance of Warrants; Warrant Certificates .

2.1     Form and Dating . The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (each, a “ Warrant Certificate ”). The Warrants may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Warrant shall be dated the date of the countersignature. The terms and provisions contained in the Warrants shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Agreement. The Company and the Warrant Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Agreement, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

 

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2.2     Execution of Warrant Certificates .

(a)    Warrants may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant Certificate shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant Certificate before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

(b)    An Officer shall sign the Warrants on behalf of the Company.

(c)    The Warrant Agent shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (a “ Warrant Countersignature Order ”), countersign any physical certificates for Warrants.

2.3     Warrant Register .

(a)    The Warrant Agent shall maintain a register (the “ Warrant Register ”), for the registration of the original issuance and transfers of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective Holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

2.4     Transfer and Exchange .

(a)     Transfer and Exchange of Warrants . Upon written request by a Holder of Warrants and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.4(a) , the Warrant Agent shall register the transfer or exchange of Warrants. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.4(a) .

(i)     Restricted Warrants to Restricted Warrants . Any Restricted Warrant may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)  thereof;

(B)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)  thereof; or

(C)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver (1) a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications required by item  (3) thereof, if applicable and (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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(ii)     Restricted Warrants to Unrestricted Warrants . Any Restricted Warrant may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Warrant or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    if the Holder of such Restricted Warrants proposes to exchange such Warrants for an Unrestricted Warrant, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto; or

(B)    if the Holder of such Restricted Warrants proposes to transfer such Warrants to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit  C hereto, including the certifications in item (4)  thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (ii) , if the Warrant Agent so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii)     Unrestricted Warrants to Unrestricted Warrants . A Holder of Unrestricted Warrants may transfer such Warrants to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant. Upon receipt of a written request to register such a transfer, the Warrant Agent shall register the Unrestricted Warrants pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(iv)     Certain Intercompany Transfers of Warrants. A Holder of Restricted Warrants that is an entity controlled directly or indirectly by Fairfax may transfer, from time to time, such Warrants to one or more entities controlled directly or indirectly by Fairfax who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit E hereto; and

(B)    prompt written confirmation from the Company in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

Transfers pursuant to this clause (iv)  shall not require a medallion signature guaranty or an opinion of counsel.

(b)     Legends . The following legends shall appear on the face of all Warrants issued under this Agreement and all Warrant Shares unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

(i)     Private Placement Legend .

 

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(A)    Except as permitted by subparagraph (B)  below, each Warrant (and all Warrants issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY AND THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON ITS EXERCISE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON ITS EXERCISE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE EXERCISED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY U.S. PERSON UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Warrant issued pursuant to subparagraphs (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) to this Section  2.4 (and all Warrants issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(C)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of a Warrant shall not bear the Private Placement Legend if, at the time of the exercise of such Warrant, the Warrant Agent shall have received a reasonably satisfactory written Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Warrant Shares delivered upon exercise of the Warrant have been registered under the Securities Act or that the delivery of such Warrant Shares are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(c)     General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall countersign Warrants upon the Company’s written order or at the Warrant Agent’s request.

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

(iii)    All Warrants issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrants shall be the duly authorized, executed and issued warrants for shares of Common Stock of the Company or such other Warrant Shares as may be issuable upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, not subject to any preemptive rights, and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrants surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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(iv)    In connection with the due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Warrant, the Warrant Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Warrant is registered as the absolute owner of such Warrant for all purposes and neither the Warrant Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v)    The Warrant Agent shall countersign any physical certificates for Warrants in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(c) hereof.

(d)     Facsimile or Electronic Submissions to Warrant Agent . All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section  2.4 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile or electronic transmission. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as to any certificates and/or certifications delivered to the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section  2.4 , the Warrant Agent’s duties shall be limited to confirming that any such certifications and certificates delivered to it are in the form of Exhibits C and D hereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for confirming the truth or accuracy of representations made in any such certifications or certificates. As to any Opinions of Counsel delivered pursuant to this Section  2.4 , the Warrant Agent may rely upon, and be fully protected in relying upon, such opinions.

2.5     Replacement Warrants .

If the Warrant Agent receives evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Warrant, the Company shall issue and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of a Warrant Countersignature Order, shall countersign a replacement Warrant of like denomination, tenor and date as the Warrant so mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen if the Warrant Agent’s requirements are met. If required by the Warrant Agent or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the reasonable judgment of the Warrant Agent and the Company to protect the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent for purposes of the countersignature from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Warrant is replaced. The Company may charge for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in replacing a Warrant.

Every replacement Warrant is an additional Warrant of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with all other Warrants duly issued hereunder.

2.6     Temporary Warrants .

Until certificates representing Warrants are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and issue and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of a Warrant Countersignature Order, shall countersign temporary Warrants. Temporary Warrants shall be substantially in the form of certificated Warrants but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Warrants and that shall be reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Warrant Agent shall countersign definitive Warrants in exchange for temporary Warrants.

Holders of temporary Warrants shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Agreement.

2.7     Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Warrants to the Warrant Agent for cancellation with the consent of the registered Holder as evidenced by a medallion guaranteed endorsement. The Warrant Agent and no one else shall cancel all Warrants surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange,

 

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exercise, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy canceled Warrants (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Warrants shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Warrants to replace Warrants that have been exercised or that have been delivered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation.

SECTION 3.     Terms and Exercise of Warrants .

3.1     Exercise Price . Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Holder thereof upon proper exercise during the Exercise Period, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company one (1) Warrant Share at a purchase price per Warrant Share equal to $0.01 (such price being referred to herein as the “ Exercise Price ”).

3.2     Duration of Warrants . Subject to the terms and conditions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, at any time or from time to time commencing on the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are received (the “ Beginning Date ”), and prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Beginning Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (the “ Expiration Date ”), a Warrant may be exercised for all or any part of the Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder (subject to adjustment as provided herein). Such period commencing on the Beginning Date and expiring on the Expiration Date is herein referred to as the “ Exercise Period .” Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the Close of Business on the Expiration Date (or Close of Business on the Settlement Date with respect to any Exercise Agreement delivered prior to the Expiration Date). The Company may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided , however , that the Company shall provide notice of not less than thirty (30) days to Holders of such extension and that such extension shall be identical in duration among all of the then outstanding Warrants.

3.3     Exercise of Warrants .

(a)     Exercise Procedure . Warrants may be exercised from time to time on any Business Day during the Exercise Period, for all or any part of the unexercised Warrant Shares, upon:

(i)    surrender of the Warrant to the Warrant Agent at its then principal executive offices (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to the Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction), together with an Exercise Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (each, an “ Exercise Agreement ”), duly completed (including specifying the number of Warrant Shares to be purchased) and executed; and

(ii)    payment to the Warrant Agent of the Aggregate Exercise Price in accordance with Section 3.3(b) .

(b)     Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price . Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall be made, at the option of the Holder, in their sole and absolute discretion, as expressed in the Exercise Agreement, by the following methods:

(i)    by delivery to the Warrant Agent, on behalf of the Company, of a certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Warrant Agent, in the amount of such Aggregate Exercise Price;

(ii)    by instructing the Company to issue Warrant Shares then issuable upon

 

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exercise of all or any part of such Warrant on a net basis such that, without payment of any cash consideration or other immediately available funds, the Holder shall surrender such Warrant in exchange for the number of Warrant Shares as is computed using the following formula:

X = Y(A-B) ÷ A

Where:

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.

Y = the total number of Warrant Shares for which the Holder has elected to exercise the Warrant pursuant to Section 3.3(a) .

A = the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share as of the applicable Exercise Date.

B = the Exercise Price in effect under the Warrant as of the applicable Exercise Date.

(iii)     any combination of the foregoing;

provided that the Company shall have the right to require cashless exercise pursuant clause (ii)  in the event that the cash exercise of any Warrant pursuant to clause (i)  or (iii) would result, in the reasonable determination of the Company as certified by an Officer of the Company, in the limitation of any net operating loss of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In the event of any withholding of Warrant Shares pursuant to clause (ii)  or (iii) where the number of shares whose value is equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price is not a whole number, the number of shares withheld by the Company shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

(c)     Delivery of Stock Certificates . Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Agreement, surrender of the Warrant and payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price (in accordance with Section  3.3 hereof), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, execute (or cause to be executed) and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder a certificate or certificates (or deliver electronically) representing the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, together with cash in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 3.3(d) hereof. The stock certificate or certificates so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as the exercising Holder shall reasonably request in the Exercise Agreement and shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to compliance with Section  2.4 , such other Person’s name as shall be designated in the Exercise Agreement. The Warrants shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or certificates of Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Shares for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

(d)     Fractional Shares . The Company shall not be required to issue a fractional Warrant Share upon exercise of any Warrant. To the extent an exercise would result in a fractional Warrant Share, the number of Warrant Shares issued upon such exercise will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Warrant Shares.

 

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(e)     Delivery of New Warrant . Unless the purchase rights represented by the Warrant shall have expired or shall have been fully exercised, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares being issued in accordance with Section 3.3(c) hereof, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unexpired and unexercised Warrant Shares called for by such Warrant. Such new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical to the Warrant.

(f)     Valid Issuance . The Company hereby represents, covenants and agrees that:

(i)    Any Warrant issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued.

(ii)    All Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of any Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Warrants shall be, upon issuance, and the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that such Warrant Shares are, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, issued without violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any stockholder of the Company and free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges.

(iii)    The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable law or governmental regulation applicable to the Company or any requirements of any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance).

(iv)    The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Warrant Shares, immediately upon such exercise, to be listed on any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares are listed at the time of such exercise; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to maintain any listing of the shares of Common Stock.

(v)    The Company shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of a Warrant; provided , that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed with respect to any applicable withholding or the issuance or delivery of the Warrant Shares to any Person other than the Holder, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issuance has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

(g)     Conditional Exercise . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if an exercise of any portion of a Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.

 

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(h)     Reservation of Common Stock . During the Exercise Period, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants, the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants, and the par value per Warrant Share shall at all times be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price. The Company shall take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided in this Agreement without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the trading market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company shall not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares receivable upon the exercise of any Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, and shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants.

(i)     Holder s Exercise Limitations . So long as any of the Existing Notes are outstanding, the Company shall not effect any exercise of a Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of a Warrant to the extent that such issuance after exercise would result in, such Holder, any of its Affiliates and any Person subject to aggregation with such Holder or its Affiliates under Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act beneficially owning (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this calculation such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Common Stock or of the Voting Stock or any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent entities (or any of their successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets), immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (such limitation, the “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ”). To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 3.3( i ) applies, the determination of whether a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable shall be made by the Company. Promptly following the submission of a notice of exercise, as set forth in the Warrant Certificate (and in no event more than two (2) Business Days following the receipt thereof), the Company shall notify the Holder in writing of its determination of whether and to what extent a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Such notification shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the Company’s calculation of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

SECTION 4.     Adjustments to Number of Warrant Shares . In order to prevent dilution of the purchase rights granted under this Agreement and the Warrants, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section  4 (in each case, after taking into consideration any prior adjustments pursuant to this Section  4 ).

4.1     Adjustment to Number of Warrants Upon Issuance of Common Stock .

(a)    Except as provided in Section  4.2 and except in the case of an event described in either Section  4.4 or Section  4.5 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or in accordance with  Section 4.3 , is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock without consideration or for consideration per share less than $0.70 (as such amount is proportionately adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and other distributions and recapitalizations affecting the Common Stock after the Original Issue Date, the “ Original Price ”), then immediately upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to any such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) shall be increased to a number of Warrant Shares equal to the product

 

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obtained by multiplying the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) by a fraction (which shall in no event be less than one):

(i)    the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale); and

(ii)    the denominator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) plus (B) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate amount of consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) would purchase at the Original Price.

4.2     Exceptions To Adjustment Upon Issuance of Common Stock . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrant with respect to any Excluded Issuance.

4.3     Effect of Certain Events on Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares . For purposes of determining the adjusted number of warrant shares under Section 4.1 hereof, the following shall be applicable:

(a)     Issuance of Options . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in any manner grant or sell (whether directly or by assumption in a merger or otherwise) any Options, whether or not such Options or the right to convert or exchange any Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options are immediately exercisable, and the price per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and in Section 4.3(e) ) for which Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options is less than the Original Price in effect immediately prior to the time of the granting or sale of such Options, then the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Options or upon conversion or exchange of the total maximum amount of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of granting or sale of such Options (and thereafter shall be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of adjusting the number of Warrant Shares under Section  4.1 ), at a price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the sum (which sum shall constitute the applicable consideration received for purposes of Section 4.3(e) ) of (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of all such Options, plus (y) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration payable to the Company upon the exercise of all such Options, plus (z), in the case of such Options which relate to Convertible Securities, the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the issuance or sale of all such Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities, by (B) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of all Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of all such Options. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(c) , no further adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of Common Stock or of Convertible Securities upon exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such Options.

(b)     Issuance of Convertible Securities . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in any manner grant or sell (whether directly or by assumption in a merger or otherwise) any Convertible Securities, whether or not the right to convert or exchange any

 

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such Convertible Securities is immediately exercisable, and the price per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and in Section 4.3(e) ) for which Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities is less than the Original Price in effect immediately prior to the time of the granting or sale of such Convertible Securities, then the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of the total maximum amount of such Convertible Securities shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of granting or sale of such Convertible Securities (and thereafter shall be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of adjusting the number of Warrant Shares pursuant to Section  4.1 ), at a price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the sum (which sum shall constitute the applicable consideration received for purposes of Section 4.3(e) ) of (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of such Convertible Securities, plus (y) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities, by (B) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(c) , (A) no further adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and (B) no further adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares shall be made by reason of the issue or sale of Convertible Securities upon exercise of any Options to purchase any such Convertible Securities for which adjustments of the number of Warrant Shares have been made pursuant to the other provisions of this Section  4.3 .

(c)     Change in Terms of Options or Convertible Securitie s. Upon any change in any of (A) the total amount received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of any Options or Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) hereof, (B) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the exercise of any Options or upon the issuance, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) hereof, (C) the rate at which Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) hereof are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or (D) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with any Options referred to in Section 4.3(a) hereof or any Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(b) hereof (in each case, other than in connection with an Excluded Issuance), then (whether or not the original issuance or sale of such Options or Convertible Securities resulted in an adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares pursuant to this Section  4.3 ) the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants at the time of such change shall be adjusted or readjusted, as applicable, to the number of Warrant Shares which would have been in effect at such time pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4.3 had such Options or Convertible Securities still outstanding provided for such changed consideration, conversion rate or maximum number of shares, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold, but only if as a result of such adjustment or readjustment, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is increased.

(d)     Treatment of Expired or Terminated Options or Convertible Securities . Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option (or portion thereof) or any unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof) for which any adjustment (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) was made pursuant to this Section  4.3 (including without limitation upon the redemption or purchase for consideration of all or any portion of such Option or Convertible Security by the Company), the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of a Warrant shall forthwith be changed pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4.3 to the number of Warrant Shares which would have been in effect at the time of such expiration or termination had such unexercised Option (or portion thereof) or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof), to the extent outstanding immediately prior to such expiration or termination, never been issued.

 

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(e)     Calculation of Consideration Received . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or is deemed to have issued or sold in accordance with Section  4.3 , any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities: (A) for cash, the consideration received therefor shall be deemed to be the net amount received by the Company therefor; (B) for consideration other than cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash received by the Company shall be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of marketable securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company shall be the market price (as reflected on any securities exchange, quotation system or association or similar pricing system covering such security) for such securities as of the Close of Business on the date of receipt of such securities; (C) for no specifically allocated consideration in connection with an issuance or sale of other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, the amount of the consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the aggregate consideration received by the Company in such transaction as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issued in such transaction; or (D) to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, the amount of consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issued to such owners. The net amount of any cash consideration and the fair value of any consideration other than cash or marketable securities shall be determined in good faith jointly by the Board and the Holder.

(f)     Record Date . For purposes of any adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares in accordance with this Section  4.3 , in case the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

(g)     Treasury Shares . The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the disposition of any such shares (other than the cancellation or retirement thereof or the transfer of such shares among the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries) shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock for the purpose of this Section  4.3 .

(h)     Other Dividends and Distributions . Subject to the provisions of this Section  4.3 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, make or declare, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or any other distribution payable in securities of the Company (other than a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities in respect of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall be subject to Section  4.4 , without duplication), cash or other property, then, and in each such event, provision shall be made so that the Holder shall receive upon exercise of any Warrant, in addition to the number of Warrant Shares receivable thereupon, the kind and amount of securities of the Company, cash or other property which the Holder would have been entitled to receive had the Warrant been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event and had the Holder thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Exercise Date, retained such securities, cash or other property receivable by them as aforesaid during such period, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section  4.3 with respect to the rights of the Holder; provided , that no such provision shall be made if the Holder receives, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such securities, cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such securities, cash or other property as the Holder would have received if such Warrant had been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event.

 

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4.4     Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares Upon Dividend, Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, (i) pay a dividend or make any other distribution upon the Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company payable in shares of Common Stock or in Options or Convertible Securities, or (ii) subdivide (by any stock split, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to any such dividend, distribution or subdivision shall be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section  4.4 shall become effective at the Close of Business on the date the dividend, subdivision or combination becomes effective.

4.5     Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares Upon Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation or Merger . In the event of any (i) capital reorganization of the Company, (ii) reclassification of the stock of the Company (other than a change in par value or from par value to no par value or from no par value to par value or as a result of a stock dividend or subdivision, split-up or combination of shares), (iii) consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another Person, (iv) sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another Person or (v) other similar transaction (other than any such transaction covered by Section  4.4 ), in each case which entitles the holders of Common Stock to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, each Warrant shall, immediately after such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, remain outstanding and shall thereafter, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the number of Warrant Shares then exercisable under this Agreement, be exercisable for the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets of the Company or of the successor Person resulting from such transaction to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction if the Holder had exercised the Warrants in full immediately prior to the time of such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction and acquired the applicable number of Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder as a result of such exercise (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of the Warrants); and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder) shall be made with respect to the Holder’s rights under this Agreement to insure that the provisions of this Section  4.5 hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as possible, to this Agreement in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter acquirable upon exercise of a Warrant. The provisions of this Section  4.5 shall similarly apply to successive reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, sales or similar transactions. The Company shall not effect any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction unless, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor Person (if other than the Company) resulting from such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, shall assume, by written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Agreement and satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, the obligation to deliver to the Holders such shares of stock, securities or assets which, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such Holder shall be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any corporate event or other transaction contemplated by the provisions of this Section  4.5 , the Holder shall have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such event or transaction, to give effect to the exercise rights contained in Section  3 instead of giving effect to the provisions contained in this Section  4.5 with respect to any Warrants.

 

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4.6     Certain Events . If any event of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section  4 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features but excluding any Excluded Issuance) occurs, then the Board shall make an appropriate adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants so as to protect the rights of the Holders in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Section  4 ; provided , that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section  4.6 shall decrease the number of Warrant Shares issuable as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section  4 .

4.7     Certificate as to Adjustment .

(a)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following any adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4 , but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to Holders a certificate of an Officer setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated and describing the number and kind of any other securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants after giving effect to such adjustment or change.

(b)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following the receipt by the Company of a written request by any Holder, but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to such Holder a certificate of an Officer certifying the number of Warrant Shares or the amount, if any, of other shares of stock, securities or assets then issuable upon exercise of a Warrant.

4.8     Notice of Certain Events .

Subject to the Company’s compliance with applicable law, including Regulation FD under the Securities Act, in each case, if the Company proposes at any time:

(iii)    to take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, to vote at a meeting (or by written consent), to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security;

(iv)    any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or the conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, or of any reclassification or change of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, or a tender offer or exchange offer by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to acquire Common Stock;

(v)    the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

(vi)    to take any action that would require an adjustment of the exercise price of the Warrants; or

(vii)    any Change of Control,

 

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then, and in each such case, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to each Holder at its address as set forth in the Warrant Register, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the applicable record date or the applicable expected effective date, as the case may be, for the event, a written notice specifying, as the case may be, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action, and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent, or (B) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company shall close or a record shall be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Warrants and the Warrant Shares; provided , that, the Holder agrees to keep any information included in such notice confidential until the time at which the Company abandons such corporate event (in which case the Company shall provide prompt written notice thereof) or such corporate event becomes public, except that such Holder shall be permitted to disclose such information (i) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or compulsory legal process, (ii) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority) having or purporting to have jurisdiction over such Holder or any of its affiliates, (iii) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by such Holder in violation of any confidentiality obligations owing to the Company, (iv) to the extent that such information is or was received by such Holder on a non-confidential basis from a third party that is not, to such Holder’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations owing to the Company, (v) to such Holder’s affiliates and such Holder’s and such affiliates’ advisors, officers, directors, employees, legal counsel, auditors and agents, in each case who are informed of the confidential nature of such information and (vi) to the extent the Company has consented to such disclosure in writing.

4.9     Form of Warrant . The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section  4 , and Warrant Certificates issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrant initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. However, the Company may, at any time, in its sole discretion, make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant Certificates thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant Certificate or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

4.10     No Rights as Stockholder . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein (including Section 4.3(h) ), prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of a Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Agreement be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. In addition, nothing contained in this Agreement or the Warrants shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of a Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section  4.10 , the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

 

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4.11     No Impairment . The Company shall not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed by it under any Warrant or hereunder, but shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Agreement and the Warrants and in the taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by any Holder in order to protect the exercise rights of the Holders against dilution or other impairment, consistent with the tenor and purpose of this Agreement and the Warrants.

4.12     Registration of Common Stock . The Company agrees that, within one hundred eighty (180) days of the Original Issue Date (or, if the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have not been obtained by such date, within thirty (30) days of the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have been obtained), it shall file with the SEC a resale registration statement, for the registration under the Securities Act of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the same to become effective on or prior to the commencement of the Exercise Period and to use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions and subject to the exceptions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be subject to any penalties if a registration statement is not effective or a current prospectus is not on file with the SEC at the time of exercise by any Holder. In addition, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register such securities under the blue sky laws of the states of residence of the exercising Holders to the extent an exemption under the Securities Act is not available for the exercise of the Warrants.

SECTION 5.     Purchase Rights . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section  4 , if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any shares of Common Stock, Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of Common Stock (the “ Purchase Rights ”), then the Holder shall be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder would have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Warrant Shares acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) the Holder shall not be entitled to the Purchase Rights granted herein with respect to any Excluded Issuance and (b) no Purchase Rights shall be exercisable by the Holder to the extent the that the acquisition by the Holder would cause the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to be exceeded.

SECTION 6.     Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters .

6.2     The Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent:

(a)    shall have no duties or obligations other than those expressly set forth herein and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied;

(b)    may rely on and shall be held harmless and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram or other document, or any security delivered to it, and believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties, or upon any written or oral instructions or statements from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Warrant Agent hereunder;

 

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(c)    may consult with counsel satisfactory to it (including counsel for the Company) and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with such advice or opinion of such counsel;

(d)    shall be held harmless by the Company and any other person in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Warrant Agent hereunder in accordance with any determination as to whether or not a Warrant received by the Warrant Agent is duly, completely and correctly executed;

(e)    shall not be obligated to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that it believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability or to a risk of incurring expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with assurances of repayment or indemnity satisfactory to it;

(f)    shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed pursuant to Section  4.12 or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law;

(g)    and its officers, directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, any Warrant, with the same rights that it or they would have were it not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as a depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrants, or other securities or obligations of the Company, as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as trustee under an indenture;

(h)    shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement;

(i)    shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Warrants;

(j)    may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact, and the Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any loss or expense arising out of, or in connection with, the actions or omissions to act of its agents or attorneys-in-fact, so long as the Warrant Agent acts without gross negligence or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in connection with the selection of such agents or attorneys-in-fact; and

(k)    shall act hereunder solely as agent for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the provisions hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in connection with this Agreement except for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as each is determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment made by it, unless it shall be proved that the Warrant Agent was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

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6.3     Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent .

(a)     Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent . The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving thirty (30) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint, in writing, a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by any Holder (who shall, with such notice, submit any Warrant held by such Holder for inspection by the Company), then such Holder may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and be authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but, if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and, upon request of any successor Warrant Agent, the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations.

(b)     Notice of Successor Warrant Agent . In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

(c)     Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent . Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act on the part of the Company or the Warrant Agent.

6.4     Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent . The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration in an amount separately agreed to between Company and Warrant Agent for its services as Warrant Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the preparation, delivery, administration, execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Warrant Agent fees, including postage and any out-of-pocket and/or per item fees incurred by the Warrant Agent, shall be paid in accordance with the payment terms and instructions set forth on each invoice provided to the Company by the Warrant Agent. It is understood and agreed that all services to be performed by Warrant Agent shall cease if full payment for its services has not been received in accordance with such payment terms and conditions, and said services will not commence thereafter until all payment due has been received by Warrant Agent.

6.5     Further Assurances . The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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6.6     Liability of Warrant Agent .

(a)     Reliance on Company Statement . Whenever, in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by an Officer of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. Such certificate will be full authorization to the Warrant Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon such certificate, and the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any such action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with any such instructions or pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

(b)     Indemnity . The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and hold it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

(c)     Disputes . In the event any question or dispute arises with respect to the proper interpretation of this Agreement or the Warrant Agent’s duties hereunder or the rights of the Company or of any Holder, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to act and shall not be held liable or responsible for refusing to act until the question or dispute has been judicially settled (and the Warrant Agent may, if it deems it advisable, but shall not be obligated to, file a suit in interpleader or for a declaratory judgment for such purpose) by final judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, binding on all parties interested in the matter which is no longer subject to review or appeal, or settled by a written document in form and substance satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and executed by the Company and each other interested party. In addition, the Warrant Agent may require for such purpose, but shall not be obligated to require, the execution of such written settlement by all Holders and all other parties that may have an interest in the settlement.

(d)     Exclusions . The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible or have any duty to make any calculation or adjustment, or to determine when any calculation or adjustment required under the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to Section  4 hereof, should be made or have any responsibility or liability for the manner, method or amount of any such calculation or adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such calculation or adjustment, including but not limited to any calculation or determination of “fair market value” and any calculation or determination made in connection with an exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis;” nor shall it, by any act hereunder, be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

6.7     Acceptance of Agency . The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and, among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.

 

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SECTION 7.     Miscellaneous .

7.1     Notices . Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by any Holder to or on the Company shall be delivered by hand or sent by registered or certified mail or overnight courier service, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent) as follows:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, Texas 75251

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (972) 699-5180

With a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Justin Hoffman

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

Email: Justin.Hoffman@Kirkland.com

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by any Holder or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be delivered by hand or sent by registered or certified mail or overnight courier service, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10007

Attn: Compliance Department

Any notice, sent pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective, if delivered by hand, upon receipt thereof by the party to whom it is addressed, if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day of the delivery to the courier, and if sent by registered or certified mail on the third day after registration or certification thereof.

7.2     Amendment . This Agreement and any Warrant Certificate may be amended by the parties hereto by executing a supplemental warrant agreement, without the consent of any of the Holders, for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein, or making any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or the Warrants, (ii) evidencing the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained in this Agreement and the Warrants, (iii) evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Warrant Agent with respect to the Warrants, (iv) adding to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrendering any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Agreement, or (viii) amending this Agreement and the Warrants in any manner that the Company may deem to be necessary or desirable and that will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect. All other modifications or amendments to this Agreement, including any amendment to increase the Exercise Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may extend the duration of the Exercise Period in accordance with Section  3.2 without such consent.

 

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7.3     Successors and Assigns . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

7.4     Examination of the Warrant Agreement . A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose for inspection by the Holder of any Warrant. Prior to such inspection, the Warrant Agent may require any such Holder to submit any Warrants held by such Holder for inspection by it.

7.5     Headings . The descriptive headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

7.6     Governing Law; Jurisdiction . The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against either of them arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Warrant Agent may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section  6.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party receiving such service in any action, proceeding or claim.

7.7     Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE WARRANT AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR A WARRANT.

7.8     Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law, or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either party hereto. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

7.9     Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

7.10     Persons Having Rights under this Agreement . Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Holders. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Holders.

 

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7.11     Termination . This Agreement shall terminate at the Expiration Date (or Close of Business on the Settlement Date with respect to any Exercise Agreement delivered prior to the Expiration Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement will terminate on such earlier date on which all outstanding Warrants have been exercised. All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability and limits thereon shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

7.12     Force Majeure . In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, failure of carrier or utilities, equipment or transmission failure or damage that is reasonably beyond its control, or any other cause that is reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes. Performance under this Agreement shall resume when the affected party or parties are able to perform substantially that party’s duties; provided , that in no event shall this provision relieve the Company of its indemnification obligations hereunder.

7.13     Interpretation and Rules of Construction . In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(a)    when a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference is to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(b)    whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(c)    the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(d)    the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms; and

(e)    references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns.

7.14     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or electronic communication) in two or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement

[Signature pages follow]

 

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

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,

as Warrant Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.8

 

 

 

FORM OF AMENDMENT FEE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated as of March     , 2017

by and between

EXCO Resources, Inc.

and

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,

as Warrant Agent

 

 

 


FORM OF AMENDMENT FEE WARRANT AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT FEE WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of March     , 2017 by and between EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”).

WHEREAS, the Company and its subsidiaries are (i) amending that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (the “ TL Credit Agreement ”), among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral trustee thereunder, and (ii) refinancing (a) all of the indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (the “ FFH Credit Agreement ”), among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as administrative agent thereunder, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee thereunder and (b) all or a portion of the indebtedness under the TL Credit Agreement, in each case, pursuant to the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, to be dated on or about the Closing Date (the “ 1.75 Lien Term Loan ”);

WHEREAS, as part of the refinancing of the FFH Credit Agreement and the TL Credit Agreement, the Company has agreed to issue 19,883,077 Warrants (as defined herein) the to the Holders (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form, terms and provisions of the Warrants, including the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1.     Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

1.5 Lien Notes ” shall mean the Company’s 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022.

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

Aggregate Exercise Price ” shall mean an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which a Warrant is then being exercised pursuant to Section  3 hereof, multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price in effect as of the Exercise Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Beginning Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(i) of this Agreement.

Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Stock ” shall mean (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (b) with respect to any other Person, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person and (c) with respect to the Company, the shares of Common Stock.

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

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

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

(c)    the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company (determined on a consolidated basis) to another Person other than, in the case of a merger or consolidation transaction, a transaction in which 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) become the beneficial owners directly or indirectly of at least a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation transaction immediately after such transaction.

Close of Business ” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Commitment Fee Warrants ” means the penny warrants for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the backstop commitment fee for the 1.5 Lien Notes.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, and any Capital Stock into which such Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged or reclassified following the date hereof.

 

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Common Stock Deemed Outstanding ” means, at any given time, the sum of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus (b) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time, plus (c) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities actually outstanding at such time (treating as actually outstanding any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time), in each case, regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time; provided , that Common Stock Deemed Outstanding at any given time shall not include shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

control ” (including the terms “ controlled by ”, “ controlling ” and “ under common control with ”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

Convertible Securities ” means any securities (directly or indirectly) convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

ESAS Warrants ” means the warrants held by ESAS for 80,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any similar or successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any applicable time.

Excluded Issuances ” means any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section  4.3 ) by the Company after the Original Issue Date of: (a) shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Warrant, Financing Fee Warrant, Commitment Fee Warrant or ESAS Warrant; (b) shares of Common Stock issued directly or upon the exercise of Options or Convertible Securities to directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Company in connection with their service as directors of the Company, their employment by the Company or their retention as consultants by the Company, in each case pursuant to any plan, agreement or other arrangement authorized by the Board (including all such shares, Options and Convertible Securities outstanding on or prior to the Original Issue Date); or (c) shares of Common Stock issued as “PIK shares” for the payment of interest on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loan (the “ PIK Shares ”).

Exercise Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a)(i) of this Agreement.

Exercise Date ” means, for any given exercise of a Warrant, the date on which the conditions to such exercise as set forth in Section  3.3 shall have been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a Business Day, including, without limitation, the receipt by the Company of the Exercise Agreement, the Warrant and the Aggregate Exercise Price.

Exercise Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

 

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Exercise Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement, as adjusted pursuant to Section  4 of this Agreement.

Existing Notes ” shall mean the Company’s 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018 and/or 8.5% Senior Notes due 2022.

Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3.2 of this Agreement.

Fairfax ” means Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and any of its Affiliates or subsidiaries.

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any particular date: (a) the volume weighted average of the closing sales prices of the Common Stock for such day on all domestic securities exchanges on which the Common Stock may at the time be listed; (b) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on any such exchange on any such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on all such exchanges at the end of such day; (c) if on any such day the Common Stock is not listed on a domestic securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association for such day; or (d) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association on such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association at the end of such day; in each case, averaged over twenty (20) consecutive Business Days ending on the Business Day immediately prior to the day as of which “Fair Market Value” is being determined; provided , that if the Common Stock is listed on any domestic securities exchange, the term “Business Day” as used in this sentence means Business Days on which such exchange is open for trading. If at any time the Common Stock is not listed on any domestic securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink OTC Markets or similar quotation system or association, the “Fair Market Value” of the Common Stock shall be the fair market value per share as determined jointly by the Board and the Holder.

Financing Warrants ” means the warrants for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the 1.5 Lien Notes.

Holder ” shall mean any Person who owns a beneficial interest in a Warrant registered in the Warrant Register.

NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Officers ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or any Vice-President of such Person.

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. The counsel may without limitation be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Options means any warrants or other rights or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

Original Issue Date ” means March     , 2017, the date on which the Warrants were issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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Original Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.1 .

OTC Bulletin Board ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority OTC Bulletin Board electronic inter-dealer quotation system.

Permitted Investors ” means (a) ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c) any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants, (d) Fairfax, (e) any holder of 1.5 Lien Notes or lender under the 1.75 Lien Term Loan and (f) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a) , (b) , (c), (d) and (e) of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Issuer that is owned by such group.

Person ” shall include an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust or estate, a government, foreign or domestic, and any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

Pink OTC Markets ” means the OTC Markets Group Inc. electronic inter-dealer quotation system, including OTCQX, OTCQB and OTC Pink.

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.4(b)(i) to be placed on all Warrants issued under this Agreement and all Warrant Shares, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated as of March     , 2017, among the Company and the other parties thereto.

Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Restricted Warrant ” means a Warrant bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Requisite Shareholder Approvals ” shall mean the Company’s receipt of the requisite votes or consents of the holders of its shares of Common Stock, (1) to the issuances of Common Stock represented by the Warrants and the PIK Shares for purposes of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange to the extent the Common Stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange and such approval is required for the issuances of the Warrants and the PIK Shares and (2) with respect to the amendment of the Company’s existing charter to (a) increase its authorized Common Stock or (b) effect a reverse stock split, in each case under applicable Texas law (the “ Charter Amendment Approval ”); provided , that the Company may waive, in its sole discretion, the Charter Amendment Approval.

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 903 ” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904 ” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

 

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Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any similar or successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at any applicable time.

Settlement Date ” means, in respect of a Warrant that is exercised hereunder, the third Business Day immediately following the Exercise Date for such Warrant.

Unrestricted Warrant ” means one or more Warrants that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

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.

Warrant Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Warrant Countersignature Order ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c) of this Agreement.

Warrants ” shall mean the warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company issued pursuant to this Agreement and represented by Warrant Certificates, and all warrants issued upon transfer, division or combination of, or in substitution thereof.

Warrant Certificates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  2.1 of this Agreement.

Warrant Register ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.

Warrant Shares ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock or other Capital Stock of the Company then purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.     Issuance of Warrants; Warrant Certificates .

2.1 Form and Dating . The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (each, a “ Warrant Certificate ”). The Warrants may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Warrant shall be dated the date of the countersignature. The terms and provisions contained in the Warrants shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Agreement. The Company and the Warrant Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Agreement, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

2.2     Execution of Warrant Certificates .

(a)    Warrants may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant Certificate shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant Certificate before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

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(b)    An Officer shall sign the Warrants on behalf of the Company.

(c)    The Warrant Agent shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (a “ Warrant Countersignature Order ”), countersign any physical certificates for Warrants.

2.3     Warrant Register .

(a)    The Warrant Agent shall maintain a register (the “ Warrant Register ”), for the registration of the original issuance and transfers of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective Holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

2.4     Transfer and Exchange .

(a)     Transfer and Exchange of Warrants . Upon written request by a Holder of Warrants and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.4(a) , the Warrant Agent shall register the transfer or exchange of Warrants. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.4(a) .

(i)     Restricted Warrants to Restricted Warrants . Any Restricted Warrant may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)  thereof;

(B)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)  thereof; or

(C)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver (1) a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications required by item  (3) thereof, if applicable and (2) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

(ii)     Restricted Warrants to Unrestricted Warrants . Any Restricted Warrant may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Warrant or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    if the Holder of such Restricted Warrants proposes to exchange such Warrants for an Unrestricted Warrant, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D hereto; or

 

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(B)    if the Holder of such Restricted Warrants proposes to transfer such Warrants to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit  C hereto, including the certifications in item (4)  thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (ii) , if the Warrant Agent so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii)     Unrestricted Warrants to Unrestricted Warrants . A Holder of Unrestricted Warrants may transfer such Warrants to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Warrant. Upon receipt of a written request to register such a transfer, the Warrant Agent shall register the Unrestricted Warrants pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(iv)     Certain Intercompany Transfers of Warrants. A Holder of Restricted Warrants that is an entity controlled directly or indirectly by Fairfax may transfer, from time to time, such Warrants to one or more entities controlled directly or indirectly by Fairfax who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Warrant if the Warrant Agent receives the following:

(A)    a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit E hereto; and

(B)    prompt written confirmation from the Company in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

Transfers pursuant to this clause (iv)  shall not require a medallion signature guaranty or an opinion of counsel.

(b)     Legends . The following legends shall appear on the face of all Warrants issued under this Agreement and all Warrant Shares unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

(i)     Private Placement Legend .

(A)    Except as permitted by subparagraph (B)  below, each Warrant (and all Warrants issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY AND THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON ITS EXERCISE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED

 

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UPON ITS EXERCISE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE EXERCISED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY U.S. PERSON UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Warrant issued pursuant to subparagraphs (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) to this Section  2.4 (and all Warrants issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(C)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of a Warrant shall not bear the Private Placement Legend if, at the time of the exercise of such Warrant, the Warrant Agent shall have received a reasonably satisfactory written Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Warrant Shares delivered upon exercise of the Warrant have been registered under the Securities Act or that the delivery of such Warrant Shares are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(c)     General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall countersign Warrants upon the Company’s written order or at the Warrant Agent’s request.

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

(iii)    All Warrants issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrants shall be the duly authorized, executed and issued warrants for shares of Common Stock of the Company or such other Warrant Shares as may be issuable upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, not subject to any preemptive rights, and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrants surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(iv)    In connection with the due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Warrant, the Warrant Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Warrant is registered as the absolute owner of such Warrant for all purposes and neither the Warrant Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v)    The Warrant Agent shall countersign any physical certificates for Warrants in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(c) hereof.

 

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(d)     Facsimile or Electronic Submissions to Warrant Agent . All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section  2.4 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile or electronic transmission. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as to any certificates and/or certifications delivered to the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section  2.4 , the Warrant Agent’s duties shall be limited to confirming that any such certifications and certificates delivered to it are in the form of Exhibits C and D hereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for confirming the truth or accuracy of representations made in any such certifications or certificates. As to any Opinions of Counsel delivered pursuant to this Section  2.4 , the Warrant Agent may rely upon, and be fully protected in relying upon, such opinions.

2.5     Replacement Warrants .

If the Warrant Agent receives evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Warrant, the Company shall issue and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of a Warrant Countersignature Order, shall countersign a replacement Warrant of like denomination, tenor and date as the Warrant so mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen if the Warrant Agent’s requirements are met. If required by the Warrant Agent or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the reasonable judgment of the Warrant Agent and the Company to protect the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent for purposes of the countersignature from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Warrant is replaced. The Company may charge for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in replacing a Warrant.

Every replacement Warrant is an additional Warrant of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with all other Warrants duly issued hereunder.

2.6     Temporary Warrants .

Until certificates representing Warrants are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and issue and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of a Warrant Countersignature Order, shall countersign temporary Warrants. Temporary Warrants shall be substantially in the form of certificated Warrants but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Warrants and that shall be reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Warrant Agent shall countersign definitive Warrants in exchange for temporary Warrants.

Holders of temporary Warrants shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Agreement.

2.7     Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Warrants to the Warrant Agent for cancellation with the consent of the registered Holder as evidenced by a medallion guaranteed endorsement. The Warrant Agent and no one else shall cancel all Warrants surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, exercise, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy canceled Warrants (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Warrants shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Warrants to replace Warrants that have been exercised or that have been delivered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation.

 

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SECTION 3.     Terms and Exercise of Warrants .

3.1 Exercise Price . Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Holder thereof upon proper exercise during the Exercise Period, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company one (1) Warrant Share at a purchase price per Warrant Share equal to $0.01 (such price being referred to herein as the “ Exercise Price ”).

3.2     Duration of Warrants . Subject to the terms and conditions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, at any time or from time to time commencing on the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals are received (the “ Beginning Date ”), and prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Beginning Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (the “ Expiration Date ”), a Warrant may be exercised for all or any part of the Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder (subject to adjustment as provided herein). Such period commencing on the Beginning Date and expiring on the Expiration Date is herein referred to as the “ Exercise Period .” Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the Close of Business on the Expiration Date (or Close of Business on the Settlement Date with respect to any Exercise Agreement delivered prior to the Expiration Date). The Company may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided , however , that the Company shall provide notice of not less than thirty (30) days to Holders of such extension and that such extension shall be identical in duration among all of the then outstanding Warrants.

3.3     Exercise of Warrants .

(a)     Exercise Procedure . Warrants may be exercised from time to time on any Business Day during the Exercise Period, for all or any part of the unexercised Warrant Shares, upon:

(i)    surrender of the Warrant to the Warrant Agent at its then principal executive offices (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to the Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction), together with an Exercise Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (each, an “ Exercise Agreement ”), duly completed (including specifying the number of Warrant Shares to be purchased) and executed; and

(ii)    payment to the Warrant Agent of the Aggregate Exercise Price in accordance with Section 3.3(b) .

(b)     Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price . Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall be made, at the option of the Holder, in their sole and absolute discretion, as expressed in the Exercise Agreement, by the following methods:

(i)    by delivery to the Warrant Agent, on behalf of the Company, of a certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Warrant Agent, in the amount of such Aggregate Exercise Price;

(ii)    by instructing the Company to issue Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of all or any part of such Warrant on a net basis such that, without payment of any cash consideration or other immediately available funds, the Holder shall surrender such Warrant in exchange for the number of Warrant Shares as is computed using the following formula:

X = Y(A-B) ÷ A

 

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Where:

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.

Y = the total number of Warrant Shares for which the Holder has elected to exercise the Warrant pursuant to Section 3.3(a) .

A = the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share as of the applicable Exercise Date.

B = the Exercise Price in effect under the Warrant as of the applicable Exercise Date.

(iii)     any combination of the foregoing;

provided that the Company shall have the right to require cashless exercise pursuant clause (ii)  in the event that the cash exercise of any Warrant pursuant to clause (i)  or (iii) would result, in the reasonable determination of the Company as certified by an Officer of the Company, in the limitation of any net operating loss of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In the event of any withholding of Warrant Shares pursuant to clause (ii)  or (iii) where the number of shares whose value is equal to the Aggregate Exercise Price is not a whole number, the number of shares withheld by the Company shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

(c)     Delivery of Stock Certificates . Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Agreement, surrender of the Warrant and payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price (in accordance with Section  3.3 hereof), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, execute (or cause to be executed) and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder a certificate or certificates (or deliver electronically) representing the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, together with cash in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 3.3(d) hereof. The stock certificate or certificates so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as the exercising Holder shall reasonably request in the Exercise Agreement and shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to compliance with Section  2.4 , such other Person’s name as shall be designated in the Exercise Agreement. The Warrants shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or certificates of Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Shares for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

(d)     Fractional Shares . The Company shall not be required to issue a fractional Warrant Share upon exercise of any Warrant. To the extent an exercise would result in a fractional Warrant Share, the number of Warrant Shares issued upon such exercise will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Warrant Shares.

(e)     Delivery of New Warrant . Unless the purchase rights represented by the Warrant shall have expired or shall have been fully exercised, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares being issued in accordance with Section 3.3(c) hereof, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unexpired and unexercised Warrant Shares called for by such Warrant. Such new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical to the Warrant.

 

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(f)     Valid Issuance . The Company hereby represents, covenants and agrees that:

(i)    Any Warrant issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued.

(ii)    All Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of any Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Warrants shall be, upon issuance, and the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that such Warrant Shares are, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, issued without violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any stockholder of the Company and free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges.

(iii)    The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable law or governmental regulation applicable to the Company or any requirements of any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance).

(iv)    The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Warrant Shares, immediately upon such exercise, to be listed on any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares are listed at the time of such exercise; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to maintain any listing of the shares of Common Stock.

(v)    The Company shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of a Warrant; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed with respect to any applicable withholding or the issuance or delivery of the Warrant Shares to any Person other than the Holder, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issuance has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

(g)     Conditional Exercise . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if an exercise of any portion of a Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.

(h)     Reservation of Common Stock . During the Exercise Period, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants, the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants, and the par value per Warrant Share shall at all times be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price. The Company shall take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided in this Agreement without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the trading market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company shall not increase the

 

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par value of any Warrant Shares receivable upon the exercise of any Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, and shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants.

(i)     Holder s Exercise Limitations . So long as any of the Existing Notes are outstanding, the Company shall not effect any exercise of a Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of a Warrant to the extent that such issuance after exercise would result in, such Holder, any of its Affiliates and any Person subject to aggregation with such Holder or its Affiliates under Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act beneficially owning (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this calculation such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Common Stock or of the Voting Stock or any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent entities (or any of their successors by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets), immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (such limitation, the “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ”). To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 3.3( i ) applies, the determination of whether a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable shall be made by the Company. Promptly following the submission of a notice of exercise, as set forth in the Warrant Certificate (and in no event more than two (2) Business Days following the receipt thereof), the Company shall notify the Holder in writing of its determination of whether and to what extent a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Such notification shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the Company’s calculation of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

SECTION 4.     Adjustments to Number of Warrant Shares . In order to prevent dilution of the purchase rights granted under this Agreement and the Warrants, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section  4 (in each case, after taking into consideration any prior adjustments pursuant to this Section  4 ).

4.1     Adjustment to Number of Warrants Upon Issuance of Common Stock .

(a)    Except as provided in Section  4.2 and except in the case of an event described in either Section  4.4 or Section  4.5 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or in accordance with  Section 4.3 , is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock without consideration or for consideration per share less than $0.70 (as such amount is proportionately adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and other distributions and recapitalizations affecting the Common Stock after the Original Issue Date, the “ Original Price ”), then immediately upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale), the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to any such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) shall be increased to a number of Warrant Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) by a fraction (which shall in no event be less than one):

(i)    the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale); and

 

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(ii)    the denominator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) plus (B) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate amount of consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) would purchase at the Original Price.

4.2     Exceptions To Adjustment Upon Issuance of Common Stock . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrant with respect to any Excluded Issuance.

4.3     Effect of Certain Events on Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares . For purposes of determining the adjusted number of warrant shares under Section  4.1 hereof, the following shall be applicable:

(a)     Issuance of Options . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in any manner grant or sell (whether directly or by assumption in a merger or otherwise) any Options, whether or not such Options or the right to convert or exchange any Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options are immediately exercisable, and the price per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and in Section 4.3(e) ) for which Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options is less than the Original Price in effect immediately prior to the time of the granting or sale of such Options, then the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Options or upon conversion or exchange of the total maximum amount of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of granting or sale of such Options (and thereafter shall be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of adjusting the number of Warrant Shares under Section  4.1 ), at a price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the sum (which sum shall constitute the applicable consideration received for purposes of Section 4.3(e) ) of (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of all such Options, plus (y) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration payable to the Company upon the exercise of all such Options, plus (z), in the case of such Options which relate to Convertible Securities, the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the issuance or sale of all such Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities, by (B) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of all Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of all such Options. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(c) , no further adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of Common Stock or of Convertible Securities upon exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such Options.

(b)     Issuance of Convertible Securities . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in any manner grant or sell (whether directly or by assumption in a merger or otherwise) any Convertible Securities, whether or not the right to convert or exchange any such Convertible Securities is immediately exercisable, and the price per share (determined as provided in this paragraph and in Section 4.3(e) ) for which Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities is less than the Original Price in effect immediately prior to the time of the granting or sale of such Convertible Securities, then the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of the total maximum amount of such Convertible Securities shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of granting or sale of such Convertible Securities (and thereafter shall be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of adjusting the number of Warrant Shares pursuant to Section  4.1 ), at a price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing

 

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(A) the sum (which sum shall constitute the applicable consideration received for purposes of Section 4.3(e) ) of (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of such Convertible Securities, plus (y) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities, by (B) the total maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(c) , (A) no further adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and (B) no further adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares shall be made by reason of the issue or sale of Convertible Securities upon exercise of any Options to purchase any such Convertible Securities for which adjustments of the number of Warrant Shares have been made pursuant to the other provisions of this Section  4.3 .

(c)     Change in Terms of Options or Convertible Securitie s. Upon any change in any of (A) the total amount received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the granting or sale of any Options or Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) hereof, (B) the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the exercise of any Options or upon the issuance, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) hereof, (C) the rate at which Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) hereof are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or (D) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with any Options referred to in Section 4.3(a) hereof or any Convertible Securities referred to in Section 4.3(b) hereof (in each case, other than in connection with an Excluded Issuance), then (whether or not the original issuance or sale of such Options or Convertible Securities resulted in an adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares pursuant to this Section  4.3 ) the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants at the time of such change shall be adjusted or readjusted, as applicable, to the number of Warrant Shares which would have been in effect at such time pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4.3 had such Options or Convertible Securities still outstanding provided for such changed consideration, conversion rate or maximum number of shares, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold, but only if as a result of such adjustment or readjustment, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is increased.

(d)     Treatment of Expired or Terminated Options or Convertible Securities . Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option (or portion thereof) or any unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof) for which any adjustment (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) was made pursuant to this Section  4.3 (including without limitation upon the redemption or purchase for consideration of all or any portion of such Option or Convertible Security by the Company), the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of a Warrant shall forthwith be changed pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4.3 to the number of Warrant Shares which would have been in effect at the time of such expiration or termination had such unexercised Option (or portion thereof) or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof), to the extent outstanding immediately prior to such expiration or termination, never been issued.

(e)     Calculation of Consideration Received . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, issue or sell, or is deemed to have issued or sold in accordance with Section  4.3 , any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities: (A) for cash, the consideration received therefor shall be deemed to be the net amount received by the Company therefor; (B) for consideration other than cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash received by the Company shall be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of marketable securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company shall be the market price (as reflected on any securities exchange, quotation system or association or similar pricing system covering such security) for such securities as of the Close of Business on the date of receipt of

 

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such securities; (C) for no specifically allocated consideration in connection with an issuance or sale of other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, the amount of the consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the aggregate consideration received by the Company in such transaction as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issued in such transaction; or (D) to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, the amount of consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be, issued to such owners. The net amount of any cash consideration and the fair value of any consideration other than cash or marketable securities shall be determined in good faith jointly by the Board and the Holder.

(f)     Record Date . For purposes of any adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares in accordance with this Section  4.3 , in case the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

(g)     Treasury Shares . The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the disposition of any such shares (other than the cancellation or retirement thereof or the transfer of such shares among the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries) shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock for the purpose of this Section  4.3 .

(h)     Other Dividends and Distributions . Subject to the provisions of this Section  4.3 , if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, make or declare, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or any other distribution payable in securities of the Company (other than a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities in respect of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which shall be subject to Section  4.4 , without duplication), cash or other property, then, and in each such event, provision shall be made so that the Holder shall receive upon exercise of any Warrant, in addition to the number of Warrant Shares receivable thereupon, the kind and amount of securities of the Company, cash or other property which the Holder would have been entitled to receive had the Warrant been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event and had the Holder thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Exercise Date, retained such securities, cash or other property receivable by them as aforesaid during such period, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section  4.3 with respect to the rights of the Holder; provided , that no such provision shall be made if the Holder receives, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such securities, cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such securities, cash or other property as the Holder would have received if such Warrant had been exercised in full into Warrant Shares on the date of such event.

4.4     Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares Upon Dividend, Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock . If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, (i) pay a dividend or make any other distribution upon the Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company payable in shares of Common Stock or in Options or Convertible Securities, or (ii) subdivide (by any stock split, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the

 

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Warrants immediately prior to any such dividend, distribution or subdivision shall be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section  4.4 shall become effective at the Close of Business on the date the dividend, subdivision or combination becomes effective.

4.5     Adjustment to Number of Warrant Shares Upon Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation or Merger . In the event of any (i) capital reorganization of the Company, (ii) reclassification of the stock of the Company (other than a change in par value or from par value to no par value or from no par value to par value or as a result of a stock dividend or subdivision, split-up or combination of shares), (iii) consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another Person, (iv) sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another Person or (v) other similar transaction (other than any such transaction covered by Section  4.4 ), in each case which entitles the holders of Common Stock to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, each Warrant shall, immediately after such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, remain outstanding and shall thereafter, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the number of Warrant Shares then exercisable under this Agreement, be exercisable for the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or assets of the Company or of the successor Person resulting from such transaction to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction if the Holder had exercised the Warrants in full immediately prior to the time of such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction and acquired the applicable number of Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder as a result of such exercise (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of the Warrants); and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder) shall be made with respect to the Holder’s rights under this Agreement to insure that the provisions of this Section  4.5 hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as possible, to this Agreement in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter acquirable upon exercise of a Warrant. The provisions of this Section  4.5 shall similarly apply to successive reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, sales or similar transactions. The Company shall not effect any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction unless, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor Person (if other than the Company) resulting from such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or similar transaction, shall assume, by written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Agreement and satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, the obligation to deliver to the Holders such shares of stock, securities or assets which, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such Holder shall be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any corporate event or other transaction contemplated by the provisions of this Section  4.5 , the Holder shall have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such event or transaction, to give effect to the exercise rights contained in Section  3 instead of giving effect to the provisions contained in this Section  4.5 with respect to any Warrants.

4.6     Certain Events . If any event of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section  4 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features but excluding any Excluded Issuance) occurs, then the Board shall make an appropriate adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants so as to protect the rights of the Holders in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Section  4 ; provided , that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section  4.6 shall decrease the number of Warrant Shares issuable as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section  4 .

 

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4.7     Certificate as to Adjustment .

(a)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following any adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Section  4 , but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to Holders a certificate of an Officer setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated and describing the number and kind of any other securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants after giving effect to such adjustment or change.

(b)    As promptly as reasonably practicable following the receipt by the Company of a written request by any Holder, but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to such Holder a certificate of an Officer certifying the number of Warrant Shares or the amount, if any, of other shares of stock, securities or assets then issuable upon exercise of a Warrant.

4.8     Notice of Certain Events .

Subject to the Company’s compliance with applicable law, including Regulation FD under the Securities Act, in each case, if the Company proposes at any time:

(iii)    to take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, to vote at a meeting (or by written consent), to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security;

(iv)    any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or the conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, or of any reclassification or change of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, or a tender offer or exchange offer by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to acquire Common Stock;

(v)    the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

(vi)    to take any action that would require an adjustment of the exercise price of the Warrants; or

(vii)    any Change of Control,

then, and in each such case, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to each Holder at its address as set forth in the Warrant Register, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the applicable record date or the applicable expected effective date, as the case may be, for the event, a written notice specifying, as the case may be, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action, and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent, or (B) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company shall close or a record shall be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the

 

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time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Warrants and the Warrant Shares; provided , that, the Holder agrees to keep any information included in such notice confidential until the time at which the Company abandons such corporate event (in which case the Company shall provide prompt written notice thereof) or such corporate event becomes public, except that such Holder shall be permitted to disclose such information (i) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or compulsory legal process, (ii) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority) having or purporting to have jurisdiction over such Holder or any of its affiliates, (iii) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by such Holder in violation of any confidentiality obligations owing to the Company, (iv) to the extent that such information is or was received by such Holder on a non-confidential basis from a third party that is not, to such Holder’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations owing to the Company, (v) to such Holder’s affiliates and such Holder’s and such affiliates’ advisors, officers, directors, employees, legal counsel, auditors and agents, in each case who are informed of the confidential nature of such information and (vi) to the extent the Company has consented to such disclosure in writing.

4.9     Form of Warrant . The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section  4 , and Warrant Certificates issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrant initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. However, the Company may, at any time, in its sole discretion, make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant Certificates thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant Certificate or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

4.10     No Rights as Stockholder . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein (including Section 4.3(h) ), prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of a Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Agreement be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. In addition, nothing contained in this Agreement or the Warrants shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of a Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section  4.10 , the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

4.11     No Impairment . The Company shall not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed by it under any Warrant or hereunder, but shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Agreement and the Warrants and in the taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by any Holder in order to protect the exercise rights of the Holders against dilution or other impairment, consistent with the tenor and purpose of this Agreement and the Warrants.

 

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4.12     Registration of Common Stock . The Company agrees that, within one hundred eighty (180) days of the Original Issue Date (or, if the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have not been obtained by such date, within thirty (30) days of the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have been obtained), it shall file with the SEC a resale registration statement, for the registration under the Securities Act of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the same to become effective on or prior to the commencement of the Exercise Period and to use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions and subject to the exceptions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be subject to any penalties if a registration statement is not effective or a current prospectus is not on file with the SEC at the time of exercise by any Holder. In addition, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register such securities under the blue sky laws of the states of residence of the exercising Holders to the extent an exemption under the Securities Act is not available for the exercise of the Warrants.

SECTION 5.     Purchase Rights . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section  4 , if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any shares of Common Stock, Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of Common Stock (the “ Purchase Rights ”), then the Holder shall be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder would have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Warrant Shares acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) the Holder shall not be entitled to the Purchase Rights granted herein with respect to any Excluded Issuance and (b) no Purchase Rights shall be exercisable by the Holder to the extent the that the acquisition by the Holder would cause the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to be exceeded.

SECTION 6.     Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters .

6.2     The Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent:

(a)    shall have no duties or obligations other than those expressly set forth herein and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied;

(b)    may rely on and shall be held harmless and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram or other document, or any security delivered to it, and believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties, or upon any written or oral instructions or statements from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Warrant Agent hereunder;

(c)    may consult with counsel satisfactory to it (including counsel for the Company) and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with such advice or opinion of such counsel;

(d)    shall be held harmless by the Company and any other person in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Warrant Agent hereunder in accordance with any determination as to whether or not a Warrant received by the Warrant Agent is duly, completely and correctly executed;

 

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(e)    shall not be obligated to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that it believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability or to a risk of incurring expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with assurances of repayment or indemnity satisfactory to it;

(f)    shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed pursuant to Section  4.12 or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law;

(g)    and its officers, directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, any Warrant, with the same rights that it or they would have were it not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as a depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrants, or other securities or obligations of the Company, as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as trustee under an indenture;

(h)    shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement;

(i)    shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Warrants;

(j)    may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact, and the Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any loss or expense arising out of, or in connection with, the actions or omissions to act of its agents or attorneys-in-fact, so long as the Warrant Agent acts without gross negligence or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in connection with the selection of such agents or attorneys-in-fact; and

(k)    shall act hereunder solely as agent for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the provisions hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in connection with this Agreement except for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as each is determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment made by it, unless it shall be proved that the Warrant Agent was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

6.3     Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent .

(a)     Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent . The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving thirty (30) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint, in writing, a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make

 

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such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by any Holder (who shall, with such notice, submit any Warrant held by such Holder for inspection by the Company), then such Holder may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and be authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but, if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and, upon request of any successor Warrant Agent, the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations.

(b)     Notice of Successor Warrant Agent . In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

(c)     Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent . Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act on the part of the Company or the Warrant Agent.

6.4     Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent . The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration in an amount separately agreed to between Company and Warrant Agent for its services as Warrant Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the preparation, delivery, administration, execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Warrant Agent fees, including postage and any out-of-pocket and/or per item fees incurred by the Warrant Agent, shall be paid in accordance with the payment terms and instructions set forth on each invoice provided to the Company by the Warrant Agent. It is understood and agreed that all services to be performed by Warrant Agent shall cease if full payment for its services has not been received in accordance with such payment terms and conditions, and said services will not commence thereafter until all payment due has been received by Warrant Agent.

6.5     Further Assurances . The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

6.6     Liability of Warrant Agent .

(a)     Reliance on Company Statement . Whenever, in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by an Officer of the Company and delivered to

 

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the Warrant Agent. Such certificate will be full authorization to the Warrant Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon such certificate, and the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any such action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with any such instructions or pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

(b)     Indemnity . The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and hold it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

(c)     Disputes . In the event any question or dispute arises with respect to the proper interpretation of this Agreement or the Warrant Agent’s duties hereunder or the rights of the Company or of any Holder, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to act and shall not be held liable or responsible for refusing to act until the question or dispute has been judicially settled (and the Warrant Agent may, if it deems it advisable, but shall not be obligated to, file a suit in interpleader or for a declaratory judgment for such purpose) by final judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, binding on all parties interested in the matter which is no longer subject to review or appeal, or settled by a written document in form and substance satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and executed by the Company and each other interested party. In addition, the Warrant Agent may require for such purpose, but shall not be obligated to require, the execution of such written settlement by all Holders and all other parties that may have an interest in the settlement.

(d)     Exclusions . The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible or have any duty to make any calculation or adjustment, or to determine when any calculation or adjustment required under the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to Section  4 hereof, should be made or have any responsibility or liability for the manner, method or amount of any such calculation or adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such calculation or adjustment, including but not limited to any calculation or determination of “fair market value” and any calculation or determination made in connection with an exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis;” nor shall it, by any act hereunder, be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

6.7     Acceptance of Agency . The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and, among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.

SECTION 7.     Miscellaneous .

7.1     Notices . Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by any Holder to or on the Company shall be delivered by hand or sent by registered or certified mail or overnight courier service, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent) as follows:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

 

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12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, Texas 75251

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (972) 699-5180

With a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Justin Hoffman

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

Email: Justin.Hoffman@Kirkland.com

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by any Holder or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be delivered by hand or sent by registered or certified mail or overnight courier service, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10007

Attn: Compliance Department

Any notice, sent pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective, if delivered by hand, upon receipt thereof by the party to whom it is addressed, if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day of the delivery to the courier, and if sent by registered or certified mail on the third day after registration or certification thereof.

7.2     Amendment . This Agreement and any Warrant Certificate may be amended by the parties hereto by executing a supplemental warrant agreement, without the consent of any of the Holders, for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein, or making any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or the Warrants, (ii) evidencing the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained in this Agreement and the Warrants, (iii) evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Warrant Agent with respect to the Warrants, (iv) adding to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrendering any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Agreement, or (viii) amending this Agreement and the Warrants in any manner that the Company may deem to be necessary or desirable and that will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect. All other modifications or amendments to this Agreement, including any amendment to increase the Exercise Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may extend the duration of the Exercise Period in accordance with Section  3.2 without such consent.

7.3     Successors and Assigns . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

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7.4     Examination of the Warrant Agreement . A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose for inspection by the Holder of any Warrant. Prior to such inspection, the Warrant Agent may require any such Holder to submit any Warrants held by such Holder for inspection by it.

7.5     Headings . The descriptive headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

7.6     Governing Law; Jurisdiction . The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against either of them arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company and the Warrant Agent hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Warrant Agent may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section  6.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party receiving such service in any action, proceeding or claim.

7.7     Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE WARRANT AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR A WARRANT.

7.8     Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law, or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either party hereto. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

7.9     Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

7.10     Persons Having Rights under this Agreement . Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Holders. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Holders.

7.11     Termination . This Agreement shall terminate at the Expiration Date (or Close of Business on the Settlement Date with respect to any Exercise Agreement delivered prior to the Expiration

 

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Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement will terminate on such earlier date on which all outstanding Warrants have been exercised. All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability and limits thereon shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

7.12     Force Majeure . In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, failure of carrier or utilities, equipment or transmission failure or damage that is reasonably beyond its control, or any other cause that is reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes. Performance under this Agreement shall resume when the affected party or parties are able to perform substantially that party’s duties; provided , that in no event shall this provision relieve the Company of its indemnification obligations hereunder.

7.13     Interpretation and Rules of Construction . In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(a)    when a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference is to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(b)    whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(c)    the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(d)    the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms; and

(e)    references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns.

7.14     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or electronic communication) in two or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement

[Signature pages follow]

 

27


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

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,

as Warrant Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.9

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

dated as of October 26, 2015 and

amended as of March 15, 2017

among

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Original Priority Lien Agent,

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association,

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association,

as Original Third Lien Collateral Agent

 

 

 

THIS IS THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT REFERRED TO (A) IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JULY 31, 2013, AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED, RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG EXCO RESOURCES, INC., AS BORROWER, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES THEREOF, AS GUARANTORS, THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AND IN THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, (B) IN THE INDENTURE DATED AS OF MARCH 15, 2017, AMONG EXCO RESOURCES, INC., AS THE ISSUER, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF EXCO RESOURCES, INC., AS GUARANTORS, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE AND WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE AND IN THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH INDENTURE (SUCH INDENTURE RELATING TO THE 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 LIEN SENIOR SECURED PIK TOGGLE NOTES DUE 2022), (C) IN THE 1.75 LIEN TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH 15, 2017, AMONG EXCO RESOURCES, INC., AS BORROWER, CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS GUARANTORS, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH THIRD LIEN TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT, AND (D) IN THE TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 19, 2015, AS AMENDED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT THERETO DATED AS OF MARCH 15, 2017, AMONG EXCO RESOURCES, INC., AS BORROWER, CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS GUARANTORS WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01

 

Construction; Certain Defined Terms

     1  

ARTICLE II

 

LIEN PRIORITIES

 

SECTION 2.01

  Relative Priorities      23  

SECTION 2.02

  Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc.      24  

SECTION 2.03

  No New Liens      24  

SECTION 2.04

  Similar Collateral and Agreements      25  

SECTION 2.05

  No Duties of Priority Lien Agent      26  

SECTION 2.06

  No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee      27  

ARTICLE III

 

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

 

SECTION 3.01

  Limitation on Enforcement Action      28  

SECTION 3.02

  Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action      30  

SECTION 3.03

  Insurance      34  

SECTION 3.04

  Notification of Release of Collateral, Enforcement Action and Default      35  

SECTION 3.05

  No Interference; Payment Over      36  

SECTION 3.06

  Purchase Option      40  

ARTICLE IV

 

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

SECTION 4.01

  Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens      43  

SECTION 4.02

  Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings      45  

SECTION 4.03

  Reinstatement      54  

SECTION 4.04

  Refinancings; Additional Second Lien Debt; Additional Third Lien Debt      56  

SECTION 4.05

  Amendments to Priority Lien Documents, Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents      59  

SECTION 4.06

  Legends        62  

 

ii


SECTION 4.07

  Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor      62  

SECTION 4.08

  Postponement of Subrogation      62  

SECTION 4.09

  Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives      63  

SECTION 4.10

  Right of First Offer of Backstop Commitment Parties      63  

ARTICLE V

 

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

 

SECTION 5.01

  General      66  

SECTION 5.02

  Deposit Accounts      67  

ARTICLE VI

 

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

 

SECTION 6.01

  Application of Proceeds      68  

SECTION 6.02

  Determination of Amounts      69  

ARTICLE VII

 

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;

CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

 

 

SECTION 7.01

  No Reliance; Information      69  

SECTION 7.02

  No Warranties or Liability      70  

SECTION 7.03

  Obligations Absolute      71  

SECTION 7.04

  Grantors Consent      72  

ARTICLE VIII

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

SECTION 8.01

  Representations and Warranties of Each Party      72  

SECTION 8.02

  Representations and Warranties of Each Representative      72  

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 9.01

  Notices      73  

SECTION 9.02

  Waivers; Amendment      74  

SECTION 9.03

  Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance      74  

SECTION 9.04

  Parties in Interest      75  

SECTION 9.05

  Survival of Agreement      75  

SECTION 9.06

  Counterparts      75  

SECTION 9.07

  Severability        76  

 

iii


SECTION 9.08

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      76  

SECTION 9.09

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      77  

SECTION 9.10

  Headings      77  

SECTION 9.11

  Conflicts      77  

SECTION 9.12

  Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights      77  

SECTION 9.13

  Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent      77  

SECTION 9.14

  Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent      79  

SECTION 9.15

  Authorization of Secured Agents      79  

SECTION 9.16

  Further Assurances      80  

SECTION 9.17

  Relationship of Secured Parties      80  

SECTION 9.18

  Reciprocal Rights      80  

Annex and Exhibits

 

Annex I   

Provision for the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Documents, the Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents

 

and

 

Provision for all Priority Lien Security Documents, Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, any Additional Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents that Grant a Security Interest in Collateral

Exhibit A    Form of Priority Confirmation Joinder
Exhibit B    Security Documents

 

 

iv


INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT , dated as of March 15, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “ Agreement ”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “ Original Priority Lien Agent ”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as hereinafter defined) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent for the Third Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Original Third Lien Collateral Agent ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, reference is made to (a) the Priority Credit Agreement (defined below), (b) the Second Lien Indenture (defined below), (c) the Additional Second Lien Documents (defined below), (d) the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement (defined below), (e) the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement (defined below) and (f) the Additional Third Lien Documents (defined below).

WHEREAS, from time to time following the date hereof, EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Company ”) may (i) incur Additional Second Lien Obligations (as defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents (as defined below) and (ii) incur Additional Third Lien Obligations (each as defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents (as defined below).

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01 Construction; Certain Defined Terms .

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any reference herein to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms of each applicable Secured Debt Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to


include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

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

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

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

Accounts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  3.01(a) .

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

Additional Second Lien Documents ” means the definitive documentation for any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

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

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

 

2


Additional Second Lien Security Documents ” means the definitive documentation for any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Second Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renamed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.05(b) ) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

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

Additional Third Lien Documents ” means the definitive documentation for any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

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

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

Additional Third Lien Security Documents ” means the definitive documentation for any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties), in each case, as amended, modified, renamed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.05(c) ) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

3


Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as 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. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

Backstop Commitment Parties ” means Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. and its Affiliates (including Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited), ESAS, OCM EXCO Holdings LLC, and Gen IV and, in each case, their respective Affiliates (excluding, in each case, the Company and its Subsidiaries) and any arranger, representative or agent appointed by such parties to act on their behalf in their collective capacity as the “Backstop Commitment Parties” under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents.

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

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

Borrowing Base ” means the maximum amount in dollars determined or redetermined by the lenders under the Priority RBL Credit Agreement or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, as applicable, as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Grantors against which such lenders are prepared to provide loans or other Indebtedness to the Company and the Grantors under the Priority RBL Credit Agreement, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve based loans and which are generally applied by lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Priority RBL Credit Agreement, and which is based upon, inter alia , the review by such lenders of the Hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Business Day ” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any other day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York City, or the principal place of payment.

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

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

 

4


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

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

Credit Facilities ” means, collectively, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Priority Credit Agreement), capital markets financings or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, bankers acceptances, notes or other long-term indebtedness, including any mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, supplemental or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof or adds additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

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

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

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

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

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

(b) payment in full in cash of the principal of (to the extent such principal does not constitute Excess Priority Lien Obligations) and interest at the rate provided for in the Priority Lien Documents, including any default interest, (regardless of whether such interest has accrued before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and in each case whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and premium (if any) (in each case, whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

(c) discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt that are not Excess Priority Lien Obligations;

 

5


(d) payment in full in cash of obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations that are secured by the Priority Liens (and, with respect to any particular Swap Agreement, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Priority Lien Agent) pursuant to the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement) other than such Hedging Obligations that have been novated or collateralized to the extent required by the terms thereof; and

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

(f) a release in favor of the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Priority Lien Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Priority Lien Agent from the Company and its subsidiaries or the successor thereof;

provided that, if, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, and so long as either (I) no Event of Default under the Second Lien Documents has occurred and is then continuing or (II) the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has then been obtained, the Company, any Grantor or any other guarantor enters into any Priority Lien Document evidencing a Priority Lien Debt which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Priority Lien Debt (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which the Company designates such Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the obligations under such Priority Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Priority Lien Obligations (subject, however, in all events, to the Priority Lien Cap) for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Second Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Second Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations and any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section  4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

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

(a) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest at the rate provided for in the Second Lien Documents, including any default interest, (regardless of whether such interest has accrued before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and, in each case, whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and premium (if any) (in each case, whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) on all Second Lien Debt;

 

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(b) payment in full in cash of all other Second Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Second Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

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

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

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Excess Priority Lien Obligations ” means Obligations constituting Priority Lien Obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of the definition of “Priority Lien Cap” that are in excess of the amount in clause (a)  of the definition of “Priority Lien Cap.”

Financial Officer ” of any Person means the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, principal accounting officer, Controller, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of such Person.

Gen IV ” means Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC and its Affiliate Vega Asset Partners, LP.

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

 

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

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, (a) the “Lender Hedging Obligations”, as defined in the Priority RBL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof and to the extent amended or modified, so long as such amendment or modification is not materially adverse to the interests of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties) and (b) under any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, the obligations of such Grantor incurred in the normal course of business and consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes under any Swap Agreement, including:

(a) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one of more financial institutions and designed to protect such Grantor or any subsidiary thereof entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to indebtedness incurred;

(b) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect such Grantor or any subsidiary thereof entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to indebtedness incurred;

(c) any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of oil, natural gas or other commodities used, produced, processed or sold by that Grantor or any subsidiary thereof at the time; and

(d) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Grantor or any subsidiary thereof against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates.

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

Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Priority RBL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).

Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, together with its successors in such capacity.

Junior Third Lien Collateral Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, together with its successors in such capacity.

Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Lenders (as

 

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defined in therein) party thereto from time to time, the Junior Third Lien Collateral Agent and the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document.

Junior Third Lien Debt Facility ” means the indebtedness and other credit facilities under the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the other Junior Third Lien Documents.

Junior Third Lien Documents ” means the definitive documentation for the Junior Third Lien Debt Facility (including the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and the Junior Third Lien Security Documents.

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

Junior Third Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Junior Third Lien Trustee, the Junior Third Lien Collateral Agent, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Junior Third Lien Debt Facility (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of Series of Junior Third Lien Debt under the Junior Third Lien Debt Facility) who maintains the transfer register for such Junior Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Junior Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Junior Third Lien Obligations, any holder or lender pursuant to any Junior Third Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Junior Third Lien Secured Parties.

Junior Third Lien Security Documents ” means the Junior Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each agreement listed in Part C of Exhibit  B hereto, the Security Instruments (as defined in the Third Lien Debt Facility) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Original Third Lien Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renamed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.05(c) ) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

Junior Third Lien Trustee ” means, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Junior Third Lien Debt Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

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Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be either the principal executive officer or a Financial Officer of the Company.

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

(a) the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, operation and disposition of interests in Hydrocarbons;

(b) the gathering, marketing, distribution, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and the marketing of Hydrocarbons obtained from unrelated Persons;

(c) any business relating to or arising from exploration for or exploitation, development, production, treatment, processing, storage, refining, transportation, gathering or marketing of Hydrocarbons and products produced in association therewith;

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

 

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

(f) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the preceding clauses  (a) through (e)  of this definition.

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

Original Priority Lien Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Original Third Lien Collateral Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Permitted Junior DIP Financing ” has the meaning assigned to such term Section 4.02(c) .

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or 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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Priority Confirmation Joinder ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit  A .

Priority Credit Agreement ” means the Priority RBL Credit Agreement.

Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by the Company or any other Grantor in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any Property of the Company or such other Grantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

Priority Lien Agent ” means the Priority RBL Agent.

Priority Lien Cap ” means, as of any date, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all indebtedness plus the unused portion of the Borrowing Base (plus the unused portion of any other then unutilized facilities thereunder, if any) at such time outstanding at any time under the Priority Credit Agreement (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) not in excess of $150,000,000 (inclusive of, Priority Lien Protective Advances), plus (b) the amount of all Cash Management Obligations and Hedging Obligations, to the extent such Cash Management Obligations or Hedging Obligations are secured by the Priority Liens and to the extent incurred, and outstanding, not in violation of the Second Lien Documents, plus (c) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Priority Lien Documents, including default interest, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and outstanding fees, costs, charges, make whole amounts and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) provided for in the Priority Lien Documents (in each case whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding).

Priority Lien Collateral ” means all “Collateral”, as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement or any other Priority Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Priority Lien Obligation.

Priority Lien Debt ” means the indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect to the Priority RBL Credit Agreement (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof)) that was permitted to be incurred and secured under the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, any Second Lien Substitute Facility, any Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and any Third Lien Substitute Facility (or as to which the lenders under the Priority Credit Agreement obtained an Officers’ Certificate at the time of incurrence to the effect that such indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents) and additional indebtedness under any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

 

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Priority Lien Documents ” means the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (or equivalent term) (as defined in the Priority RBL Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, the Priority Credit Agreement or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

Priority Lien Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of or in connection with Priority Lien Debt together with Hedging Obligations and the Cash Management Obligations, in each case to the extent that such Obligations are secured by Priority Liens. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations shall only constitute Priority Lien Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations are secured under the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement and Priority RBL Lien Security Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Priority Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest (at the rate provided for in the Priority Lien Documents, including default interest), fees, costs, make whole amounts, indemnification and reimbursement and other charges incurred under the Priority Credit Agreement and the other Priority Lien Documents, in each case whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and in each case whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent that any payment with respect to the Priority Lien Obligations (whether by or on behalf of any Grantor, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

Priority Lien Protective Advances ” means any advance made by one or more Priority Lien Secured Parties for the purpose of (a) maintaining, protecting or preserving the Collateral and/or the Priority Lien Secured Parties’ rights under the Priority Lien Documents or which is otherwise made for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, (b) enhancing the likelihood of, or maximizing the amount of, repayment of any Priority Lien Obligation and/or (c) paying any other amount chargeable to, or required to be paid by, any Grantor hereunder or under any other Priority Lien Document as a result of the actions described under clauses (a)  or (b) above.

Priority Lien Release Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a) .

Priority Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Priority Lien Agent, each lender, issuing bank or noteholder under the Priority Credit Agreement, each holder, provider or obligee of any Hedging Obligations and Cash Management Obligations that is a lender under the Priority RBL Credit Agreement or an Affiliate (as defined herein or in the Priority RBL Credit Agreement) thereof and, in each case, that is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Priority Lien Document, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Priority Lien Document, each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Priority Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Priority Lien Obligations (including pursuant to a Priority Substitute Credit Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Priority Lien Document outstanding at such time.

 

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Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Priority Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit  B hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renamed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.05(a) ) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

Priority RBL Agent ” means the Original Priority Lien Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Priority RBL Credit Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013, among the Company, as borrower, subsidiaries thereof party thereto, as guarantors, the Original Priority Lien Agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

Priority Substitute Credit Facility ” means any Credit Facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Priority Credit Agreement then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, any Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be required to be a revolving asset-based loan facility; provided that any Priority Lien securing such Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the Lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Replaces ” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to any Priority Credit Agreement or any Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces such Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Obligations thereunder or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a) ) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement, Priority Lien Obligations or

 

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such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, in part, (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility, that such indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section  4.04(a) ) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility, in part and (c) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or any Third Lien Substitute Facility, that such indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or such Third Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section  4.04(a) ) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations, or such Third Lien Substitute Facility, in part. “ Replace ,” “ Replaced ” and “ Replacement ” shall have correlative meanings.

Restricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Priority Credit Agreement on the date hereof.

Right of First Offer ” means the bona fide right, but not the obligation, of the Backstop Commitment Parties to acquire, by way of assignment, on a ratable basis in accordance with the applicable Backstop Commitment Party’s ROFO Applicable Percentage and in accordance with Section  4.10 of this Agreement, all or a portion of the rights and obligations of any Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) under the Priority Credit Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement)) that are to be assigned by any such Lender pursuant to the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement and Section  4.10 of this Agreement.

ROFO Agent ” means Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., together with its successors in such capacity.

ROFO Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. and its Affiliates (including Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited), 50.33%, with respect to ESAS, 23.33%, with respect to OCM EXCO Holdings LLC, 13.17% and with respect to Gen IV, 13.17%;; provided that between and among all or any of the Backstop Commitment Parties, from time to time, such Backstop Commitment Parties may agree to transfer (as between any two Backstop Commitment Parties, whether permanently or temporarily), reduce (unilaterally by any individual Backstop Commitment Parties, whether permanently or temporarily) or otherwise modify their ROFO Applicable Percentages (as agreed between all Backstop Commitment Parties).

ROFO Notice ” means written notice from a Backstop Commitment Party notifying the Priority RBL Agent that such Backstop Commitment Party intends to exercise its Right of First Offer as to a proposed assignment of Loans and Revolving Commitments (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) under the Priority Credit Agreement, and which ROFO Notice shall identify, among other things, the material terms and conditions of the proposed offer from the applicable Backstop Commitment Party (including the amount of the proposed assigned Loans and Revolving Commitments (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) that the applicable Backstop Commitment Party proposes to purchase and the price and form of consideration applicable thereto).

 

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Second Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Second Lien Document to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Second Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

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

Second Lien Collateral Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, together with its successors in such capacity appointed pursuant to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ” means that certain Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Senior Secured Notes Trustee, as representative for the Senior Secured Notes, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or otherwise modified or restated in accordance with the terms.

Second Lien Debt ” means the indebtedness under the Second Lien Indenture and guarantees thereof, and indebtedness under the other Second Lien Indenture Documents, and all additional indebtedness incurred under any Additional Second Lien Documents and guarantees thereof and all additional indebtedness under the Second Lien Indenture and guarantees thereof, in each case, that was permitted to be incurred and secured in accordance with the Secured Debt Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section  4.04(b) have been (or are deemed) satisfied, and all Indebtedness incurred under any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

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

Second Lien Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture Documents and the Additional Second Lien Documents.

Second Lien Indenture ” means the indenture (with respect to the 8.0%/11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022) dated as of March 15, 2017, among Exco Resources, Inc., as the issuer, certain subsidiaries of Exco Resources, Inc., as guarantors, the Second Lien Trustee and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

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Second Lien Indenture Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture, the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and all other loan documents (including the Notes (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture)), notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Second Lien Indenture Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

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

Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Second Lien Trustee, the Holders (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) and any other trustees, agents and other representatives of the Holders (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Second Lien Indenture Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Second Lien Obligations, any holder pursuant to any Second Lien Indenture Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties.

Second Lien Indenture Security Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit  B hereto, the Security Instruments (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, in each case, as amended, modified, renamed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.05(b) ) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

Second Lien Obligations ” means Second Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Second Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest (at the rate provided for in the Second Lien Documents, including default interest), fees, costs, make whole amounts, indemnification and reimbursement obligations, and other charges incurred under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents, in each case, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and, in each case, whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent that any payment with respect to the Second Lien Obligations (whether by or on behalf of any Grantor, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

 

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Second Lien Purchasers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  3.06 .

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

Second Lien Secured Parties ” means the Second Lien Indenture Secured Parties and the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

Second Lien Security Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

Second Lien Standstill Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  3.02(a)(i) .

Second Lien Substitute Facility ” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section  4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Second Lien Indenture and/or any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the Lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof) as the other Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations are subject to under this Agreement.

Second Lien Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, together with its successors in such capacity appointed as trustee pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Indenture.

Section  363 Event ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.02(d) .

Section  363 Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.02(d) .

Section  363 Objections ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  4.02(d) .

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents.

 

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Secured Debt Representative ” means the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent.

Secured Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations.

Secured Parties ” means the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties.

Security Documents ” means the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents and the Third Lien Security Documents.

Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association., together with its successors in such capacity.

Senior Third Lien Collateral Agent ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, together with its successors in such capacity.

Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement ” means the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Lenders (as defined in therein) party thereto from time to time, the Original Third Lien Collateral Agent and the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document.

Senior Third Lien Debt Facility ” means the indebtedness and other credit facilities under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the other Senior Third Lien Documents.

Senior Third Lien Documents ” means the definitive documentation for the Senior Third Lien Debt Facility (including the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and the Senior Third Lien Security Documents.

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

Senior Third Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Senior Third Lien Trustee, the Senior Third Lien Collateral Agent, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the indebtedness under the Senior Third Lien Documents including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of Series of Senior Third Lien Debt under the Senior Third Lien Documents) who maintains the transfer register for such Senior Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Senior Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Senior Third Lien Obligations, any holder or lender pursuant to any Senior Third Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Senior Third Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Junior Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

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Senior Third Lien Security Documents ” means the Senior Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each agreement listed in Part D of Exhibit  B hereto, the Security Instruments (as defined in the Third Lien Debt Facility) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Original Third Lien Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renamed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.05(c) ) (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

Senior Third Lien Trustee ” means, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Senior Third Lien Debt Credit Agreement, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

Series of Second Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Second Lien Indenture and each other issue or series of Second Lien Debt (including any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

Series of Secured Debt ” means the Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Second Lien Debt and each Series of Third Lien Debt.

Series of Third Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Third Lien Debt Facility and each other issue or series of Third Lien Debt (including any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, 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 (a) such Person; (b) such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person; or (c) one or more subsidiaries of such Person.

Standstill Period ” means the Second Lien Standstill Period, the Third Lien First Standstill Period and the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, as applicable.

Swap Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that in no event shall any (a) phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of any Grantor or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) near term spot market purchase and sale of a commodity in the ordinary course of business based on a price determined by a rate quoted on an organized exchange for actual physical delivery, be a Swap Agreement.

 

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Third Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Third Lien Document to the Third Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Third Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

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

Third Lien Collateral Agent ” means the Original Third Lien Collateral Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Third Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2015 (as amended and restated as of March 15, 2017), among the Company, the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent, the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent, the other Third Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Third Lien Document.

Third Lien Debt ” means indebtedness under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the Junior Third Lien Debt Credit Agreement and indebtedness incurred under, any Senior Third Lien Documents or Junior Third Lien Documents, any Additional Third Lien Documents and all indebtedness incurred under any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

Third Lien Debt Facilities ” means the Senior Third Lien Debt Facility and the Junior Third Lien Debt Facility.

Third Lien Documents ” means the Senior Third Lien Documents and the Junior Third Lien Documents, the Additional Third Lien Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

Third Lien First Standstill Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  3.02(a)(ii) .

Third Lien Obligations ” means Third Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Third Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest (at the rate provided for in the Third Lien Documents, including default interest, fees, costs, make whole amounts, indemnification and reimbursement obligations, and other charges incurred under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the

 

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other Third Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding). To the extent that any payment with respect to the Third Lien Obligations (whether by or on behalf of any Grantor, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

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

Third Lien Second Standstill Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section  3.02(b) .

Third Lien Secured Parties ” means the Senior Third Lien Secured Parties, Junior Third Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties.

Third Lien Security Documents ” means the Senior Third Lien Security Documents, Junior Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

Third Lien Substitute Facility ” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section  4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace any Third Lien Debt Facility and/or Additional Third Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the Lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof) as the other Liens securing the Third Lien Obligations are subject to under this Agreement.

Third Lien Trustee ” means, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Third Lien Debt Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity. As of March 15, 2017, the Third Lien Trustee is the Senior Third Lien Trustee.

 

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

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.

ARTICLE II

LIEN PRIORITIES

SECTION 2.01 Relative Priorities.

(a) The grant of the Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the grant of the Second Liens pursuant to the Second Lien Documents and the grant of the Third Liens pursuant to the Third Lien Documents create three separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents, the Third Lien Documents or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, or any other circumstance whatsoever and irrespective of (i) how a Lien was acquired (whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation, or otherwise), (ii) the time, manner, or order of the grant, attachment or perfection of a Lien, (iii) any conflicting provision of the New York UCC or other applicable law, (iv) any defect in, or non-perfection, setting aside, or avoidance of, a Lien or a Priority Lien Document, a Second Lien Document or a Third Lien Document, (v) the modification of a Priority Lien Obligation, a Second Lien Obligation or a Third Lien Obligation, and (vi) the subordination of a Lien on Collateral securing a Priority Lien Obligation to a Lien securing another obligation of the Company or other Person that is permitted under the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof or securing a DIP Financing, or the subordination of a Lien on Collateral securing a Second Lien Obligation to a Lien securing another obligation of the Company or other Person (other than a Priority Lien Obligation) that is permitted under the Second Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby agrees that (i) any Priority Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Priority Lien Secured Party shall be senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral, in any case, subject to the Priority Lien Cap as provided herein and (B) any and all Third Liens on any Collateral, (ii) any Second Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Second Lien Secured Party shall be (A) junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral, in any case, subject to the Priority Lien Cap as provided herein and (B) senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Third Liens on any Collateral and (iii) any Third Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Third Lien Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral.

 

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(c) It is acknowledged that (x) subject to the Priority Lien Cap (as provided herein), (i) the aggregate amount of the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Priority Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing clauses (A)  and (B)  all without affecting the subordination of the Second Liens or Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties and (y) (i) the aggregate amount of the Second Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents, and (ii) (A) the Second Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Second Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing clauses (A)  and (B)  all without affecting the subordination of the Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. The Lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Priority Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), the Second Lien Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Third Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any Priority Lien Obligations or by any action that any Secured Debt Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

SECTION 2.02 Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc.

(a) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Second Lien Secured Parties agree that they will not (and, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, hereby waives any right to) assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to a junior secured creditor.

(b) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the Third Lien Secured Parties agree that they will not (and each hereby waives any right to) assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to a junior secured creditor.

SECTION 2.03 No New Liens . The parties hereto agree that, (a) so long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Third Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions

 

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required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Agent from taking the Lien, (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Third Lien Collateral Agent to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien or (iii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Priority Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent to accept such Lien will not prevent the Priority Lien Agent from taking the Lien and (b) after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Third Lien Collateral Agent to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien or (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Third Lien Obligations unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of a Grantor to secure the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided , however , the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Agent from taking the Lien, with each such Lien as described in clauses  (a) and (b)  of this Section  2.03 to be subject to the provisions of this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Priority Lien Agent, the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section  2.03 shall be subject to Section  3.05(b) .

SECTION 2.04 Similar Collateral and Agreements . The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree (a) to cooperate in good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request by the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent, the specific assets included in the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the

 

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Third Lien Collateral, the steps taken to perfect the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and the Third Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, respectively, (b) that the Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such other modifications to such Second Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Second Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) with such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing debt securities sold in similar private transactions that are not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (c) that the Third Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such other modifications to such Third Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Third Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) with such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing debt securities sold in similar private transactions that are not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (d) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations and (e) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Third Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations.

SECTION 2.05 No Duties of Priority Lien Agent . Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to any such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, in each case without recourse, representation or warranty on the part of the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section  3.02 , including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following the expiration of any applicable Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Priority Lien Documents, without regard to (a) any Second Lien or any rights to which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien

 

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Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Second Lien or (b) any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation to first appraise or value any of the Collateral, or marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, as applicable, from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such other Second Lien Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, Disposition or other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim any Second Lien Secured Party or any Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Priority Lien Obligations.

SECTION 2.06 No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee . The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Third Lien Collateral Agent any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (provided such Discharge of Second Lien Obligations occurs after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section  3.02 , including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Second Lien Documents, without regard to any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral

 

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Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Third Lien Secured Parties from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on the Third Lien Collateral Agent or such other Third Lien Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, Disposition or other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim any Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Second Lien Obligations. The Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Priority Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Priority Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

SECTION 3.01 Limitation on Enforcement Action .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Section  3.02 , Section  3.05(b) and Section  4.07 , none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Priority Lien Agent, acting in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Documents, shall have the

 

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exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law (including, without limitation, the right to credit bid for all or a portion of the Collateral). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent will have the exclusive right to deal with that portion of the Collateral consisting of deposit accounts and securities accounts (collectively “ Accounts ”), including exercising rights under control agreements with respect to such Accounts. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security Document, any other Second Lien Document, any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document, as applicable, other than this Agreement, shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section  3.05 , each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Second Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Second Liens in the Collateral or to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral, as applicable. Nothing herein shall limit the right or ability of the Second Lien Secured Parties or, if approved in writing in advance by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (acting in accordance with the applicable Secured Loan Documents), any Third Lien Secured Parties to (i) purchase (by credit bid or otherwise) all or any portion of the Collateral in connection with any enforcement of remedies by the Priority Lien Agent to the extent that, and so long as, the Priority Lien Secured Parties receive payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations (other than the Excess Priority Lien Obligations, except as provided in Section  6.01 ) after giving effect thereto or (ii) file a proof of claim with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Section  3.02 , Section  3.05(b) and Section  4.07 , neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have

 

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a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, acting in accordance with the applicable Second Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Second Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Third Lien Secured Party. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law (including, without limitation, the right to credit bid for all or a portion of the Collateral).    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will have the exclusive right to deal with the Accounts, including exercising rights under control agreements with respect to such Accounts. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section  3.05 , the Third Lien Collateral Agent may, but will have no obligation to, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, take all such actions (not adverse to the Second Liens or the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Second Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral.

SECTION 3.02 Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and notwithstanding the foregoing Section  3.01 , both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding:

(i) after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent written notice of an Event of Default under any Second Lien Document arising from the failure to pay any Second Lien Obligations or the acceleration of any Second Lien Debt (the “ Second Lien Standstill Period ”), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any

 

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rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided , however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period or anything in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement to the contrary, in no event may the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Second Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent); provided , further , that, at any time after the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period, if neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Third Lien Secured Party or the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding; and

(ii) after a period of 300 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Agent has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt or, if later, the last day of the Second Lien Standstill Period (the “ Third Lien First Standstill Period ”), the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided , however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if (I) the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (II) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party

 

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shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable); provided , further , that, at any time after the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period, if none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Third Lien Collateral Agent is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations and notwithstanding the foregoing Section  3.01 , both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, after a period of 180 days has elapsed or, if later, the last day of the Second Lien Standstill Period (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is not entitled, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Agent has delivered to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “ Third Lien Second Standstill Period ”), the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided , however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee); provided , further , that, at any time after the expiration of

 

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the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, if neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Third Lien Collateral Agent is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, neither any Second Lien Secured Party nor the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding.

(c) Second Lien Permitted Actions . Anything to the contrary in this Article III or in any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Representative and /or any Second Lien Secured Party may, subject to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement:

(i) if an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against any Grantor, file a claim or statement of interest with respect to the Second Lien Debt;

(ii) take any action (not adverse to the priority status of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Debt, or the rights of Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to undertake enforcement actions with respect to the Collateral or otherwise) in order to create or perfect its Lien in and to the Collateral;

(iii) file any necessary responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding, or other pleading made by any person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the Second Lien Secured Parties, including any claims secured by the Collateral, if any;

(iv) file any pleadings, objections, motions or agreements which assert rights or interests available to, or exercise rights as (to the extent not prohibited by Section  4.07 ), unsecured creditors of the Grantors arising under any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or applicable non-bankruptcy law, in each case not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement;

(v) vote on any plan of reorganization or liquidation and make any filings (including proofs of claim) and arguments and motions that are, in each case, not in contravention of the provisions of this Agreement, with respect to the Second Lien Debt and the Collateral;

(vi) seek to enforce any of the terms of the Second Lien Loan Documents to the extent not expressly prohibited by the terms of this Agreement;

 

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(vii) join (but not exercise any control with respect to) any judicial foreclosure proceeding or other judicial Lien enforcement proceeding with respect to the Collateral initiated by Priority Lien Agent (or any Priority Lien Secured Parties) or by Third Lien Agent (or any Third Lien Secured Parties) to the extent that any such action could not reasonably be expected, in any material respect, to restrain, hinder, limit, delay for any material period or otherwise interfere with an enforcement action by Priority Lien Agent (it being understood that neither Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any Second Lien Secured Party nor Third Lien Agent nor any Third Lien Secured Party shall be entitled to receive any proceeds of any Collateral unless otherwise expressly permitted herein);

(viii) bid for or purchase Collateral at any public, private or judicial foreclosure upon such Collateral initiated by Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party, or any sale of Collateral during an Insolvency Proceeding; provided that such bid may only include a “credit bid” in respect of any Second Lien Debt to the extent that, and so long as, the Priority Lien Secured Parties receive payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations (other than the Excess Priority Lien Obligations) after giving effect thereto; and

(ix) take or otherwise exercise any enforcement actions after the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period to the extent specifically permitted in the second proviso to Section 3.02(a)(i) or with the consent of the Priority Lien Agent or as required by a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 3.03 Insurance .

(a) Unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred (subject to the terms of Section  3.02 , including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of any applicable Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, to adjust and settle claims in respect of Collateral under any insurance policy in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral. Unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) in respect to the Collateral shall, subject to Section 6.01, be paid to the Priority Lien Agent pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents (including for purposes of cash collateralization of commitments, letters of credit and Hedging Obligations). If the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party shall, at any time, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of the foregoing, it shall, subject to Section 6.01, pay such proceeds over to the Priority Lien Agent. In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy of any Grantor covering any of the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any such Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent and any such Third Lien Secured Party shall, until the Discharge of

 

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Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, follow the instructions of the Priority Lien Agent, or of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents to the extent the Priority Lien Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement (subject to the terms of Section  3.02 , including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of any applicable Standstill Period).

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section  3.02 , including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents, to adjust and settle claims in respect of Collateral under any insurance policy in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral. Unless and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) in respect to the Collateral shall, subject to Section 6.01, be paid to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents and, after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, to the Priority Lien Agent to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 6.01(a)(iii) and, thereafter, the Third Lien Collateral Agent to the extent required under the Third Lien Documents and then, to the extent no Third Lien Obligations are outstanding, to the owner of the subject property, to such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. If the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party shall, at any time following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of the foregoing, it shall, subject to Section 6.01, pay such proceeds over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee. In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy of any Grantor covering any of the Collateral, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, the Third Lien Collateral Agent and any such Third Lien Secured Party shall, until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, follow the instructions of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, or of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents to the extent the Second Lien Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement (subject to the terms of Section  3.02 , including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period).

SECTION 3.04 Notification of Release of Collateral, Enforcement Action and Default .

(a) Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall give the other Secured Debt Representatives prompt written notice of the Disposition by it of, and/or Release by it of the Lien on, any Collateral. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the subject Collateral, the parties involved in such Disposition or Release, the place, time, manner and method thereof, and the consideration, if any, received therefor; provided , however , that the failure to give any such notice shall not in and of itself in any way impair the effectiveness of any such Disposition or Release.

 

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(b) Priority Lien Agent shall provide reasonable prior notice (and, in all events, not less than five Business Days) to Second Lien Collateral Trustee and to Third Lien Collateral Agent, and on a confidential basis, of its initial material enforcement action against the Collateral, other than any notice sent to a depository bank or the exercise of any set off rights. Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall provide reasonable prior notice (and, in all events, not less than five Business Days) to Priority Lien Agent (prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations) and to Third Lien Collateral Agent of its initial material enforcement action against the Collateral. Third Lien Collateral Agent shall provide reasonable prior notice (and, in all events, not less than five Business Days) to Priority Lien Agent (prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations) and to Second Lien Collateral Trustee (prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations) of its initial material enforcement action against the Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no event shall the failure to deliver any notice required pursuant to this clause (b)  affect the validity or enforceability of the applicable enforcement action for which notice should have been provided under this clause (b)  and (ii) no party hereto shall object to or challenge (or have any right to object to or challenge), in a proceeding or otherwise, the validity or enforceability of such enforcement action as a result of the failure to deliver such notice.

(c) Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall give the other Secured Debt Representatives prompt written notice (and, in all events, within 3 Business Days) of any Event of Default (in each case as defined in the applicable Secured Debt Documents) to the extent that notice of such Event of Default is being provided by such Secured Debt Representative (or any Secured Parties) to any Grantor; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no event shall the failure to deliver any notice required pursuant to this clause (c)  affect the ability of such Person responsible for delivery of such notice from exercising any rights or remedies available to it hereunder with respect to such Event of Default or the validity or enforceability of any such exercise of rights or remedies and (ii) no party hereto shall object to or challenge (or have any right to object to or challenge), in a proceeding or otherwise, the validity or enforceability of such exercise of rights or remedies as a result of the failure to deliver such notice.

SECTION 3.05 No Interference; Payment Over .

(a) No Interference .

(i) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Second Lien Secured Party (A) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Second Lien pari passu with, or to give such Second Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (B) will not (I) challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Document, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this

 

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Agreement or (II) initiate a challenge or question in any proceeding the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien, (C) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is to materially interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent acting on their behalf, (D) shall have no right to (I) direct the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (II) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (E) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral, (F) will not seek (or support any party seeking), and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (G) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (H) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party, and (I) will not assert (or support any party asserting), and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law; and

(ii) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Third Lien Secured Party (A) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Third Lien pari passu with, or to give such Third Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien or Second Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (B) will not (I) challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations, Priority Lien Document, Second Lien Obligations or Second Lien Document, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement or (II) initiate a challenge or question in any proceeding the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien or any Second Lien, (C) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is to materially interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent acting on their behalf or by any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee acting on their behalf, (D) shall have no right to (I) direct the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (II) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (E) will not institute any suit or

 

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assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral or Second Lien Collateral, as applicable, (F) will not seek (or support any party seeking), and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (G) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (H) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent, any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party and (I) will not assert (or support any party asserting), and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.

(b) Payment Over .

(i) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral (or any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party shall receive any distribution of cash, property, or debt or equity securities in full or partial satisfaction or waiver of any of its claims against any Grantor in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations secured by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds, distribution or payment in trust for the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds, distributions or payment, as the case may be, to the Priority Lien Agent as promptly as practicable. Furthermore, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Priority Lien Agent upon receipt of such Collateral by any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, proceeds or payment and if directed by the Priority Lien Agent within five (5) days after receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such written notice, shall, to the extent consistent with Section 6.01(a) , deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Priority Lien Agent in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Priority Lien Agent is hereby

 

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authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Priority Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will, to the extent consistent with Section 6.01(a) , promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Priority Lien Collateral and shall, to the extent consistent with Section 6.01(a) , promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. All Second Liens and Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Section  3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Priority Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, is otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents.

(ii) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Third Lien Secured Party shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral (or shall receive any distribution of cash, property, or debt or equity securities in full or partial satisfaction or waiver of any of its claims against any Grantor in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, at any time following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds, distribution or payment in trust for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds, distribution or payment, as the case may be, to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee as promptly as practicable. Furthermore, the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee upon receipt of such Collateral by any Third Lien Secured Party, proceeds or payment and if directed by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee within five (5) days after receipt by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Second Lien

 

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Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Second Lien Collateral and shall promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations. All Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement.

SECTION 3.06 Purchase Option .

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, on or at any time after (i) the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (ii) the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations or the termination of any commitments under the Priority Credit Agreement (other than by the Company), (iii) the exercise or undertaking of any enforcement action, or rights of set-off, in respect of any Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Parties under any Priority Lien Document, (iv) the occurrence of any default or event of default under any Priority Lien Document (or upon the effectiveness of any amendment, waiver, consent or modification of any Priority Lien Documents, which would prevent the occurrence of, or waive, any default or event of default under any Priority Lien Documents), (v) the delivery of any Priority Lien Release Notice or any failure of the Priority Lien Agent to deliver any required Priority Lien Release Notice in accordance with this Agreement, (vi) the proposal of any DIP Financing, (vii) the delivery of any Section 363 Notice or the occurrence of any Section 363 Event, or (viii) the occurrence of any default or termination event under an order approving the use of cash collateral of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any order approving a DIP Financing provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, each of the holders of the Second Lien Debt and each of their respective Affiliates or designees (such holders and their respective Affiliates that make such election, the “ Second Lien Purchasers ”) will have the several right, at their respective sole option and election (but will not be obligated) ( provided that in the event of a conflicting or inconsistent exercise of such election by more than one Second Lien Purchaser, the ROFO Agent, in its sole discretion, shall determine which election(s) shall be valid and effective for purposes of this Section  3.06 , it being understood that if Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. (or any its affiliates) shall have exercised such right at any time it shall have preference over any such right of any other Second Lien Purchasers) at any time upon prior written notice from (or on behalf of) the Second Lien Purchasers to the Priority Lien Agent, to purchase from the Priority Lien Secured Parties (A) all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (B) if applicable, all loans (and related obligations, including interest, fees and reasonable and documented expenses) provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing that are outstanding on the date of such purchase. Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the Priority Lien Agent will deliver to the Second Lien Representatives a statement of the amount of Priority Lien Debt, other Priority Lien Obligations (other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations) and DIP Financing (including interest, fees, expenses and other obligations in respect of such DIP Financing) provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, if any, then outstanding and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.06(b)(ii) below. The right to purchase provided

 

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for in this Section  3.06 will expire unless, (1) within 20 Business Days after the receipt by the Second Lien Representatives of such statement of obligations from the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Representative delivers to the Priority Lien Agent an irrevocable commitment of the Second Lien Purchasers to purchase (A) all (but not less than all) of the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (B) if applicable, all loans (and related obligations, including interest, fees and expenses) provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing and to otherwise complete such purchase on the terms set forth under this Section  3.06 , and (2) within an additional 10 Business Days, closes such purchases provided below.

(b) On the date specified by any Second Lien Representative (on behalf of the Second Lien Purchasers) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five Business Days nor more than 15 Business Days, after the receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such irrevocable commitment), the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall sell to the Second Lien Purchasers (i) all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (ii) if applicable, all loans (and related obligations, including interest, fees and expenses) provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing that are outstanding on the date of such sale, subject to any required approval of any Governmental Authority then in effect, if any, and only if on the date of such sale, the Priority Lien Agent receives the following:

(i) payment, as the purchase price for all Priority Lien Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of (i) all Priority Lien Obligations (other than outstanding letters of credit as referred to in clause (ii)  below) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (ii) if applicable, all loans (and related obligations, including interest, fees and expenses) provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing then outstanding (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, but excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time); provided that in the case of Hedging Obligations that constitute Priority Lien Obligations the Second Lien Purchasers shall cause the applicable agreements governing such Hedging Obligations to be assigned and novated or, if such agreements have been terminated, such purchase price shall include an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid amounts then due in respect of such Hedging Obligations, calculated using the market quotation method and after giving effect to any netting arrangements;

(ii) a cash collateral deposit in such amount as the Priority Lien Agent determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount then reasonably estimated by the Priority Lien Agent to be the aggregate outstanding amount of such letters of credit at such time), which cash collateral shall be (A) held by the Priority Lien Agent as security solely to reimburse the issuers of such letters of credit that become due and payable after such sale and any fees and expenses

 

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incurred in connection with such letters of credit and (B) returned to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other Governmental Authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of all payment contingencies affecting such letters of credit (and, in all events, within 5 Business Days after Priority Lien Agent’s knowledge of such expiration or termination); and

(iii) any customary agreements, documents or instruments which the Priority Lien Agent may reasonably request pursuant to which the applicable Second Lien Representatives (or any other representative appointed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Debt then outstanding) and the Second Lien Purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents and in connection with loans (and related obligations, including interest, fees and expenses) provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing on and after the date of the purchase and sale and the applicable Second Lien Representatives (or any other representative appointed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Debt then outstanding) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

(c) Such purchase of the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing shall be made on a pro rata basis among the Second Lien Purchasers giving notice to the Priority Lien Agent of their interest to exercise the purchase option hereunder according to each such Second Lien Purchaser’s portion of the Second Lien Debt outstanding on the date of purchase or such portion as such Second Lien Purchasers may otherwise agree among themselves. Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the Priority Lien Agent as the Priority Lien Agent may designate in writing to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for such purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.

(d) Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Secured Parties as to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to any Priority Lien Secured Party, except that the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall represent and warrant severally as to the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing then owing to it: (i) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party own such Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing; and (ii) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party has the necessary corporate or other governing authority to assign such interests.

 

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(e) After such sale becomes effective, the outstanding letters of credit will remain enforceable against the issuers thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, and the issuers of letters of credit will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Debt had not been made, but only the Person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the Second Lien Purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such Person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens.

(f) Each Grantor irrevocably consents to any assignment effected to one or more Second Lien Purchasers pursuant to this Section  3.06 (so long as they meet all eligibility standards contained in all relevant Priority Lien Documents, other than obtaining the consent of any Grantor to an assignment to the extent required by such Priority Lien Documents; provided , that for purposes of determining such eligibility standards Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and its Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries) and ESAS and its Affiliates and Subsidiaries (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company and shall, in all events, be deemed to meet all eligibility standards contained in all relevant Priority Lien Documents) for purposes of all Priority Lien Documents and hereby agrees that no further consent from such Grantor shall be required.

ARTICLE IV

OTHER AGREEMENTS

SECTION 4.01 Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Priority Lien Agent or the requisite Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents release the Priority Lien on any Collateral, each of the Second Lien and Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released (automatically and without further action) to the extent that (i) such release is permitted under the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, as applicable, (ii) if the notice required by the penultimate sentence of this Section 4.01(a) has been provided (subject to the proviso therein), such release is effected in connection with the Priority Lien Agent’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the requisite Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses  (i) , (ii) and (iii) , the Second Liens and Third Liens on such Collateral shall attach to (and shall remain

 

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subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, subject to the Priority Lien Cap and, in the case of the Third Liens, shall remain subject and subordinate to (I) all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, subject to the Priority Lien Cap and (II) all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral not paid to the Priority Lien Secured Parties or that remain after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. The Priority Lien Agent agrees to give the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent not less than 10 Business Days advance written notice of any proposed release pursuant to clauses (ii)  and (iii) (other than pursuant to Section 363 or Section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code) of this Section 4.01(b) ( provided that such notice shall not be required to the extent extraordinary exigent circumstances shall arise that would irrevocably substantially impair the rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties if such release were to be delayed by such 10 Business Day period) (each such notice, a “ Priority Lien Release Notice ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 4.01(c) , if the Second Lien Purchasers have exercised their purchase option (or have committed to exercise their purchase option) pursuant to Section 3.06(d) , no release pursuant to clauses (ii)  and (iii) of this Section 4.01(e) shall be permitted under this Section 4.01(b) to the extent (and only to the extent) that the Second Lien Purchasers shall not have defaulted on their obligations to consummate the purchase of the Priority Lien Debt and other amounts contemplated by Section 3.06(a) .

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the requisite Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Documents release the Second Lien on any Collateral, the Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) such release is permitted under the Third Lien Documents, (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 or Section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the requisite Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Documents shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses  (i) , (ii) and (iii) , the Third Liens on such Collateral shall attach to (and shall remain subject and subordinate to all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral not paid to the Second Lien Secured Parties or that remain after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(c) Upon the receipt of an Officers’ Certificate or any corresponding provision of the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, to evidence and confirm any release of Collateral provided for in this Section  4.01 .

 

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SECTION 4.02 Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings .

(a) The parties hereto, which for avoidance of doubt includes the Grantors, acknowledge that this Agreement is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against the Company or any of its subsidiaries. All references in this Agreement to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other Grantor will include such Person or Persons as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. For the purposes of this Section  4.02 , unless otherwise expressly provided herein, clauses  (b) through and including (o)  shall be in full force and effect prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and clauses ( g)  and  ( p) through and including (cc)  shall be in full force and effect prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(b) If the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of financing (“ DIP Financing ”) to be provided by one or more lenders, which may include the Priority Lien Secured Parties (with respect to a DIP Financing prior to the Discharge of the Priority Lien Obligations), or the Second Lien Representatives or Second Lien Secured Parties (which, for any DIP Financing proposed prior to the Discharge of the Priority Lien Obligations, shall be a Permitted Junior DIP Financing or a DIP Financing consented to by the Priority Lien Secured Parties) (the “ DIP Lenders ”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the Collateral securing the same (“ DIP Financing Liens ”), or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (A) the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or cash collateral use or such DIP Financing Liens, (B) the maximum principal amount of indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (I) the amount of Priority Lien Obligations which shall be refinanced with the proceeds thereof (not including the amount of any Excess Priority Lien Obligations) and (II) $100,000,000, (C) the terms of such DIP Financing (I) provide for the sale or disposition of a substantial part of the Collateral and a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations is not effected substantially contemporaneously with such sale or disposition or (II) require the confirmation of a plan of reorganization or liquidation containing specific terms or provisions other than repayment in cash of such DIP Financing on the effective date thereof or a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations on the effective date thereof, (D) the terms of the proposed DIP Financing are not commercially reasonable under the circumstances (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Borrower), (E) the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties are not permitted to seek adequate protection to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(f) or (F) such DIP Financing directly or indirectly provides for, or has the effect of providing for, the payment (whether in cash or otherwise) of any Excess Priority Lien Obligations prior to the Discharge of the Second Lien Obligations. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Priority Liens, (1) the Second Lien

 

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Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Second Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code and (2) the Third Lien Collateral Agent will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code. All Liens granted to Priority Lien Agent or Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Third Lien Collateral Agent in any Insolvency Proceeding, whether as adequate protection or otherwise, are intended by the parties to be and shall be deemed to be subject to the Lien priorities in Section  2.01 and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.02(b) to the contrary, nothing shall preclude (i) the Priority Lien Secured Parties from proposing a DIP Financing or objecting to or opposing any DIP Financing on the basis that they are willing to provide a DIP Financing, and (ii) nothing shall preclude the Second Lien Representatives or Second Lien Secured Parties from proposing a Permitted Junior DIP Financing or objecting to or opposing any DIP Financing on the basis that they are willing to provide a Permitted Junior DIP Financing.

(c) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Agent, in their respective sole discretion, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, in each case, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing. Prior to the Discharge of the Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of each of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, agrees that the Second Lien Representatives and Second Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to propose to any Grantor a DIP Financing that (i) provides for Liens that are junior in priority to the Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations (but senior in priority to the Liens securing the Excess Priority Lien Obligations) and (ii) permits the Priority Lien Secured Parties to seek adequate protection as set forth in Section  4.02 (a “ Permitted Junior DIP Financing ”), without the consent of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party. The Third Lien Collateral Trustee agrees, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, that the Second Lien Representatives and the Second Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to provide any Grantor with DIP Financing (a “ Second Lien DIP Financing ”) that is secured by Liens equal or senior in priority to the Liens securing any Second Lien Debt and Third Lien Debt, without the consent of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party, and that it will raise no objection to and will consent to any such Second Lien DIP Financing.

(d) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (“ Section  363 Objections ”) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or

 

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Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code (any such sale or motion, a “ Section  363 Event ” and any notice or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of such Section 363 Event, a “ Section  363 Notice ”) if (1) the requisite Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral, and (2) all Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 4.02(d) , if the Second Lien Purchasers have exercised their purchase option (or have committed to exercise their purchase option) pursuant to Section 3.06(a) , Section 363 Objections shall be permitted to be made by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party.

(e) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (that is granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (that is granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(f) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accept or retain any form of adequate protection unless they are expressly permitted to seek and obtain such adequate protection by this Section 4.02(f ) (or file or prosecute any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief)) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for adequate protection in the form of (w) mandatory prepayments of cash proceeds from the Disposition of any Oil and Gas Properties in excess of $1,000,000 other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business, (x) cash payments of scheduled interest under the Priority Lien Documents at the then applicable non-default rate set forth in the Priority Lien Documents, except to the extent relating to Excess Priority Lien Obligations, (y) payment of reasonable fees and expenses under the Priority Lien Documents and the payment of any regularly scheduled required payments in respect of necessary Hedging Obligations (which payments shall, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude any termination payments in respect of such Hedging Obligations), (z) any additional or replacement liens, including liens on the Collateral, provided that the Liens of the Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties maintain the same relative priority with respect to the Priority Liens as existed prior to the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and provided that to the extent that the Priority Lien Secured Parties receive adequate protection in the form of Liens on additional assets or property (not constituting Collateral), the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties receive Liens on

 

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such additional assets and property with the same relative priority with respect to the Priority Liens as existing prior to the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (ii) any objection by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Priority Lien Agent or Priority Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, unless and to the extent such request seeks adequate protection other than the forms of adequate protection expressly permitted by Section  4.02 (f)(i) except that:

(A) the Second Lien Secured Parties may:

(I) subject to the terms of Section 2.03, freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of an additional or replacement Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section  2.01 ) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties; and

(II) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations; and

(B) the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

(I) subject to the terms of Section 2.03, if the Priority Lien Secured Parties and Second Lien Secured Parties are granted adequate protection in the form of an additional or replacement Lien (on existing or future assets of the Grantors) in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of an additional or replacement Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section  2.01 ) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

(II) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(g) Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classification . Each of the Grantors, the Priority Lien Agent, on behalf of itself and each of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and each of the Second Lien

 

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Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and each of the Third Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that (i) the grants of Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents constitute three separate and distinct grants of Liens and (ii) because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Collateral, the Priority Lien Debt, the Second Lien Debt and the Third Lien Debt are fundamentally different from one another and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization or liquidation proposed or adopted in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

(h) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall propose, support or vote to accept any plan of reorganization or liquidation or disclosure statement of the Company or any other Grantor unless such plan (i) is accepted by the Class of Priority Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) provides for the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest approved by the bankruptcy court, fees, costs, charges, expenses and cash collateralization of all letters of credit payable to the Priority Lien Secured Parties) on or before the effective date of such plan of reorganization or liquidation and is otherwise acceptable to the Priority Lien Agent in its sole discretion. The Priority Lien Agent agrees that it will support and not oppose or object to, and use its best reasonable efforts to cause all other Priority Lien Secured Parties to support, and not oppose or object to, any filed plan of reorganization or liquidation with respect to the Company or any other Grantor if such plan of reorganization or liquidation is supported by the Second Lien Representative and provides for the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest approved by the bankruptcy court, fees, costs, charges, expenses and cash collateralization of all letters of credit) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization or liquidation; provided, however, that the Priority Lien Agent’s agreement notwithstanding, nothing herein shall preclude the Priority Lien Agent or any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties from opposing or objecting to: (1) any request to extend the exclusivity pursuant to Section 1121 of the Bankruptcy Code as to any plan of reorganization or liquidation; or (2) the proposed effective date under any plan of reorganization or liquidation to the extent the effective date exceeds the first business day following 10 days from the entry of any confirmation order approving a plan. Notwithstanding the Priority Lien Agent’s agreement to support, and not oppose or object to, any filed plan of reorganization or liquidation as provided for in this Section 4.02(h) , the Priority Lien Agent shall retain its rights to receive information, including about the plan of reorganization or liquidation, as provided for in the Priority Lien Documents or under any law applicable to such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

(i) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, subject to the provisions of Section  3.02 , neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise,

 

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from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral if the Priority Lien Agent has not received relief from the automatic stay (or it has not been lifted for the Priority Lien Agent’s benefit), without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent.

(j) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Priority Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses or cash collateralization of all letters of credit to the extent of the value of the Priority Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Second Liens or Third Liens on the Collateral), subject to the Priority Lien Cap. Neither Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens or the Third Liens, as applicable, on the Collateral; provided that if the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have made any such claim, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party or the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable.

(k) Without the express written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Priority Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Priority Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

(l) [ Reserved ].

(m) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations or the effectiveness of a purchase by Second Lien Purchasers in accordance with Section  3.06 , whichever occurs first, the Priority Lien Agent shall have the exclusive right to credit bid the Priority Lien Obligations and further that none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid of the Priority Lien Obligations by the Priority Lien Agent.

 

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(n) Without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy claim or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(o) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim (or support any party asserting a claim) under Sections 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Priority Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral.

(p) If the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of DIP Financing to be provided by one or more DIP Lenders, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or cash collateral use (including, without limitation, any DIP Financing or cash collateral use in the nature of a “roll up” of all or a portion of the Second Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Obligations) or to the DIP Financing Liens on the Collateral securing the same, or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral, (ii) the maximum principal amount of indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (A) the amount of Second Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (B) $100,000,000, (iii) the DIP Financing does not provide for commercially reasonable terms as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, or (iv) the Third Lien Secured Parties are not permitted to seek adequate protection to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(t) . To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Second Liens, the Third Lien Collateral Agent will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

(q) Without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing.

 

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(r) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the requisite Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Documents shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and all Second Liens and Third Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement.

(s) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(t) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, accept or retain any form of adequate protection unless they are expressly permitted to seek and obtain such adequate protection by this Section 4.02(t ) (or file or prosecute any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for adequate protection in any form or (ii) any objection by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Second Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

(A) subject to Section 2.03, if the Second Lien Secured Parties are granted adequate protection in the form of an additional or replacement Lien (on existing or future assets of Grantors) in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of an additional or replacement Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section  2.01 ) to, and with the same relative priority to the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

(B) freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

(u) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any such other Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral

 

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Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

(v) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall propose, support or vote for any plan of reorganization or liquidation or disclosure statement of the Company or any other Grantor, unless such plan is accepted by the Class of Second Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full solely in cash of all Second Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest at the rate provided for in the Second Lien Documents (including default interest), fees, costs, charges, make whole amounts, expenses and cash collateralization of all letters of credit payable to the Second Lien Secured Parties) on or before the effective date of such plan of reorganization or liquidation. Except as provided herein, the Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

(w) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, subject to the provisions of Section  3.02 , neither Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any Third Lien Secured Party shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

(x) At all times prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees, costs, charges, make whole amounts or expenses. At all times prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, neither Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Third Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Third Liens on the Collateral; provided that if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have made any such claim, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party.

(y) Without the express written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, neither Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Second Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Second Lien Secured Party of interest, fees, costs, charges, make whole amounts or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(z) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then provided the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall have occurred and has not been rescinded, voided or otherwise modified, the Third Lien Collateral Agent for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of any Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over, subject to the requirements of Section 6.01(a) , to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Third Lien Collateral Agent that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and any officer or agent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section  4.02(z) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section  4.02(z) , which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

(aa) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have the exclusive right to credit bid the Second Lien Obligations and further that neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, whether in connection with a sale pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, a Chapter 11 plan or otherwise.

(bb) Without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion, the Third Lien Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy claim or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(cc) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim (or support any party asserting a claim) under Sections 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Second Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral.

SECTION 4.03 Reinstatement .

(a) If any Priority Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “ Recovery ”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Priority Lien Obligations shall

 

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be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Priority Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, a Second Lien Secured Party or a Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, receives notice of any Recovery, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall, to the extent consistent with Section 6.01(a) , promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Priority Lien securing such Priority Lien Obligations and shall, to the extent consistent with Section 6.01(a) , promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Priority Lien then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section  4.03 and to the extent consistent with Section 6.01(a) , be held in trust for and paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Priority Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.

(b) If after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, any Second Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor a Recovery for any reason whatsoever, then the Second Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Second Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Second Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, a Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, receives notice of any Recovery, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Third Lien securing such Third Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Third Lien then held by it over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section  4.03 , be held in trust for and paid over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Second Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.

 

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(c) This Section  4.03 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.04 Refinancings; Additional Second Lien Debt; Additional Third Lien Debt .

(a) The Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations may be Replaced by any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility, as the case may be, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided , that (i) the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall receive on or prior to incurrence of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Credit Facility (A) an Officers’ Certificate from the Company stating and certifying that (I) the incurrence thereof and the related Liens are permitted to be incurred by each applicable Secured Debt Document, (II) the requirements of Section  4.06 have been satisfied, and (III) such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility constitutes “Priority Lien Debt”, “Second Lien Debt” or “Third Lien Debt”, as applicable, for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents and this Agreement; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as more than one of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, (B) a Priority Confirmation Joinder from an authorized agent, trustee or other representative of the holders or lenders of any indebtedness that Replaces any of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof and (C) evidence that the Company has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by the Company and the holder of such Replacement, or its Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that such Replacement is secured by the Collateral in accordance with the applicable Security Documents ( provided that such filings and recordings may be authorized, executed and recorded following any incurrence on a post-closing basis if permitted by the applicable Secured Debt Representative), (ii) in the case of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Priority Lien Obligations plus the unused portion of any borrowing base (plus the unused portion of any other then unutilized facilities thereunder, if any) at such time (including any interest paid-in-kind) outstanding at any time under the definitive debt documents for the Priority Substitute Credit Facility and any other Priority Lien Obligations (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof), after giving effect to such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, shall not exceed the Priority Lien Cap, (iii) in the case of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, such Indebtedness shall not mature and shall not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to 91 days after the latest stated final maturity date of the Second Lien Indenture (and, if applicable, of any Second Lien Substitute Facility) and, if later, of any Additional Second Lien Obligations (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Second Lien Obligations

 

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being refinanced or exchanged and (iv) in the case of a Third Lien Substitute Facility, such Indebtedness shall not mature and shall not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to 180 days after the latest maturity date of the Second Lien Debt (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions, which shall be no more favorable to the holders thereof than the corresponding provisions of the Second Lien Documents) and the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the sum of (x) the principal amount of the Third Lien Obligations, plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, being refinanced or exchanged and (y) the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Existing Unsecured Notes (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) being refinanced or exchanged.

(b) The Company will be permitted to designate hereunder as an additional holder of Second Lien Obligations or as an initial or additional holder of Third Lien Obligations each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable, incurred by the Company on or after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Secured Debt Documents. The Company may effect such designation by delivering to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, each of the following:

(i) an Officers’ Certificate (A) stating and certifying that the Company intends to incur (I) Additional Second Lien Obligations which will be Second Lien Debt and will be secured by a Second Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Second Lien Debt, (II) [RESERVED] or (III) or Additional Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt and will be secured by a Third Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Third Lien Debt, (B) stating and certifying that such Indebtedness and Liens securing such Indebtedness (and all related obligations) will be permitted to be incurred by each applicable Secured Debt Document, (C) stating and certifying that the requirements of Section  4.06 have been satisfied, and (D) in the case of Additional Second Lien Obligations (other than the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility described in Section 4.04(e) ), stating and certifying that such Indebtedness does not mature and does not have any mandatory or scheduled payments or sinking fund obligations prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest stated final maturity date of the Second Lien Indenture (and, if applicable, of any Second Lien Substitute Facility) and, if later, of any Additional Second Lien Obligations (except as a result of a customary change of control or asset sale repurchase offer provisions) and the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Second Lien Obligations being refinanced or exchanged;

(ii) an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or lenders of any Additional Second Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, must be designated as an additional holder of Secured Obligations hereunder and must, prior to such designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such Additional Second Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, a Priority Confirmation Joinder, and, to the extent necessary or appropriate (as reasonably determined by each of the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee) to facilitate such transaction, a new intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof; and

 

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(iii) evidence that the Company has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by the Company and the holder of such Additional Second Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, or its Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional Second Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, as applicable ( provided that such filings and recordings may be authorized, executed and recorded following any incurrence on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Second Lien Representatives or Third Lien Representatives for such Additional Second Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable).

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section  4.04 , nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company or any other Grantor to incur additional indebtedness (or to incur, assume or otherwise permit or allow to exist any Liens) unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each Secured Debt Document.

(d) Each of the then-exiting Priority Lien Agent, Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall be authorized to execute and deliver such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to any such Replacement or any incurrence of Additional Second Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, it being understood that the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent or (if permitted by the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Documents) the Grantors, without the consent of any other Secured Party or (in the case of the Grantors) one or more Secured Debt Representatives, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of the Grantors. Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

(e) Each Secured Debt Representative, for itself and on behalf of each applicable Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that the Indenture (with respect to the 8.0%/11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022) dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Company, as the issuer, the Grantors party thereto from time to time, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Second Lien Substitute Facility constitute a Second Lien Debt Facility and the indebtedness and other obligations thereunder and the guarantees thereof, in each case, as in effect on the date hereof, constitute Second Lien Debt.

 

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(f) Each Secured Debt Representative, for itself and on behalf of each applicable Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Company, the Grantors party thereto from time to time, the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto from time to time, the Junior Third Lien Collateral Agent and Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent, as administrative agent thereunder, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, and (ii) the 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Company, the Grantors party thereto from time to time, the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto from time to time, the Senior Third Lien Collateral Agent and Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent, as administrative agent thereunder, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, each constitute a Third Lien Debt Facility and the indebtedness and other obligations, respectively, thereunder and the guarantees, respectively, thereof, in each case, as in effect on the date hereof, constitute Third Lien Debt.

SECTION 4.05 Amendments to Priority Lien Documents, Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, no Priority Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Priority Lien Document would (i) adversely affect the Lien priority rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties, as the case may be, to receive required payments that are due and payable (or than are otherwise owed) pursuant to the Second Lien Documents or Third Lien Documents, as applicable, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing the Collateral granted under the Priority Lien Security Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights on the Priority Lien Collateral Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the interests of the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties in any material respects, (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Second Lien Documents, (v) increase the outstanding principal amount of the loans and other extensions of credit and the stated amount of letters of credit under the Priority Credit Agreement and/or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility and/or any other Priority Lien Documents to an aggregate amount being in excess of the amount set forth in clause (a) of the definition of “Priority Lien Cap”, (vi) provide for the incurrence of incremental facilities or incremental indebtedness (or incremental equivalent facilities or indebtedness) (or analogous extensions of credit), (vii) change any covenants, defaults, or events of default under any Priority Lien Document (including the addition of covenants, defaults, or events of default not contained in the Priority Credit Agreement or other Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof), (viii) change the waterfall provisions or similar order of payment provisions in the Priority Lien Documents or create or otherwise establish layers of Priority Lien Debt or other subordinated tranches (or sub-tranches) of Priority Lien Debt, (ix) increase the applicable margin or similar component of interest rate (including by increasing any interest rate floor) or add or increase any fees (excluding any customary one-time fees, whether payable at one time or in multiple installments, payable in connection with an amendment, waiver or similar agreement or

 

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customary fees in connection with an extension of additional credit) or existing premiums in a manner that would increase the total yield on the Priority Lien Debt by more than three percent (3%) above the total current yield on the Priority Lien Debt as specified in the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof or increase the default rate by any margin or increase any (or add any additional) prepayment or other premium, or “make-whole” or similar premium, or (x) except as otherwise contemplated or required by the Priority Lien Documents (as in effect on the date hereof) or any equivalent terms in any Priority Lien Document entered into after the date hereof that are no more extensive than the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof, and except in connection with any DIP Financing permitted hereunder, expressly subordinate the Lien on the Collateral under the Priority Lien Documents to Liens on the Collateral securing any other indebtedness.

(b) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, no Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document, as applicable, would (i) adversely affect the Lien priority rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing the Collateral granted under the Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, (iii) confer any additional material rights on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Priority Lien Secured Parties (other than for periods following the latest maturity date under the Priority Credit Agreement) unless a similar modification is concurrently made under the Priority Lien Documents, (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Priority Lien Documents, (v) change to earlier dates any dates upon which required payments of principal or interest are due thereon (except to the extent that equivalent changes are implemented under the First Lien Documents), (vi) change the mandatory redemption, prepayment, repurchase, tender or defeasance provisions thereof in a manner that would require a redemption, prepayment, repurchase, tender or defeasance not required pursuant to the terms of such Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document, as applicable, as of the date hereof, or in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, (vii) change any covenants, defaults, or events of default under the Second Lien Indenture or any other Second Lien Document or under any Third Lien Document (including the addition of covenants, defaults, or events of default not contained in the Second Lien Indenture or other Second Lien Documents or Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement or other Third Lien Document as in effect on the date hereof) to restrict any Grantor from making payments of the Priority Lien Debt that would otherwise be permitted under the Second Lien Documents or Third Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof, (viii) change any default or event of default thereunder in a manner materially adverse to Grantors thereunder (it being understood that any waiver of any such default or event of default, in and of itself, shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to Grantors) when taken as a whole, than any corresponding defaults or events of default under the Priority Lien Documents (other than for periods following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), unless a similar amendment or modification is concurrently made under the Priority Lien Documents, or (ix) increase materially the non-monetary obligations of Grantors thereunder or confer any additional

 

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material rights on the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties that would be adverse to the interests of the Priority Lien Secured Parties (other than for periods following the latest maturity date under the Priority Credit Agreement) unless a similar modification is concurrently made under the Priority Lien Documents.

(c) Prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, no Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Third Lien Document, as applicable, would (i) adversely affect the Lien priority rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Second Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing the Collateral granted under the Third Lien Security Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights or benefits on the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the interests of the Second Lien Secured Parties, (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Second Lien Documents, (v) change to earlier dates any dates upon which payments of principal or interest are due thereon (except to the extent that equivalent changes are implemented under the Priority Lien Documents and Second Lien Documents), (vi) change the mandatory redemption, prepayment, repurchase, tender or defeasance provisions thereof in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Second Lien Secured Parties, (vii) change any covenants, defaults, or events of default under the Third Lien Documents (including the addition of covenants, defaults, or events of default not contained in the Priority Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof) to restrict any Grantor from making payments of the Priority Lien Debt or the Second Lien Debt or from making a Disposition of any property or assets (including Collateral) that would otherwise be permitted under the Third Lien Documents (as in effect on the date hereof), (viii) change any default or event of default thereunder in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Grantors thereunder (it being understood that any waiver of any such default or event of default, in and of itself, shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Grantors) when taken as a whole (other than for periods following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations), unless a similar amendment or modification is concurrently made under the Second Lien Documents or (ix) increase the non-monetary or monetary obligations of any of the Grantors thereunder or confer any additional rights on the Third Lien Secured Parties that would be adverse to the interests of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or the Second Lien Secured Parties (other than for periods following the latest maturity date under the Priority Credit Agreement and the Second Lien Indenture) unless a similar modification is concurrently made under the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents. In addition, prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification would be adverse to the interests of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or the Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

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SECTION 4.06 Legends .

Each of:

(a) the Priority Lien Agent acknowledges with respect to the Priority Credit Agreement and the Priority Lien Security Documents,

(b) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Second Lien Indenture and the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, and (ii) the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents, if any, and

(c) the Third Lien Collateral Agent acknowledges with respect to (i) the Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Security Documents and (ii) the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents, if any, that the Second Lien Indenture, the Third Lien Debt Facility, the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties), the Third Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent are parties) and each associated Security Document (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties or, in the case of Third Lien Security Documents, other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent are parties) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain the appropriate legend set forth on Annex  I .

SECTION 4.07 Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor . Both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims; provided, however, that the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may not take any action inconsistent with this Agreement, provided, further, that in the event that any of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties becomes a judgment Lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, such judgment Lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations, as applicable) as the Second Liens and Third Liens, as applicable, are subject to this Agreement.

SECTION 4.08 Postponement of Subrogation .

(a) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that no payment or distribution to any Priority Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until, in the case of the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and in the case of the Third Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section  4.03 , each Priority Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Second Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in

 

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the Priority Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Priority Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Priority Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that no payment or distribution to any Second Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof. Following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section  4.03 , each Second Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Third Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Second Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Second Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Second Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

SECTION 4.09 Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges that this Agreement is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, that each has relied on this Agreement to enter into the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture, the Additional Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, as applicable, and all documentation related thereto, and that each will continue to rely on this Agreement in their related future dealings.

SECTION 4.10 Right of First Offer of Backstop Commitment Parties

(i) Grant . The Priority RBL Agent, on behalf of itself and each Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement), and, by its acceptance hereof, the Company, each hereby (x) unconditionally and irrevocably grants to each Backstop Commitment Party, in accordance with its ROFO Applicable Percentage, a Right of First Offer, from and after the date of this Agreement until the termination of the Priority Credit Agreement and the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and (y) agrees that, for purposes of exercising the Right of First Offer provided for in this Section  4.10 , each of the Backstop Commitment Parties and their permitted transferees or assignees shall constitute an “Eligible Assignee” under the Priority Credit Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Priority Credit Agreement, (1) so long as, at any applicable date of determination, the Backstop Commitment Parties, in the aggregate, hold Credit Exposures and Unused Commitments (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) representing less than 33.33% of the Aggregate Credit Exposure (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) and Unused Commitments at such time (or, if the Commitments (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) have been terminated, if the Backstop Commitment Parties hold, in the aggregate, Credit Exposures

 

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representing less than 33.33% the Aggregate Credit Exposure at such time), the Backstop Commitment Parties that have exercised such Right of First Offer shall not have any right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Priority Credit Agreement (other than (x) the rights a Defaulting Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) would have with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 11.02(b) of the Priority Credit Agreement that affects such Backstop Commitment Party, (y) with respect to any proposed amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Priority Credit Agreement that would require a vote of 100% of the Lenders (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) or (z) with respect to any proposed amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Priority Credit Agreement that would treat any Backstop Commitment Party in a manner that is less favorable to such Backstop Commitment Party in any respect than the proposed treatment of the other Lenders (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) (and with it being understood and agreed that the Backstop Commitment Parties will not agree to any proposed amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Priority Credit Agreement that would treat any Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) that is not a Backstop Commitment Party in a manner that is less favorable to such Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) in any respect than the proposed treatment of the Backstop Commitment Parties), (2) if, at any applicable date of determination, the Backstop Commitment Parties, in the aggregate, hold Credit Exposures and Unused Commitments (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) representing at least 33.33% of the Aggregate Credit Exposure (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) and all Unused Commitments at such time (or, if the Commitments (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) have been terminated, if the Backstop Commitment Parties hold, in the aggregate, Credit Exposures representing at least 33.33% the Aggregate Credit Exposure at such time), the Backstop Commitment Parties that have exercised such Right of First Offer shall have the same rights to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Priority Credit Agreement as the other Lenders (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) and (3) no assignment (or proposed assignment) of all or a portion of the rights and obligations of a Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) under the Priority Credit Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and the Loans (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement)) may be consummated unless the applicable Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement), the ROFO Agent, the Priority RBL Agent and the applicable Backstop Commitment Parties have complied with the provisions of this Section  4.10 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the notice requirements and notice periods provided for in Section 4.10(ii) ), and any such proposed assignment shall also be subject to compliance with the provisions of this Section  4.10 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the notice requirements and notice periods provided for in Section 4.10(ii) ). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that compliance by an applicable Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) with this Section  4.10 with respect to a particular assignment or proposed assignment shall not be deemed to mean that such Lender need not comply with this Section  4.10 with respect to any future or separate assignment or proposed assignment.

 

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(ii) Notice and Forfeiture . Prior to commencing the consent solicitation required to be undertaken pursuant to Section 11.04(b) of the Priority Credit Agreement with respect to a proposed assignment of all or a portion of the rights and obligations of a Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) under the Priority Credit Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and the Loans (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) at the time owing to it)), the Priority RBL Agent shall notify the ROFO Agent and deliver proposed assignment documentation to the ROFO Agent, who will promptly deliver such documentation to the Backstop Commitment Parties. Such delivered assignment documentation shall consist of an unexecuted Assignment and Assumption (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) that shall contain information as to the aggregate amount of the proposed assignment and the identity of the proposed assigning Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement). To exercise its Right of First Offer under this Section  4.10 , the applicable Backstop Commitment Party must deliver a ROFO Notice to the ROFO Agent (who will promptly deliver the same to the Priority RBL Agent) within five (5) business days after receipt by the ROFO Agent of the assignment documentation required to be delivered to the Backstop Commitment Parties under this Section  4.10 . If the terms of the ROFO Notice provide for a purchase price for the applicable Loans and Revolving Commitments (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) that is equal to par, then the Priority RBL Agent (on behalf of itself and the applicable assigning Lender) shall accept the offer set forth in the ROFO Notice. If the terms of the ROFO Notice provide for a purchase price for the applicable Loans and Revolving Commitments (each as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) that is less than par, then the Priority RBL Agent shall have a period (not to exceed five (5) business days) to inform the ROFO Agent whether such offer has been accepted or declined by the proposed assigning Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) (and with it being understood and agreed that if the Priority RBL Agent has not provided the ROFO Agent with a response within such five (5) business day period, such offer shall be deemed to have been declined by the applicable assigning Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement)).    In the event the offer provided for in the applicable ROFO Notice is accepted (whether automatically (in the case of an offer at par) or by the applicable assigning Lender (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) as provided in the immediately preceding sentence), the applicable accepting Backstop Commitment Party shall consummate the proposed assignment in accordance with its ROFO Applicable Percentage, within a reasonable period of time following confirmation of the acceptance of its offer from the Priority RBL Agent. Upon receipt of such ROFO Notice, the ROFO Agent shall deliver a copy of such ROFO Notice to the Priority RBL Agent for delivery to the applicable Lender(s) (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement). Failure to deliver a ROFO Notice within the time period provided for in this Section 4.10(b) will result in the forfeiture of the applicable Backstop Commitment Party’s exercise of the Right of First Offer as it applies to the proposed assignment which occasioned its application and will otherwise authorize the consummation of the proposed assignment, on the terms provided to the Backstop Commitment Parties, between the applicable Lender(s) (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) and proposed assignee(s).

 

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ARTICLE V

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY

INTERESTS

SECTION 5.01 General . Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Priority Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any Account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such Account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Agent will serve as gratuitous bailee for (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Second Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Agent for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Agent on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article  II . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Priority Lien Agent will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Second Lien or Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Second Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Second Lien and the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account by the Priority Lien Agent. The Priority Lien Agent acting pursuant to this Section  5.01 shall not have by reason of the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section  4.03 , from and after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account (in each case to the extent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral or Account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Second Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any Account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such Account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will serve as gratuitous bailee for the Third Lien Collateral Agent for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Agent on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the rights of the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee acting pursuant to this Section  5.01 shall not have by reason of the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any Third Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section  4.03 , from and after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Grantors and/or the Third Lien Collateral Agent (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account (in each case to the extent the Third Lien Collateral Agent has a Lien on such Collateral or Account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Third Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties.

SECTION 5.02 Deposit Accounts.

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, to the extent that any Account is under the control of the Priority Lien Agent at any time, the Priority Lien Agent will act as gratuitous bailee for (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Second Lien Secured Parties and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Agent for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Third Lien Secured Parties in such Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section  3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section  5.02(a) ). Unless the Second Liens on such Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall, at the request of the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, cooperate with the Grantors and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Accounts to be transferred to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Accounts satisfactory to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to be made).

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, to the extent that any Account is under the control of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will act as gratuitous bailee for the Third Lien Collateral Agent for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Third Lien Secured Parties in such Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section  3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Third Lien Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section  5.02(b) ). Unless the Third Liens on such Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall, at the request of the Grantors and/or the Third Lien Collateral Agent, cooperate with the Grantors and the Third Lien Collateral Agent (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Accounts to be transferred to the Third Lien Collateral Agent (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Accounts satisfactory to the Third Lien Collateral Agent to be made).

 

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ARTICLE VI

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

SECTION 6.01 Application of Proceeds .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or Proceeds (or any distribution of cash, property or debt or equity securities in full or partial satisfaction or waiver of any claims of any Third Lien Secured Party against any Grantor in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral or received in connection with an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or with respect to the occurrence of any “Change of Control” (or similar term) as such term is defined under any Priority Lien Document, the Second Lien Documents or Third Lien Documents, will be applied:

(i) first , to the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations that are not Excess Priority Lien Obligations,

(ii) second , to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

(iii) third , to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations,

(iv) fourth , to the payment in full in cash of all Excess Priority Lien Obligations, and

(v) fifth , to the Company or as otherwise required by applicable law.

For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.01(a) , the provisions of this Section 6.01(a) shall not apply to any payments required to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any “Change of Control” offer to purchase indebtedness under (x) any Second Lien Documents or (y) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing under either the Priority Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents and only to the extent permitted by both the terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, the Third Lien Documents.

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or Proceeds (or, with respect to any Third Lien Secured Party, any distribution of cash, property or debt or equity securities in full or partial satisfaction or waiver of any claims of any Third Lien Secured Party against any Grantor in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral or received in connection with an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding will be applied:

 

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(i) first , to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

(ii) second , to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations,

(iii) third , to the payment in full in cash of all Excess Priority Lien Obligations, and

(iv) fourth , to the Company or as otherwise required by applicable law.

SECTION 6.02 Determination of Amounts . Whenever a Secured Debt Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Priority Lien Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Obligations), Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Secured Debt Representatives and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided , however , that if a Secured Debt Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Secured Debt Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the Company. Each Secured Debt Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

ARTICLE VII

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;

CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

SECTION 7.01 No Reliance; Information . The Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to disclose to any Third Lien Secured Party, Second Lien Secured Party or to any Priority Lien Secured Party, as the case may be, any information relating to the Company or any of the other Grantors, or any other circumstance bearing upon the risk of non-payment of any of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as the case may be, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any of their Affiliates. In the event any Priority Lien Secured Party, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Third Lien Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to, any Third Lien Secured Party, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Priority Lien Secured Party, as the case may be, it shall be under no obligation (a) to make, and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information so provided, (b) to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or (c) to undertake any investigation.

 

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SECTION 7.02 No Warranties or Liability .

(a) The Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article  VIII , (i) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

(b) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article  VIII , (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Agent nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

(c) The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article  VIII , (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

(d) The Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party, to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default or an event of default under any Priority Lien Document, any Second Lien Document and any Third Lien Document (other than, in each case, this Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

 

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(e) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or such Priority Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Priority Lien Obligations. The Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such Second Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Second Lien Obligations.

SECTION 7.03 Obligations Absolute . The Lien priorities provided for herein and the respective rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Secured Debt Document;

(b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of (including the Replacing of), all or any portion of the Priority Lien Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed;

(c) any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of any Secured Debt Document;

(d) the securing of any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral or any release of any guarantee securing any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations;

 

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(e) the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Company or any other Grantor; or

(f) any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Company or any other Grantor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations.

SECTION 7.04 Grantors Consent . Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Debt Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein).

ARTICLE VIII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

SECTION 8.01 Representations and Warranties of Each Party . Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

(a) such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement;

(b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and

(c) the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Priority RBL Credit Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Priority RBL Credit Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof) and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

SECTION 8.02 Representations and Warranties of Each Representative . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01 Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

  (a) if to the Original Priority Lien Agent, to it at:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

10 South Dearborn, Floor L2

Chicago, IL 60603-2300

Facsimile: (888) 292-9533

Attention: April Yebd

with a copy to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

2200 Ross Avenue, 3 rd Floor

Dallas, TX 75201-2787

Facsimile: (214) 302-8695

Attention: Michele L. Jones, Managing Director

 

  (b) if to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, to it at:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

Attention: EXCO Resources, Inc. Administrator

Facsimile: 302-636-4145

 

  (c) if to the Original Third Lien Collateral Agent, to it at:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Facsimile: (612) 217-5651

Attention: Meghan McCauley

 

  (d) if to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

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Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a business day) and on the next business day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five business days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section  9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section  9.01 . As agreed to in writing among the Company, the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendment .

(a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph  (b) of this Section  9.02 , and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Secured Debt Representative; provided , however , that this Agreement may be amended from time to time as provided in Section  4.04 . Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Secured Debt Representative as permitted by the proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Secured Debt Representative for its review at least 5 business days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment.

SECTION 9.03 Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance .

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Priority Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, if any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Second Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor.

 

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(b) (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, should any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, (A) may obtain relief against such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Priority Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Priority Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, should any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, (A) may obtain relief against such Third Lien Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by the Third Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Second Lien Secured Parties damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.04 Parties in Interest . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.05 Survival of Agreement . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.06 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.07 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 9.08 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW).

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph  (b) of this Section  9.08 . Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section  9.01 . Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

76


SECTION 9.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 9.10 Headings . Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.11 Conflicts . In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Debt Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided , however , that if any of the provisions of the Third Lien Security Documents limit, qualify or conflict with the duties imposed by the provisions of the TIA, in each case, the TIA shall control.

SECTION 9.12 Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights . The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the distinct and separate relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties. None of the Company, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement ( provided that nothing in this Agreement is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture, the Additional Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, as applicable), and except as expressly provided in this Agreement neither the Company nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections  4.01 , 4.02 , 4.04 , or 4.05 , Article  VII and Article  IX ). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Company or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Debt Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Secured Debt Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from acting pursuant to this Agreement, any Priority Lien Document, any Second Lien Document or any Third Lien Document with respect to any Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Priority Lien Document.

SECTION 9.13 Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent .

(a) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to directions set forth in the Second Lien Indenture; and in so doing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this

 

77


Agreement, for purposes of clarity and avoidance of doubt, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations with respect to covenants and agreements made by or on behalf of any other Second Lien Secured Party in this Agreement .  In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents (including, without limitation, Article  10 of the Second Lien Indenture and Article 5 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement). Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, whenever reference is made in this Agreement to any action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, it is understood that in all cases the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be acting, giving, withholding, suffering, omitting, taking or otherwise undertaking and exercising the same (or shall not be undertaking and exercising the same), in each case in accordance with the Second Lien Documents. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and its successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle the other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto.

(b) The Third Lien Collateral Agent is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to directions set forth in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and other Third Lien Documents; and in so doing, the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, for purposes of clarity and avoidance of doubt, the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have no duties or obligations with respect to covenants and agreements made by or on behalf of any Third Lien Secured Party in this Agreement. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and other Third Lien Documents. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, whenever reference is made in this Agreement to any action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Third Lien Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Third Lien Collateral Agent, it is understood that in all cases the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall be acting, giving, withholding, suffering, omitting, taking or otherwise undertaking and exercising the same (or shall not be undertaking and exercising the same), in each case in accordance with the Third Lien Documents. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Third Lien Collateral Agent and its successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle the other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto.

 

78


SECTION 9.14 Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, none of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement. None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or the Company or any other Grantor) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is acting in good faith.

(b) Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Agent is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, respectively, and not in its individual capacity.

(c) The Priority Lien Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Representatives or any other Second Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party.

(d) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Agent or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party.

(e) The Third Lien Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Representatives or any other Second Lien Secured Party.

SECTION 9.15 Authorization of Secured Agents . By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents, each Priority Lien Secured Party authorizes the Priority Lien Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Second Lien Security Documents, each Second Lien Secured Party authorizes the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Third Lien Security Documents, each Third Lien Secured Party authorizes the Third Lien Collateral Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.

 

79


SECTION 9.16 Further Assurances . Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, and each Grantor party hereto, for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law, or which the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for herein.

SECTION 9.17 Relationship of Secured Parties . Nothing set forth herein shall create or evidence a joint venture, partnership or an agency or fiduciary relationship among the Secured Parties. None of the Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to any other Secured Party or to any other Person for any Grantor’s solvency, financial condition or ability to repay the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, or for statements of any Grantor, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, or any security interests granted by any Grantor to any Secured Party in connection therewith. Each Secured Party has entered into its respective financing agreements with the Grantors based upon its own independent investigation, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Agent makes any warranty or representation to the other Secured Debt Representatives or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent nor does it rely upon any representation of the other agents or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Agreement.

SECTION 9.18 Reciprocal Rights 1.1. The parties agree that the provisions of Sections 2.01(c) (but, for the purposes of this Section  9.18 , without giving effect to the reference to the Priority Lien Cap therein), 3 (exercise of remedies), 4 (other than with respect to any Second Lien DIP Financing or any Permitted Junior DIP Financing), 5.01 , 5.02 , 7.02(e) , and 9.03 , including, as applicable, the defined terms referenced therein (but only to the extent used therein), which govern the relationship, and certain rights, restrictions, and agreements, between the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Priority Lien Debt, on the one hand, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Second Lien Debt, on the other hand, shall, from and after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and until the Discharge of the Second Lien Obligations, apply to and govern, mutatis mutandis , the relationship between and among (A) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Second Lien Debt, on the one hand (which, for purposes of this Section  9.18 shall be treated for all purposes as the Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties as referenced in such aforementioned provisions), (B) the Third Lien Collateral Agent and the other Third Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Third Lien Debt (which, for purposes of this Section  9.18 shall be treated for all purposes as the Second Lien Debt, the Second Lien Agent and the other Second Lien Secured Parties as referenced in such aforementioned provisions) and (C) Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Excess Priority Lien Obligations (which, for purposes of this Section  9.18 shall, for the avoidance of doubt, remain treated for all purposes as the Excess Priority Lien Obligations as referenced in such aforementioned provisions).

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

80


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as

Original Priority Lien Agent

By:  

/s/ David Morris

  Name: David Morris
  Title: Authorized Officer

 

Signature page

Intercreditor Agreement


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Michael H. Wass

Name: Michael H. Wass
Title: Vice President

 

Signature page

Intercreditor Agreement


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Original Third Lien Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

Name: Renee Kuhl
Title: Vice President

 

Signature page to

Intercreditor Agreement


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:
GRANTORS :
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC,
  its general partner

 

Signature page to

Intercreditor Agreement


By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:   Raider Marketing GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature page to

Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit 10.10

EXECUTION VERSION

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT

dated as of March 15, 2017

among

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

as the Company,

the Grantors and Guarantors from time to time party hereto,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee under the Second Lien Indenture,

the other Parity Lien Debt Representatives from time to time party hereto

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
ARTICLE 1  
DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION  

Section 1.1 Defined Terms

     2  

Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation

     11  
ARTICLE 2  
THE TRUST ESTATE  

Section 2.1 Declaration of Trust

     11  

Section 2.2 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably

     12  

Section 2.3 Similar Collateral and Agreements

     13  

Section 2.4 Effectiveness in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

     13  

Section 2.5 Certain Bankruptcy Matters

     13  
ARTICLE 3  
OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE  

Section 3.1 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee

     14  

Section 3.2 Release or Subordination of Liens

     15  

Section 3.3 Enforcement of Liens

     16  

Section 3.4 Application of Proceeds

     17  

Section 3.5 Powers of the Collateral Trustee

     19  

Section 3.6 Documents and Communications

     20  

Section 3.7 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations

     20  

Section 3.8 Additional Parity Lien Debt

     20  

Section 3.9 Post-Petition Interest

     23  

Section 3.10 Reinstatement

     23  
ARTICLE 4  
OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS  

Section 4.1 Release of Liens on Collateral

     23  

Section 4.2 Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives

     25  

Section 4.3 Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record

     25  

Section 4.4 Release of Liens

     26  


ARTICLE 5  
IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE  

Section 5.1 No Implied Duty

     26  

Section 5.2 Appointment of Agents and Advisors

     26  

Section 5.3 Other Agreements

     26  

Section 5.4 Solicitation of Instructions

     27  

Section 5.5 Limitation of Liability

     27  

Section 5.6 Documents in Satisfactory Form

     27  

Section 5.7 Entitled to Rely

     27  

Section 5.8 Parity Lien Debt Default

     28  

Section 5.9 Actions by Collateral Trustee

     28  

Section 5.10 Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee

     28  

Section 5.11 Rights of the Collateral Trustee

     28  

Section 5.12 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral

     29  

Section 5.13 Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties

     29  

Section 5.14 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials

     30  

Section 5.15 Other Relationships with the Company, Grantors or Guarantors

     30  

Section 5.16 No Liability for Interest

     30  

Section 5.17 Non-Reliance on Collateral Trustee

     31  
ARTICLE 6  
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE  

Section 6.1 Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee

     31  

Section 6.2 Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee

     31  

Section 6.3 Succession

     32  

Section 6.4 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee

     32  

Section 6.5 Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives

     32  
ARTICLE 7  
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  

Section 7.1 Amendment

     33  

Section 7.2 Voting

     35  

Section 7.3 Further Assurances

     35  

Section 7.4 Successors and Assigns

     36  

Section 7.5 Delay and Waiver

     37  

Section 7.6 Notices

     37  

Section 7.7 Entire Agreement

     38  

Section 7.8 Compensation; Expenses

     38  

Section 7.9 Indemnity

     39  

Section 7.10 Severability

     40  

Section 7.11 Headings

     40  

 

ii


Section 7.12 Obligations Secured

     40  

Section 7.13 Governing Law

     40  

Section 7.14 Consent to Jurisdiction

     40  

Section 7.15 Waiver of Jury Trial

     41  

Section 7.16 Counterparts, Electronic Signatures

     42  

Section 7.17 Effectiveness

     42  

Section 7.18 Grantors and Additional Grantors

     42  

Section 7.19 Insolvency

     42  

Section 7.20 Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives

     42  

Section 7.21 Intercreditor Agreement

     42  

Section 7.22 Force Majeure

     43  

Section 7.23 U.S.A. Patriot Act

     43  

Exhibit A

  

[Form of] Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate

Exhibit B

  

[Form of] Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Debt

Exhibit C

  

[Form of] Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Grantor

 

iii


This Collateral Trust Agreement (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified form time to time in accordance with Section  7.1 hereof, this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of as of March 15, 2017, and is by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), the Grantors and Guarantors from time to time party hereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Notes Trustee (as defined below), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee hereunder (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Collateral Trustee ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on the date hereof the Company issued certain 8.0%/11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes Due 2022 (the “ Initial Second Lien Notes ”) in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 and may from time to time thereafter issue PIK Notes (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture), in each case pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced on or prior to the date hereof and as may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the date hereof in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different noteholders and/or trustees in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement “ Second Lien Indenture ”) among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee and the Second Lien Notes Trustee (as defined below), which Notes will be Parity Lien Debt for purposes of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors intend to secure, and shall continue to secure, their Obligations under the Second Lien Indenture and any future Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents.

WHEREAS, this Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) has appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as the collateral trustee for the present and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Trustee or the subject of the Parity Lien Security Documents, and to enforce the Parity Lien Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof.

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article  1 below.


AGREEMENT

In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1 Defined Terms . The following terms will have the following meanings:

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

Additional Parity Lien Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.8(b) .

Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate ” means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A .

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

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

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

(3)    appointing the Collateral Trustee and consenting to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Collateral Trustee of, and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under this Agreement, the Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

2


Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

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

Board of Directors ” means: (1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation; (2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Business Day ” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or any other place of payment are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1)    in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation;

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

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

(4)    any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be Capital Stock unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

Collateral ” means all assets and property of the Company or a Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the date of the Second Lien Indenture by the Company or a Grantor as to which a Lien has been granted under any of the Parity Lien Security Documents to secure any of the Parity Lien Obligations.

Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Collateral Trust Joinder ” means (1) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Additional Parity Lien Debt, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B and (2) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the addition of additional Grantors, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

 

3


Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Credit Agreement ” means the “Priority Credit Agreement” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations means, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section  3.10 , payment in full, in cash (except for contingent indemnities and cost and reimbursement obligations to the extent no claim has been made) constituting Dollars of all Parity Lien Obligations and the concurrently termination of all commitments to extend credit under the Parity Lien Documents relating thereto; provided that the Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred if such payments are made with the proceeds of other Parity Lien Obligations that constitute an exchange or replacement for or a Refinancing of such Parity Lien Obligations.

Dollars and the sign “ $ ” shall each mean lawful money of the United States of America.

Financial Officer ” of any Person means the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, principal accounting officer, Controller, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of such Person.

Grantor ” means each of and “ Grantors ” means, collectively, the Company and the Guarantors and any other Person (if any) that at any time provides collateral security for any Parity Lien Obligations.

Guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations (and “ Guaranteed ” and “ Guaranteeing ” shall have meanings that correspond to the foregoing).

Guarantor ” means any Person who has Guaranteed payment of any Parity Lien Obligations, and their respective successors and assigns.

Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Second Lien Indenture or to such term or other similar term in any applicable Parity Lien Document.

Indemnified Liabilities ” means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of any Parity Lien Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Grantor or Guarantor or any of the Collateral and all

 

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reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.9(a) .

Initial First Lien Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

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

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

(3)    any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor; or

(4)    any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as October 26, 2015 and as amended and restated as of the date hereof, among the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Junior Lien Agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

Junior Lien ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Junior Lien Agent ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Collateral Agent” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Junior Lien Debt ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Debt” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Junior Lien Documents ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Documents” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to give a security interest therein and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction or Production Payments and Reserve Sales and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest at the rate provided for in the Parity Lien Documents (including default interest), premium (if any, and including any “make-whole” amount), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness, in each case whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and, in each case, whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be either the principal executive officer or a Financial Officer, as applicable.

Oil and Gas Properties ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Trustee, of counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Trustee. Opinions of Counsel required to be delivered under this Agreement may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required and counsel delivering such Opinions of Counsel may rely as to factual matters on certificates of the Company or governmental or other officials customary for opinions of the type required.

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Grantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Parity Lien Security Document, at any time, upon any property of the Company or such Grantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

Parity Lien Debt ” means:

(1)    the Second Lien Notes, the “Obligations” (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) and Second Lien Indenture Guarantees thereof (including replacements of such Parity Lien Debt with other Parity Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement); and

(2)    any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor (including replacements of Parity Lien Debt with other Parity Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) that is permitted to be incurred under Section  4.09(b )( 2) of the Second Lien Indenture that is secured equally and ratably with the

 

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Second Lien Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred under clause (b)(y) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) and also permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause  (2) of this definition, that:

(a)    on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate executed and delivered in accordance with Section  3.8(b) , as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Second Lien Indenture and “Parity Lien Debt” for purposes of this Agreement; provided , further , that no such Indebtedness may be designated as both (x) Parity Lien Debt and (y) either or both Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt;

(b)    such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation;

(c)    the Parity Lien Representative for such Indebtedness executes and delivers a Collateral Trust Joinder in accordance with Section  3.8(b) ; and

(d)    all other requirements set forth in Section  3.8 have been complied with.

Parity Lien Debt Default ” means any “Event of Default” as defined in the Second Lien Indenture, or any similar event or condition set forth in any other Parity Lien Document that causes, or permits holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has lapsed) to cause, the Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder to become immediately due and payable.

Parity Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Second Lien Indenture Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

Parity Lien Obligations ” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof, including any “Obligations” (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture).

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

(1)    in the case of the Second Lien Notes, the Second Lien Notes Trustee; or

(2)    in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who (A) is appointed to act for the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (B) that has executed a Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

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Parity Lien Secured Parties ” means the holders of Parity Lien Obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the “Secured Parties” under and as defined in the Second Lien Indenture), the Collateral Trustee and each Parity Lien Representative.

Parity Lien Security Documents ” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Second Lien Indenture (but only insofar as, and solely to the extent that, the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents, and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section  7.1 .

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

Plan of Reorganization means any plan of reorganization, plan of liquidation, agreement for composition, or other type of plan of arrangement proposed in or in connection with any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Priority Lien ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent under the Credit Agreement and any successor thereof in such capacity under the Credit Agreement, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Facility (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Priority Lien Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Documents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Representative ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Senior Priority Lien Representative” term in the Second Lien Indenture.

Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar denominated), partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a

 

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portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

Reaffirmation Agreement ” means an agreement reaffirming the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement.

Required Parity Lien Debtholders ” means the holders of 50% or more in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section  7.2. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding; provided , that for purposes of such restriction Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, Oaktree Capital Management and LS Power Group and their respective Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company.

Restricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Second Lien Indenture.

Second Lien Indenture ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.

Second Lien Indenture Documents ” means the Second Lien Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents and all other note documents (including the Note Documents (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture)), notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Second Lien Notes and other obligations (including the Obligations (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture)) under the Second Lien Indenture.

Second Lien Indenture Guarantees ” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Second Lien Indenture Documents and the Second Lien Notes by any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of the Second Lien Indenture Documents.

Second Lien Indenture Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Grantors and Guarantors party thereto and the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the Parity Lien Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

Second Lien Indenture Security Documents ” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Second Lien Indenture Security Agreement and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) (or the Parity Lien Secured Parties, as the case may be), in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section  7.1 .

 

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Second Lien Majority Holders ” means the consent of the Holders (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Second Lien Notes (including PIK Notes (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) if any) voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Second Lien Notes (as defined below)).

Second Lien Notes ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Notes” in the Second Lien Indenture.

Second Lien Notes Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association in its capacity as Trustee (under and as defined in the Second Lien Indenture), and any of its assignees or successors permitted in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

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

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

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

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any corporation, association, limited liability company or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or through another subsidiary, by that Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which (a) more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and (b) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Trust Estate ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.1 .

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other applicable jurisdiction.

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

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Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation .

(a)    All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Second Lien Indenture.

(b)    Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to any agreement or instrument will be deemed to include a reference to that agreement or instrument as assigned, amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time or replaced in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c)    The use in this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

(d)    References to “Sections,” “clauses,” “recitals” and the “preamble” will be to Sections, clauses, recitals and the preamble, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Articles” will be to Articles of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Exhibits” and “Schedules” will be to Exhibits and Schedules, respectively, to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Second Lien Indenture (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Second Lien Indenture (including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been made in accordance with the Second Lien Indenture.

(f)    This Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable either to this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

ARTICLE 2

THE TRUST ESTATE

Section 2.1 Declaration of Trust .

(a)    To secure the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations and in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the Grantors hereby ratifies

 

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and confirms the grant of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties, on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Collateral and on all Liens now granted, previously granted or hereafter granted to the Collateral Trustee by each Grantor under any Parity Lien Security Document for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Parity Lien Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the “ Trust Estate ”).

(b)    The Collateral Trustee and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Parity Lien Obligations.

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:

(i)    all Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations have been released as provided in Section  4.1 ;

(ii)    the Collateral Trustee holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;

(iii)    no monetary obligation (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not then due and payable and outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt that have been cash collateralized at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and

(iv)    the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all Parity Liens of the Collateral Trustee have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Documents and that the Grantors are not required by any Parity Lien Document to grant any Parity Lien upon any property,

then the Trust Estate arising hereunder will terminate, except that all provisions set forth in Sections  7.8 and 7.9 that are enforceable by the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.

The parties further declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Trustee subject to the further agreements herein.

Section 2.2 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably . The parties to this Agreement agree that the payment and satisfaction of all of the Parity Lien Obligations will be secured equally and ratably by the Parity Lien established in favor of the Collateral Trustee for

 

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the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding the time of incurrence of any Parity Lien Obligations or time or method of creation or perfection of any Parity Liens securing such Parity Lien Obligations and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC or any other applicable law or any defect or deficiencies in, or failure to perfect or lapse in perfection of, or avoidance as a fraudulent conveyance or otherwise of, the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations or any other circumstance whatsoever, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced against the Company or any other Grantor, it is the intent of the parties that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any other Grantor to secure any Parity Lien Obligations, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Parity Lien Obligations that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Parity Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably.

Section 2.3 Similar Collateral and Agreements . The parties to this Agreement agree that it is their intention that the Parity Liens be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than the Second Lien Indenture Security Documents) shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Second Lien Indenture Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral.

Section 2.4 Effectiveness in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings . All references in this Agreement to the Company, any Guarantor and any Grantor shall include such Person as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Section 2.5 Certain Bankruptcy Matters .

(a)    If any Grantor shall become subject to a case (a “ Bankruptcy Case ”) under the Bankruptcy Code and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing (“ DIP Financing ”) to be provided by one or more lenders, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include the holders of Second Lien Notes (the “ DIP Lenders ”), under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral or the sale of property that constitutes Collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, that is not objected to by the Second Lien Notes Trustee or otherwise in accordance with an Act of the Parity Lien Debtholders, each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Second Lien Notes Trustee or Collateral Trustee upon an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders) agrees that it will not raise any objection to, or support any Person objecting to, and shall be deemed to have consented to, any such financing or to the Liens on the Collateral securing the same (“ DIP Financing Liens ”) or to any use of cash collateral or sale that constitutes Collateral (including any, bid or sale procedure in respect thereof), unless the Second Lien Notes Trustee or the Collateral Trustee upon an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, shall then oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or use of cash collateral or sale of Collateral, in each case so long as (A) the Parity Lien Secured Parties of each Series of Parity Lien Debt are granted Liens on any additional collateral pledged to any Parity Lien Secured Parties as adequate protection or otherwise in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, (B) if any amount of such DIP Financing or cash collateral is applied to repay any of the Parity Lien Obligations, such amount is applied pursuant to Section 3.4 of this Agreement and (C) if any Parity Lien Secured Parties are granted adequate protection, including in the form of periodic payments, in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash

 

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collateral, the proceeds of such adequate protection are applied pursuant to Section 3.4 of this Agreement; and provided , further , that the Parity Lien Secured Parties receiving adequate protection shall not object to any other Parity Lien Secured Party receiving adequate protection comparable to any adequate protection granted to such Parity Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing or use of cash collateral.

ARTICLE 3

OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 3.1 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee .

(a)    Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) acting through its respective Parity Lien Representative hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee to serve as collateral trustee hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement and, to the extent applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will, as collateral trustee, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Parity Lien Secured Parties:

(i)    accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Parity Lien Security Documents, including all Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Parity Lien Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Parity Lien Security Documents (including in connection with any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding);

(ii)    unless it has received a contrary Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, be entitled (but not obligated) to take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Parity Lien Security Documents necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;

(iii)    deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents;

(iv)     sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee, trust deed beneficiary and insurance beneficiary or loss payee) with respect to the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;

(v)    remit as provided in Section  3.4 all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Trustee from the collection, foreclosure or enforcement of its interest in the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;

(vi)    execute and deliver (i) amendments and supplements to the Parity Lien Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section  7.1

 

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accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the amendment was permitted under Section  7.1 and (ii) acknowledgements of Collateral Trust Joinders delivered pursuant to Section  3.8 or 7.18 hereof

(vii)    release or subordinate any Lien granted to it by any Parity Lien Security Document upon any Collateral if and as required by Section  3.2 ; and

(viii)    enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b)    Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth in Section  3.1(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Trustee.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not commence any exercise of remedies or any foreclosure actions or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Collateral unless and until it shall have been directed by written notice of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement; provided , however , that Collateral Trustee may, but shall have no obligation to do so, take actions in its reasonable business judgment, as it deems necessary or desirable, necessary to prove, protect or preserve the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations to the extent permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement.

(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Trustee; provided , that for purposes of determining such eligibility standards Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and its Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company.

(e)    Each of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, by its acceptance hereof, agrees that it will not propose, sponsor, support, vote in favor of or agree to any Plan of Reorganization, directly or indirectly, that is pursuant to Section 1129(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code that has not been approved in writing by the Second Lien Majority Holders.

Section 3.2 Release or Subordination of Liens . The Collateral Trustee will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Trustee or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Trustee, except:

(a)    as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the release or subordination was permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document, and otherwise setting forth the requirements of Sections  4.1(b)(i) and 4.1(b)(ii) ;

(b)    as required by Article  4 ;

 

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(c)    to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral to the extent permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing;

(d)    as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and nonappealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(e)    for the subordination of the Trust Estate and the Parity Liens to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 3.3 Enforcement of Liens .

(a)    If the Collateral Trustee at any time receives written notice from a Parity Lien Representative stating that any event has occurred that constitutes a default or event of default under any Parity Lien Document entitling the Collateral Trustee to foreclose upon, collect or otherwise enforce its Liens under the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will promptly deliver written notice thereof to each Parity Lien Representative. Thereafter, the Collateral Trustee may await direction by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will act, or decline to act, as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, in the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Trustee’s interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Parity Lien Security Documents or applicable law and, following the initiation of such exercise of remedies, the Collateral Trustee will act, or decline to act, with respect to the manner of such exercise of remedies as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. Unless it has been directed to the contrary by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee in any event may (but will not be obligated to), subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, take or refrain from taking such action with respect to any default or event of default under any Parity Lien Document as it may deem advisable and in the interest of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided , however , nothing in this Section 3.3(a) shall require Collateral Trustee to take any action, or refrain to take any action which, in its judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose Collateral Trustee to liability or that is contrary to any Parity Lien Documents or applicable Governmental Requirement. No Parity Lien Secured Party will contest, protest or object to the exercise of any enforcement right relating to the Collateral brought by the Collateral Trustee or any other exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any rights and remedies relating to the Collateral, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(b)    Each Parity Lien Representative, on behalf of itself and the Parity Lien Secured Parties for which it is acting hereunder, agrees that it will not accept any Lien on any Collateral for the benefit of any Parity Lien Obligations (other than (i) funds deposited for the satisfaction, discharge, redemption or defeasance of any Series of Parity Lien Debt and (ii) cash collateral deposited with any Parity Lien Representative or Parity Lien Secured Party in accordance with the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) other than pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents, and by executing this Agreement (or a Collateral Trust Joinder), each Parity Lien Representative and each Parity Lien Secured Party for which it is acting hereunder agree to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents applicable to it.

 

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(c)    Each Parity Lien Representative (in such capacity), on behalf of itself and each Parity Lien Secured Party for which it is acting hereunder, agrees that (i) it will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity, allowability or enforceability of any Parity Lien Obligations or any Parity Lien Document or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Lien under any Parity Lien Document or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by or other provisions of this Agreement; (ii) it will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshalled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such Collateral; (iii) it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement; (iv) [RESERVED]; (v) it will not object to or otherwise contest (or support any other Person contesting), any motion for relief from the automatic stay or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement in respect of the Collateral made by the Collateral Trustee; (vi) it will not seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of any Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Trustee; (vii) it will not object to, or otherwise contest (or support any Person contesting), (A) any request by the Collateral Trustee for adequate protection on account of the Collateral or (B) any objection by the Collateral Trustee to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Collateral Trustee’s claimed lack of adequate protection with respect to the Collateral; (viii) it will not assert or enforce (or support any Person asserting or enforcing) any claim under section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code pari passu with or on a first priority basis to the Parity Liens for costs or expenses of preserving or disposing any Collateral; and (ix) other than as otherwise provided herein, oppose or otherwise contest (or support any other Person contesting) any lawful exercise by the Collateral Trustee or any Holder (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) of Second Lien Notes of the right to credit bid at any sale of Collateral; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any of the Collateral Trustee or any other Parity Lien Secured Party to enforce this Agreement.

Section 3.4 Application of Proceeds .

(a)    Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon, or exercise of any right or remedy with respect to, any Collateral, any distribution received in connection with an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding concerning the Company, any Guarantor and/or any Grantor (including, without limitation, any distribution of debt or equity securities in full or partial satisfaction or waiver of any claims of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations against any Grantor in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and the proceeds of any title insurance or other insurance policy required under any Parity Lien Document or otherwise covering the Collateral, and any condemnation proceeds with respect to the Collateral, in the following order of application:

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Trustee’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Trustee or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Trustee in connection with any Parity Lien Security Document (including, but not limited to, indemnification obligations);

 

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SECOND, to the respective Parity Lien Representatives equally and ratably for application to the payment of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding);

THIRD, as otherwise required by the Intercreditor Agreement; and

FOURTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to the Company or the applicable Grantor or Guarantor, as the case may be, its successors or assigns, and as directed in writing by the Company, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Series of Parity Lien Debt has released its Lien on any Collateral as described below in Section  4.4 , then such Series of Parity Lien Debt and any related Parity Lien Obligations of that Series of Parity Lien Debt thereafter shall not be entitled to share in the proceeds of any Collateral so released by that Series of Parity Lien Debt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Trustee shall only apply proceeds in accordance with this Section  3.4 to the extent that such proceeds are actually so received by the Collateral Trustee.

(b)    This Section  3.4 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Collateral Trust Joinder including an Additional Secured Debt Designation as provided in Section  3.8 at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

(c)    In connection with the application of proceeds pursuant to Section  3.4(a) , except as otherwise directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee may sell any non-cash proceeds for cash prior to the application of the proceeds thereof.

(d)    In making the determinations and allocations in accordance with Section  3.4(a) , the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to its respective Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations and if such Parity Lien Representative does not provide such information to the Collateral Trustee, the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon such information provided by the Company.

(e)    Each Parity Lien Secured Party (a “ Receiving Party ”) agrees that any and all Collateral (or assets and property purported to be Collateral) or proceeds thereof or any

 

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distributions in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding received by any Parity Lien Secured Party (in the form of cash or otherwise) pursuant to any Parity Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or in connection with any disposition of, collection on, or in connection with any insurance policy claim or any condemnation award (or deed in lieu of condemnation) with respect to, such Collateral (each a “ Shared Payment ”), is to be paid to the Collateral Trustee, which shall distribute such proceeds among the Parity Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 3.4(a) of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, a Shared Payment includes any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property, stock, debt securities or obligations (and the proceeds thereof), which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Collateral and/or as distributions in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

(f)    If any portion of a Shared Payment is in the form of cash, then such cash shall be applied pursuant to the priorities set forth in this Section  3.4 before any non-cash Shared Payments are applied pursuant to the priorities set forth in this Section  3.4 ; provided that, irrespective of the terms of any Plan of Reorganization (including the confirmation of such Plan of Reorganization pursuant to section 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or the equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Laws), each of the Parity Lien Debt Representatives hereby acknowledges and agrees to turn over to the Collateral Trustee any Shared Payments otherwise received or receivable by them under such Plan of Reorganization or otherwise to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this Section  3.4 . If any Parity Lien Secured Party collects or receives any proceeds of any exercise of any right or remedy with respect to any Collateral or proceeds thereof, proceeds of any title or other insurance or any other Shared Payment, and any proceeds subject to Liens that have been avoided or otherwise invalidated that should have been applied in accordance with Section 3.4(a) above, whether prior to or after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, such Parity Lien Secured Party will forthwith deliver the same to the Collateral Trustee, for the account of the applicable Parity Lien Secured Parties, to be applied in accordance with Section 3.4(a) . Until so delivered, such proceeds shall be segregated and will be held in trust by that Parity Lien Secured Party for the benefit of the applicable Parity Lien Secured Parties.

(g)    To the extent any Parity Lien Secured Party or Parity Lien Representative receives a Shared Payment or other cash, property or assets in respect of any Parity Lien Obligation from any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, such cash, property or other assets will be delivered to the Collateral Trustee for application in accordance with Section 3.4(a) .

Section 3.5 Powers of the Collateral Trustee .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Parity Lien Security Documents and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article  3 or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any directions given to it in writing from time to time in respect of any matter by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

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(b)    No Parity Lien Representative or holder of Parity Lien Obligations (other than the Collateral Trustee) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee will have no liability whatsoever for any act or omission of any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 3.6 Documents and Communications . The Collateral Trustee will permit each Parity Lien Representative and each holder of Parity Lien Obligations upon reasonable written notice and at reasonable times from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Parity Lien Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such.

Section 3.7 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations . The Collateral Trustee will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Trustee and all other property of the Trust Estate solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Parity Lien Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it in realization thereon or from enforcement thereof solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section  3.4 .

Section 3.8 Additional Parity Lien Debt .

(a)    Subject to Section 3.8(f) , the Collateral Trustee will, as trustee hereunder, perform its undertakings set forth in Section  3.1(a) with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred on or after the date hereof, provided that:

(i)    such Parity Lien Obligations are identified as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section  3.8(b) ; and

(ii)    unless such debt is issued under an existing Parity Lien Document for any Series of Parity Lien Debt whose Parity Lien Representative is already party to this Agreement, the designated Parity Lien Representative identified pursuant to Section  3.8(b) signs a Collateral Trust Joinder and delivers the same to the Collateral Trustee.

(b)    Subject to Section 3.8(f) , the Company will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Parity Lien Debt hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Parity Lien Debt incurred by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor on or after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents. Subject to Section 3.8(f) , the Company may only effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Trustee an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate that:

(i)    states that the Company or applicable Grantor intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“ Additional Parity Lien Debt ”) that is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

 

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(ii)    specifies the name, address and contact information of the Parity Lien Representative for such series of Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section  7.6 ;

(iii)    attaches as Exhibit 1 to such Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate a Reaffirmation Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement, which Reaffirmation Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and each Grantor and Guarantor; and

(iv)    states that the Company has caused a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and the related Collateral Trust Joinder to be delivered to each then existing Parity Lien Representative.

Although the Company shall be required to deliver a copy of each Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and each Collateral Trust Joinder to each then existing Parity Lien Representative, the failure to so deliver a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and/or Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the status of such debt as Additional Parity Lien Debt if the other requirements of this Section  3.8 are complied with. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the other then existing Parity Lien Representatives shall receive a legal opinion or opinions of counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) from the Company as to the Additional Parity Lien Debt being permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents and secured by a valid and perfected security interest in the Collateral; provided that (i) such legal opinion or opinions need not address any Collateral of a type not previously covered by any legal opinion delivered by or on behalf of the Company and (ii) nothing shall preclude such legal opinion or opinions from being delivered on a post-closing basis after the incurrence of such Additional Parity Lien Debt if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor to incur additional Indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents. Liens upon the Collateral to secure Additional Parity Lien Debt shall be created pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents that create Liens upon the Collateral to secure the other Parity Lien Obligations; provided that, to the extent required by applicable law, such Liens upon the Collateral to secure Additional Parity Lien Debt may be created pursuant to separate Parity Lien Security Documents, which shall be in substantially the same form as the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents creating the Liens upon the Collateral to secure the other Parity Lien Obligations. Additional Parity Lien Debt shall not be secured by Liens upon any Collateral unless the other Parity Lien Obligations are also secured by Liens on such Collateral. Additional Parity Lien Debt shall be guaranteed by all of the applicable Guarantors and shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Guarantor.

(c)    With respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof, the Company and each of the Grantors and Guarantors agrees to take such actions (if any) as necessary and as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, and enter into such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements to the then existing Guarantees and Parity Lien Security Documents (or execute and deliver such additional Parity Lien Security Documents) as necessary and as may from time to

 

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time be reasonably requested by such Persons (including as contemplated by clause  (d) below), to ensure that the Additional Parity Lien Debt is secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Parity Lien Security Documents, and each Parity Lien Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits hereof) hereby agrees to, and authorizes the Collateral Trustee to enter into, any such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements (and additional Parity Lien Security Documents). The Company and each Grantor and Guarantor hereby further agrees that, if there are any recording, filing or other similar fees payable in connection with any of the actions to be taken pursuant to this Section  3.8(c) or Section  3.8(d) , all such amounts shall be paid by, and shall be for the account of, the Company and the respective Grantors and Guarantors, on a joint and several basis.

(d)    Without limitation of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees to take the following actions with respect to any real property Collateral (including Oil and Gas Properties) with respect to all Additional Parity Lien Debt (it being understood that any such actions may be taken following the incurrence of any such Additional Parity Lien Debt on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt):

(i)    each applicable Grantor shall enter into, and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a mortgage modification or new mortgage or deed of trust with regard to each real property subject to a mortgage or deed of trust (each such mortgage or deed of trust a “ Mortgage ” and each such property a “ Mortgaged Property ”), in proper form for recording in all applicable jurisdictions;

(ii)    each applicable Grantor will cause to be delivered a local counsel opinion (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to each such Mortgaged Property; and

(iii)    each applicable Grantor will cause a title company to have delivered to the Collateral Trustee an endorsement to each title insurance policy for any real property Collateral (excluding Oil and Gas Properties), if any, then in effect for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, date down(s) or other evidence (which may include a new title insurance policy) (each such delivery, a “ Title Datedown Product ”), in each case insuring that (x) the priority of the Liens of the applicable Mortgage(s) as security for the Parity Lien Obligations has not changed and, if a new Mortgage is entered into, that the Lien of such new Mortgage securing the Parity Lien Debt then being incurred shall have the same priority vis-a-vis any other outstanding indebtedness (other than Parity Lien Obligations) as any existing Mortgage securing then existing Parity Lien Obligations, (y) since the later of the original date of such title insurance product and the date of the Title Datedown Product delivered most recently prior to (and not in connection with) such additional Indebtedness, there has been no change in the condition of title and (z) there are no intervening liens or encumbrances which may then or thereafter take priority over the Lien of the applicable Mortgage(s), in each case other than with respect to Liens permitted by each Parity Lien Document; provided , however , to the extent the real property Collateral is located in Texas, the foregoing shall only apply to the extent permitted by the procedural rules promulgated by the Texas department of insurance.

 

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The Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee confirming that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.

(e)    Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that the Indebtedness created under the Second Lien Indenture and the Second Lien Notes constitutes Parity Lien Debt.

(f)    At the sole option of the Second Lien Majority Holders, prior to any debt being designated as Additional Parity Lien Debt pursuant to the provisions of this Section  3.8 , the Second Lien Notes Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, acting pursuant to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, will enter into an amendment to this Agreement to modify Section  3.4 hereof in a manner satisfactory to the Second Lien Majority Holders.

Section 3.9 Post-Petition Interest . No Parity Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge or support any Person challenging any claim by the Collateral Trustee or any other Parity Lien Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of post-petition interest (at the rate provided for in the Parity Lien Documents with respect thereto), fees or expenses in respect of any Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 3.10 Reinstatement . If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, all or part of any payment with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, then such Parity Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of the amount so rescinded and, if theretofore terminated, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the Lien priorities and the relative rights and obligations of the Parity Lien Secured Parties provided for herein.

ARTICLE 4

OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER

GRANTORS

Section 4.1 Release of Liens on Collateral .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will be automatically released:

(i)    in whole, upon (A) payment in full in cash and Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full in cash and discharged, (B) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and (C) the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount of outstanding letters of credit and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

 

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(ii)    as to any Collateral of a Grantor or Guarantor that is (A) released as a Grantor or Guarantor, as applicable, under each Parity Lien Document and (B) is not obligated (as primary obligor or guarantor) with respect to any other Parity Lien Obligations and so long as the respective release does not violate the terms of any Parity Lien Document which then remains in effect;

(iii)    as to any Collateral of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with Section  4.10 of the Second Lien Indenture (other than any sale, disposition or other transaction solely between or among any Grantors or any Guarantors and other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale as provided in such Section);

(iv)    as to a release of less than all or substantially all of the Collateral, if consent to the release of all Parity Liens on such Collateral has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders;

(v)    in whole, if the Liens on such Collateral have been released in accordance with the terms of each Series of Parity Lien Debt;

(vi)    as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, if (A) consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and satisfaction of any other conditions precedent provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and (B) the Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained and any conditions precedent in the applicable Parity Lien Documents have been satisfied;

(vii)    as to a release of Collateral effected in connection with the enforcement or exercise of rights or remedies by the Collateral Trustee with respect to its Liens in such Collateral, if direction of such enforcement or exercise has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders; or

(viii)    if and to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section  4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement; or

(ix)    if the Liens on the Collateral are released pursuant to a sale of Collateral pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization, provided that the Liens on such Collateral attach to the proceeds of such sale and any proceeds are applied in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(b)    The Collateral Trustee agrees for the benefit of the Company and the other Grantors that if the Collateral Trustee at any time receives:

(i)    an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that (A) the signing Officer has read Article  4 of this Agreement and understands the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and all other Parity Lien Documents, if any, relating to the release of the Collateral have been complied with and (C) in the opinion of such Officer, such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with; and

(ii)    the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable; then, promptly following receipt by the Collateral Trustee of the items required by this Section  4.1(b) , upon written request of the Company, the Collateral Trustee will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver evidence of such release to the Company or other applicable Grantor; provided that, in the case of a release of Liens under Section  4.1(a)(vii) , the Collateral Trustee shall execute and deliver such proposed instruments releasing its Liens contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of such similar instruments by the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

(c)    The Collateral Trustee hereby agrees that:

(i)    in the case of any release pursuant to Section  4.1(a)(iii) , if the terms of any such sale, transfer or other disposition require the payment of the purchase price to be contemporaneous with the delivery of the applicable release, then, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and at the written request of and at the expense of the Company or other applicable Grantor, the Collateral Trustee will either (A) be present at and deliver the release at the closing of such transaction or (B) deliver the release under customary escrow arrangements that permit such contemporaneous payment and delivery of the release; and

(ii)    at any time when a Parity Lien Debt Default has occurred and is continuing, within three Business Days of the receipt by it of any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee, pursuant to Section  4.1(a)(iv) , will deliver a copy of such Act of Parity Lien Debtholders to each Parity Lien Representative.

Section 4.2 Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives . The Company will deliver to each Parity Lien Representative (a) a copy of each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section  4.1(b) , together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate and (b) copies of all Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee. The Parity Lien Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon.

Section 4.3 Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record . Subject to Section  3.2 , the Collateral Trustee is not required to serve, file, register or record any instrument releasing or subordinating its Liens on any Collateral; provided that if the Company or any other Grantor shall make a written demand for a termination statement under Section 9-513(c) of the

 

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UCC, the Collateral Trustee shall comply with the written request of the Company or Grantor to comply with the requirements of such UCC provision as determined and prepared by the Company or Grantor.

Section 4.4 Release of Liens . In addition to any release pursuant to Section  4.1 hereof, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt (including the Second Lien Notes), the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Lien will no longer secure such Series of Parity Lien Debt if such Parity Lien Debt has been paid in full, all commitments to extend credit in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt have been terminated and all other Parity Lien Obligations related thereto that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Parity Lien Debt is paid are also paid in full, or if otherwise required by the terms of such Parity Lien Debt or the Intercreditor Agreement.

ARTICLE 5

IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 No Implied Duty . The Collateral Trustee will not have any duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. No implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Trustee. The permissive right of the Collateral Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentences, the use of the term “trustee” in this Agreement with reference to the Collateral Trustee is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligation, whether before or after an event of default, arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 5.2 Appointment of Agents and Advisors . The Collateral Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.

Section 5.3 Other Agreements . The Collateral Trustee has accepted its appointment as collateral trustee hereunder and is bound by the Parity Lien Security Documents executed by the Collateral Trustee as of the date of this Agreement, and the Collateral Trustee shall at the written request of the Company or the applicable Parity Lien Representative execute additional Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement (including to secure Obligations arising under Additional Parity Lien Debt to the extent such Obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured under the Parity Lien Documents); provided that such additional Parity Lien Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the Collateral Trustee or conflict with the terms of the

 

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Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral Trustee will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Parity Lien Debt (other than this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents to which it is a party).

Section 5.4 Solicitation of Instructions .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, an Officers’ Certificate or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, and Collateral Trustee shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval and shall not be under any liability whatsoever to any Person for refraining from any action or withholding any approval under any of the Parity Lien Documents until it shall have received such instructions in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders as to any action that it may be requested or required to take.

(b)    No written direction given to the Collateral Trustee by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Trustee imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Trustee any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or that in Collateral Trustee’s judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose Collateral Trustee to liability or that is contrary to any applicable Governmental Authority will be binding upon the Collateral Trustee.

(c)    The Collateral Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request, order or direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders or pursuant to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such holders shall have furnished to the Collateral Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities including attorneys’ fees and expenses which may be incurred therein or thereby.

Section 5.5 Limitation of Liability . The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Parity Lien Security Document, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 5.6 Documents in Satisfactory Form . The Collateral Trustee will be entitled, but not obligated, to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form reasonably satisfactory to it.

Section 5.7 Entitled to Rely . The Collateral Trustee may seek and conclusively rely upon, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor in compliance with the

 

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provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Parity Lien Representative as to the holders of Parity Lien Obligations for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Trustee may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Parity Lien Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee in respect of any matter, the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel as to such matter and such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

Section 5.8 Parity Lien Debt Default . The Collateral Trustee will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any Parity Lien Debt Default and will not be affected by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default unless and until it is directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

Section 5.9 Actions by Collateral Trustee . As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant to hereto or thereto shall be binding on the holders of Parity Lien Obligations. The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance with an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

Section 5.10 Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee . The Collateral Trustee will not be required to advance or expend any funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers or rights hereunder (or any omission to perform or exercise) unless it has been provided with security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any and all liability or expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take or omitting to take such action.

Section 5.11 Rights of the Collateral Trustee . In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Parity Lien Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Parity Lien Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Collateral held by the Collateral Trustee and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Trustee is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Trustee is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Parity Lien Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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Section 5.12 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral .

(a)    Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Trustee will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee will execute, file or record UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by any Parity Lien Representative, it being understood that the Company and/or the applicable Grantor shall be responsible for all filings required in connection with any Parity Lien Security Document and the continuation, maintenance and/or perfection of any such filing or the lien and security interest granted in connection therewith. The Collateral Trustee shall deliver to each other Parity Lien Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Trustee will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Trustee in good faith.

(b)    The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Grantor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any holder of Parity Lien Debt to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this or any other Parity Lien Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor.

Section 5.13 Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

(a)    each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not be executed;

 

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(b)    the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Parity Lien Security Documents; and

(c)    the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of the Company or any Grantor.

Section 5.14 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials . In the event that the Collateral Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Trustee to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to immediately resign as Collateral Trustee or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Trustee will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Trustee’s actions or inactions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.

Section 5.15 Other Relationships with the Company, Grantors or Guarantors . Wilmington Trust, National Association and its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor and its Affiliates as though it was not the Collateral Trustee hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Second Lien Notes Trustee or holders of any of the Parity Lien Obligations. The Second Lien Notes Trustee and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Wilmington Trust, National Association or its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may receive information regarding the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company, such Grantor or Guarantor or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that (i) such knowledge is not imputed to the Collateral Trustee and (ii) Wilmington Trust, National Association and its Affiliates shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to the Parity Lien Secured Parties. Nothing herein shall impose or imply any obligation on the part of Wilmington Trust, National Association (or any successor Collateral Trustee) to advance funds.

Section 5.16 No Liability for Interest . The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for interest or investment income on any money or securities received by it, except as the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

 

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Section 5.17 Non-Reliance on Collateral Trustee . The Collateral Trustee shall not be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by the Company or a Grantor of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein. Except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to any Parity Lien Secured Party by the Collateral Trustee hereunder, the Collateral Trustee shall have no duty or responsibility to provide any Parity Lien Secured Party with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Company or any Grantor that may come into the possession of the Collateral Trustee or any of its Affiliates.

ARTICLE 6

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 6.1 Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee . Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided in Section  6.2 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Trustee:

(a)    the Collateral Trustee may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ notice of resignation to each Parity Lien Representative and the Company; and

(b)    the Collateral Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

Section 6.2 Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee . Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Trustee may be appointed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. If no successor Collateral Trustee has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after the predecessor Collateral Trustee gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Trustee may (at the expense of the Company), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Trustee, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee, which must be a bank or trust company:

(a)    authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; and

(b)    having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000.

Until the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided for in this Section  6.2 after the resignation or removal of the Collateral Trustee, all communications and determinations required to be made by, to or through Collateral Trustee shall instead be made by or through the Parity Lien Representatives. From and following the expiration of such thirty (30) day period, Collateral Trustee shall have the exclusive right, upon one (1) Business Days’ notice to the Parity Lien Representatives, to make its resignation effective immediately. From and following the effectiveness of such notice, the retiring or removed Collateral Trustee shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Parity Lien Documents.

 

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Section 6.3 Succession . When the Person so appointed as successor Collateral Trustee accepts such appointment:

(a)    such Person will succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Trustee, and the predecessor Collateral Trustee will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; and

(b)    the predecessor Collateral Trustee will (at the expense of the Company) promptly transfer all Liens and collateral security and other property of the Trust Estate within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Trustee and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Trustee to transfer to the successor Collateral Trustee all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies of the predecessor Collateral Trustee in respect of the Parity Lien Security Documents or the Trust Estate.

Thereafter the predecessor Collateral Trustee will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in Article  5 and the provisions of Sections  7.8 and 7.9 , and said provisions will survive termination of this Agreement for the benefit of the predecessor of the Collateral Trustee.

Section 6.4 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee . Any Person into which the Collateral Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Trustee shall be the successor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section  6.3 , provided that (i) without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in clauses  (a) and (b)  of Section  6.2 and (ii) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Trustee shall have notified the Company and each Parity Lien Representative thereof in writing.

Section 6.5 Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives .

(a)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by each Parity Lien Representative not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as trustee, representative or agent for the benefit of the related holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it under the related Parity Lien Documents, and in no event shall such Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by Wilmington Trust, National Association, not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Collateral Trustee, and in no event shall Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements

 

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or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by the Second Lien Notes Trustee not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Second Lien Notes Trustee, and in no event shall the Second Lien Notes Trustee or any other Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(d)    In entering into this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Second Lien Indenture relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Collateral Trustee” thereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or any Parity Lien Representative.

(e)    Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) solely upon the instructions of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders; provided that neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to take any action that (i) it in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless it receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the applicable holders of the Parity Lien Obligations with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or applicable law.

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 7.1 Amendment .

(a)    Except as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Parity Lien Security Document will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, except that:

(i)    any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:

(A)    adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Debt that was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Trustee therein, or

 

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(B)    providing for the assumption of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor’s obligations under any Parity Lien Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company, any Grantor or such Guarantor to the extent permitted by the terms of the Second Lien Indenture and the other Parity Lien Documents, as applicable,

will become effective when executed and delivered by the Company or any other applicable Grantor party thereto and the Collateral Trustee;

(ii)    no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations:

(A)    to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders or direction by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (or amends the provisions of this clause  (ii) or the definition of “ Act of Parity Lien Debtholders ” or “ Required Parity Lien Debtholders ”);

(B)    to share in the order of application described in Section  3.4 in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral; provided , that this clause (B) shall not apply to any amendment entered into pursuant to Section 3.8(f) ; or

(C)    to require that Liens securing Parity Lien Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Sections  4.1 or 4.5 ,

will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt adversely affected thereby under the applicable Parity Lien Document; and

(iii)    no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Trustee or such Parity Lien Representative, respectively.

(b)    Notwithstanding Section  7.1(a) but subject to Sections  7.1(a)(ii) and 7.1(a)(iii) :

(i)    any mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed in writing by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders, unless such amendment or supplement would not be permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Priority Lien Document;

(ii)    any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of any security document that secures Priority Lien Obligations will apply automatically

 

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to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Security Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations; and

(iii)    any mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee (but without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by any holder of Parity Lien Obligations) (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or (ii) to make other changes that do not have an adverse effect on the validity of the Lien created thereby.

(c)    The Collateral Trustee will not enter into any amendment or supplement unless it has received an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in a breach of any provision or covenant contained in the Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Parity Lien Documents. Prior to executing any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section  7.1 , the Collateral Trustee shall also receive an Opinion of Counsel of the Company to the effect that the execution of such document is authorized or permitted hereunder and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, and with respect to amendments adding Collateral, an Opinion of Counsel of the Company addressing customary creation and perfection, and if such additional Collateral consists of equity interests of any Person which equity interests constitute certificated securities, priority matters with respect to such additional Collateral (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and qualifications).

Section 7.2 Voting . In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (to the extent such unfunded commitments have not been terminated by the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt). Following and in accordance with the outcome of the applicable vote under its Parity Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Representative of each Series of Parity Lien Debt will vote the total amount of Parity Lien Debt under that Series of Parity Lien Debt as a block in respect of any vote under this Agreement.

Upon request of the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative shall provide written notice to the Collateral Trustee of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Parity Lien Debt for which it is the Parity Lien Representative and the information described in clause (2) of the immediately preceding paragraph.

Section 7.3 Further Assurances .

(a)    The Company and each of the Grantors and Guarantors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time

 

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

(b)    Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Grantors and Guarantors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Parity Lien Security Documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided that no such Parity Lien Security Document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Company, any Grantor and the Guarantors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the date hereof) by the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the Second Lien Notes on or about the date hereof.

(c)    From and after the date hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Grantor or Guarantor to, deliver such documents and takes such actions as are required by the Second Lien Indenture and the other Parity Lien Documents.

(d)    Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors will permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives, at reasonable times and intervals upon reasonable prior notice, to visit their offices and sites and inspect any of the Collateral and to discuss matters relating to the Collateral with their respective officers and independent public accountants. The Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors shall, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors and their Subsidiaries, all at the Company’s expense.

Section 7.4 Successors and Assigns .

(a)    Except as provided in Section  5.2 , the Collateral Trustee may not, in its capacity as such, delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Collateral Trustee hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

 

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(b)    Neither the Company nor any Grantor or Guarantor may delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

Section 7.5 Delay and Waiver . No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

Section 7.6 Notices . (a) Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given may be given to the following addresses:

 

If to the Collateral Trustee or

  

to the Second Lien Notes Trustee:

  
   Wilmington Trust, N.A.
   1100 North Market Street
   Wilmington, DE 19890
   Attention: Tom Morris
   Telephone: (302) 636-6432
   Facsimile: (302) 636-4145
   Email: TMorris@WilmingtonTrust.com

with a copy to:

  
   Winston & Strawn LLP
   200 Park Avenue
   New York, NY 10166-4193
   Attention: Bart Pisella, Esq.
   Telephone: (212) 294-6858
   Facsimile: (212) 294-4700
   Email: BPisella@winston.com

 

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If to the Company or any other Grantor:

   EXCO Resources, Inc.
   12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700
   Dallas, TX 75251
   Attention: Treasurer
   Facsimile: (214) 706-3409

with a copy to:

  
   EXCO Resources, Inc.
   12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700
   Dallas, TX 75251
   Attention: General Counsel
   Facsimile: (214) 706-3409

and if to any other Parity Lien Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above.

(b)     All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or delivered by facsimile to the relevant address or number set forth above or, as to holders of Parity Lien Debt, its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Parity Lien Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Failure to mail or delivery by facsimile a notice or communication to a holder of Parity Lien Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Parity Lien Debt.

(c)    If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered by facsimile in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Section 7.7 Entire Agreement . This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.

Section 7.8 Compensation; Expenses . The Grantors jointly and severally agree to pay, promptly upon demand:

(i)    such compensation, fees, costs and expenses to the Collateral Trustee and its agents (including attorney’s fees and expenses) as the Company and the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing from time to time;

(ii)    all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents (including attorney’s fees and expenses) in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;

 

38


(iii)    all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor;

(iv)    all other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Parity Lien Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

(v)    after the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee, its agents and any Parity Lien Representative in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Parity Lien Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Trustee or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any of the Parity Lien Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Parity Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Trustee, its agents or the Parity Lien Representatives.

The agreements in this Section  7.8 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.9 Indemnity .

(a)    The Grantors jointly and severally agree to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative, each holder of Parity Lien Obligations and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of the directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an “ Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. THIS INDEMNITY COVERS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES.

(b)    All amounts due under this Section  7.9 will be payable within 10 days upon written demand.

 

39


(c)    Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, agrees on a pro rata basis, to indemnify Collateral Trustee (to the extent not reimbursed by Grantors within ten (10) days) upon demand to the extent required by Section  10.01 of the Second Lien Indenture (or any similar provision of any other Parity Lien Document).

(d)    To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section  7.9(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Grantors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

(e)    No Grantor will ever assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Grantors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

(f)    The agreements in this Section  7.9 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.10 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in all other respects and of all remaining provisions, and of such provision in all other jurisdictions, will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 7.11 Headings . Section headings herein have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 7.12 Obligations Secured . All obligations of the Grantors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be Parity Lien Obligations and are secured by all Liens granted by the Parity Lien Security Documents.

Section 7.13 Governing Law . THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 7.14 Consent to Jurisdiction . All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably:

(i)    accepts generally and unconditionally the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts;

 

40


(ii)    waives any defense of forum non conveniens ;

(iii)    agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section  7.6 ;

(iv)    agrees that service as provided in clause  (3) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

(v)    agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

Section 7.15 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INTENTS AND PURPOSES OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH PARTY HERETO HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH PARTY HERETO WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 7.15 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OR TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING THERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

41


Section 7.16 Counterparts, Electronic Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one and the same instrument. The parties hereto may sign this Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder and transmit the executed copy by electronic means, including facsimile or non-editable .pdf files. The electronic copy of the executed Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder is and shall be deemed an original signature.

Section 7.17 Effectiveness . This Agreement will become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by each party of written notification of such execution and written or telephonic authorization of delivery thereof.

Section 7.18 Grantors and Additional Grantors . Each Grantor represents and warrants that it has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. The Company will cause each Person that hereafter becomes a Grantor or is required by any Parity Lien Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Company shall promptly provide each Parity Lien Representative with a copy of each Collateral Trust Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section  7.18 ; provided that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as a Grantor if the other requirements of this Section  7.18 are complied with.

Section 7.19 Insolvency . This Agreement will be applicable both before and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Grantor. The relative rights, as provided for in this Agreement, will continue after the commencement of any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the commencement of any such case, as provided in this Agreement.

Section 7.20 Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives . The Second Lien Notes Trustee and the Collateral Trustee will be entitled, to the extent applicable to such entity, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Second Lien Indenture and any future Parity Lien Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing the applicable Parity Lien Debt with respect to which such Person will act as representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein. In no event will any Parity Lien Representative be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or the Collateral Trustee hereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or any Parity Lien Representative hereunder.

Section 7.21 Intercreditor Agreement . Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee as provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to

 

42


authorize) and instructs (or is deemed to instruct) the Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement as “Second Lien Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). The Collateral Trustee agrees to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Notes Trustee, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (to the extent permitted to be incurred and secured by the applicable Secured Debt Documents and subject to the provisions of Article 5 of this Agreement) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Parity Lien Documents to extend credit to the Company, as the borrower under the Parity Lien Debt, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of this provision and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents shall not be required.

Section 7.22 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Collateral Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Collateral Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 7.23 U.S.A. Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Collateral Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Collateral Trustee. The parties to this Collateral Trust Agreement agree that they will provide the Collateral Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Collateral Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow. ]

 

43


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY:
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement (Second Lien)


GRANTORS:

 

EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.

EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement (Second Lien)


EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement (Second Lien)


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Michael H. Wass

  Name:   Michael H. Wass
  Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement (Second Lien)


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Second Lien Notes Trustee

By:  

/s/ Michael H. Wass

  Name:   Michael H. Wass
  Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement (Second Lien)

Exhibit 10.11

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDED AND RESTATED

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT

dated as of October 26, 2015

and amended and restated as of March 15, 2017

among

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.,

as the Company,

the Grantors and Guarantors from time to time party hereto,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Administrative Agent under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Administrative Agent under the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement,

the other Parity Lien Debt Representatives from time to time party hereto,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee,

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee,

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Collateral Trustee,


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE 1  
DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1

 

Defined Terms

     3  

Section 1.2

 

Rules of Interpretation

     14  
ARTICLE 2  
THE TRUST ESTATE

Section 2.1

 

Declaration of Trust

     15  

Section 2.2

 

Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably

     16  

Section 2.3

 

Similar Collateral and Agreements

     16  

Section 2.4

 

Effectiveness in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings, Separate Classification

     17  

Section 2.5

 

Certain Bankruptcy Matters

     17  
ARTICLE 3  
OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 3.1

 

Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee

     18  

Section 3.2

 

Release or Subordination of Liens

     20  

Section 3.3

 

Enforcement of Liens

     20  

Section 3.4

 

Application of Proceeds

     22  

Section 3.5

 

Powers of the Collateral Trustee

     24  

Section 3.6

 

Documents and Communications

     24  

Section 3.7

 

For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations

     24  

Section 3.8

 

Additional Parity Lien Debt

     25  

Section 3.9

 

Post-Petition Interest

     27  

Section 3.10

 

Reinstatement

     27  
ARTICLE 4  
OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS

Section 4.1

 

Release of Liens on Collateral

     28  

Section 4.2

 

Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives

     30  

Section 4.3

 

Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record

     30  

Section 4.4

 

Release of Liens

     30  


ARTICLE 5  
IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 5.1

 

No Implied Duty

     30  

Section 5.2

 

Appointment of Agents and Advisors

     31  

Section 5.3

 

Other Agreements

     31  

Section 5.4

 

Solicitation of Instructions

     31  

Section 5.5

 

Limitation of Liability

     32  

Section 5.6

 

Documents in Satisfactory Form

     32  

Section 5.7

 

Entitled to Rely

     32  

Section 5.8

 

Parity Lien Debt Default

     32  

Section 5.9

 

Actions by Collateral Trustee

     32  

Section 5.10

 

Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee

     33  

Section 5.11

 

Rights of the Collateral Trustee

     33  

Section 5.12

 

Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral

     33  

Section 5.13

 

Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties

     34  

Section 5.14

 

No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials

     34  

Section 5.15

 

Other Relationships with the Company, Grantors or Guarantors

     35  
ARTICLE 6  
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 6.1

 

Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee

     35  

Section 6.2

 

Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee

     36  

Section 6.3

 

Succession

     36  

Section 6.4

 

Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee

     36  

Section 6.5

 

Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives

     37  
ARTICLE 7  
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 7.1

 

Amendment

     38  

Section 7.2

 

Voting

     40  

Section 7.3

 

Further Assurances

     40  

Section 7.4

 

Successors and Assigns

     41  

Section 7.5

 

Delay and Waiver

     41  

Section 7.6

 

Notices

     41  

Section 7.7

 

Entire Agreement

     43  

Section 7.8

 

Compensation; Expenses

     43  

Section 7.9

 

Indemnity

     44  

Section 7.10

 

Severability

     45  

Section 7.11

 

Headings

     45  

Section 7.12

 

Obligations Secured

     45  

Section 7.13

 

Governing Law

     45  

 

ii


Section 7.14

 

Consent to Jurisdiction

     45  

Section 7.15

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     46  

Section 7.16

 

Counterparts, Electronic Signatures

     46  

Section 7.17

 

Effectiveness

     46  

Section 7.18

 

Grantors and Additional Grantors

     46  

Section 7.19

 

Insolvency

     47  

Section 7.20

 

Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives

     47  

Section 7.21

 

Intercreditor Agreement

     47  

Section 7.22

 

Force Majeure

     48  

Section 7.23

 

U.S.A. Patriot Act

     48  

 

Exhibit A

  

[Form of] Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate

Exhibit B

  

[Form of] Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Debt

Exhibit C

  

[Form of] Collateral Trust Joinder – Additional Grantor

 

iii


This Collateral Trust Agreement (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified form time to time in accordance with Section  7.1 hereof, this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of October 26, 2015, and amended and restated as of March 15, 2017 (the “ Restatement Effective Date ”), and is by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), the Grantors and Guarantors from time to time party hereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent (as defined below), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee hereunder (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Collateral Trustee ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company intends to incur (on an exchange basis) term loans (the “ Senior Third Lien Term Loans ”) pursuant to a 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of March 15, 2017 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement ”) among the Company, the guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent (as defined therein) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent ”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee ”).

WHEREAS, the Company incurred term loans (the “ Junior Third Lien Term Loans ” and, together with the Senior Third Lien Term Loans, “ Term Loans ”) pursuant to an existing Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement ”) among the Company, the guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent (as defined therein) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent ”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee ”). For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the amendment and restatement of this Agreement effectuated on the Restatement Effective Date, the “Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement” was referred to hereunder as the “Exchange Term Loan Agreement.”

WHEREAS, on October 26, 2015, (x) the Junior Third Lien Term Loans were designated as Parity Lien Debt hereunder pursuant to an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and (y) the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent was designated as a Parity Lien Representative hereunder pursuant to a Collateral Trust Joinder.

WHEREAS, (i) prior to, and following, the Restatement Effective Date, the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors secured, and shall continue to secure, their Obligations under the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement and any future Parity Lien Debt and


any other Parity Lien Obligations with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents and (ii) on and following the Restatement Effective Date, the grant of Liens of the Grantors and Guarantors hereunder and pursuant to the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents and Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents secures the Obligations of the Grantors and Guarantors under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, this Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) has appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as the collateral trustee for the present and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Trustee or the subject of the Parity Lien Security Documents, and to enforce the Parity Lien Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof.

WHEREAS, on the Restatement Effective Date, (x) in connection with the incurrence (on an exchange basis) of the Senior Third Lien Term Loans, the term loans under that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 19, 2015, among the Company, the guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time and, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., as Administrative Agent, shall have been repaid in full (and, for the avoidance of doubt, with it being understood that prior to the amendment and restatement of this Agreement effectuated on the Restatement Effective Date, such Term Loan Credit Agreement was referred to hereunder as the “Second Lien Credit Agreement”), (y) the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent, to reflect its designation as Parity Lien Representative hereunder in respect of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, will execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder in accordance with Section  3.8 and (z) in accordance with Section  3.8 the Company will execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate to designate the Indebtedness and other Obligations (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents as Parity Lien Debt hereunder.

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article  1 below.

AGREEMENT

In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1 Defined Terms . The following terms will have the following meanings:

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

 

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Additional Parity Lien Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.8(b) .

Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate ” means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A .

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

(1)    subject to Section 3.4 of this Agreement, that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that, subject to Section 3.4 of this Agreement, all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

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

(3)    appointing the Collateral Trustee and consenting to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Collateral Trustee of, and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under this Agreement, the Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

 

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

Board of Directors ” means: (1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation; (2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Business Day ” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or any other place of payment are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1)    in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation;

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

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

(4)    any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person; provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock, shall not be deemed to be Capital Stock unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged.

Collateral ” means all assets and property of the Company or a Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the earlier of the date of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement or the date of the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement by the Company or a Grantor as to which a Lien has been granted under any of the Parity Lien Security Documents to secure any of the Parity Lien Obligations.

Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Collateral Trust Joinder ” means (1) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Additional Parity Lien Debt, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B and (2) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the addition of additional Grantors, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Credit Agreement ” means the “Priority Credit Agreement” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Discharge of First-Out Obligations means, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section  3.10 , payment in full, in cash (except for contingent indemnities and cost and reimbursement obligations to the extent no claim has been made) constituting Dollars of all First-Out Obligations and the concurrently termination of all commitments to extend credit under the Parity Lien Documents relating thereto; provided that the Discharge of First-Out Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred if such payments are made with the proceeds of other Parity Lien Obligations that constitute an exchange or replacement for or a Refinancing of such First-Out Obligations.

Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations means, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section  3.10 , payment in full, in cash (except for contingent indemnities and cost and reimbursement obligations to the extent no claim has been made) constituting Dollars of all Parity Lien Obligations and the concurrently termination of all commitments to extend credit under the Parity Lien Documents relating thereto; provided that the Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred if such payments are made with the proceeds of other Parity Lien Obligations that constitute an exchange or replacement for or a Refinancing of such Parity Lien Obligations.

Dollars and the sign “ $ ” shall each mean lawful money of the United States of America.

Financial Officer ” of any Person means the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, principal accounting officer, Controller, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of such Person.

First-Out Obligations ” means all Parity Lien Obligations in respect of the Senior Third Lien Term Loans or that otherwise comprise clause (1) of the definition of Parity Lien Debt.

First-Out Secured Parties ” means each holder of a First-Out Obligation, including the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent and the Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee.

Grantor ” means each of and “ Grantors ” means, collectively, the Company and the Guarantors and any other Person (if any) that at any time provides collateral security for any Parity Lien Obligations.

Guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations (and “ Guaranteed ” and “ Guaranteeing ” shall have meanings that correspond to the foregoing).

Guarantor ” means any Person who has Guaranteed payment of any Parity Lien Obligations, and their respective successors and assigns.

Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement or to such term or other similar term in any applicable Parity Lien Document.

 

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Indemnified Liabilities ” means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of any Parity Lien Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Grantor or Guarantor or any of the Collateral and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.9(a) .

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

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

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

(3)    any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor; or

(4)    any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as October 26, 2015 and as amended and restated as of the date hereof, among the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents ” means the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents and all other loan documents (including the Loan Documents (as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement)), notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Term Loans (as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and other obligations under the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement.

Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Guarantees ” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents and the Term Loans (as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement) by any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement) in accordance with the provisions of the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents.

Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2015, among the Company, the Grantors and Guarantors party thereto and the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the Parity Lien Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Restatement Effective Date the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement is (and is intended to be) documented pursuant to the same Security Agreement as the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement.

Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents ” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee (or the Collateral Trustee, as the case may be), for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement) (or the Parity Lien Secured Parites, as the case may be), in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section  7.1 . For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Restatement Effective Date the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents are (and are intended to be) documented pursuant to the same documentation as the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents.

Junior Third Lien Debt ” means the Junior Third Lien Term Loans, the “Obligations” (as such term is defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Guarantees thereof (including replacements of such Parity Lien Debt with other Parity Lien Debt that is secured equally and ratably with the Junior Third Lien Term Loans by a Parity Lien to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) and all other Obligations in respect of the foregoing.

Junior Third Lien Term Loans ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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Last-Out Obligations ” means all outstanding Parity Lien Obligations other than First-Out Obligations.

Last-Out Secured Parties ” means each holder of a Last-Out Obligation, including the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent and the Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to give a security interest therein and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction or Production Payments and Reserve Sales and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Non-Conforming Plan of Reorganization means any Plan of Reorganization that (A) does not provide for the Discharge of First-Out Obligations in full, in cash on the effective date of such plan or (B) that has not been approved by either (x) the Required Lenders (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) or (y) the Second Lien Majority Holders.

Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest at the rate provided for in the Parity Lien Documents (including default interest), premium (if any, and including any “make-whole” amount), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness, in each case whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and, in each case, whether or not allowed or allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be either the principal executive officer or a Financial Officer, as applicable.

Oil and Gas Properties ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Trustee, of counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Trustee. Opinions of Counsel required to be delivered under this Agreement may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required and counsel delivering such Opinions of Counsel may rely as to factual matters on certificates of the Company or governmental or other officials customary for opinions of the type required.

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Grantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Parity Lien Security Document, at any time, upon any property of the Company or such Grantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

 

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Parity Lien Debt ” means:

(1)    the Senior Third Lien Debt;

(2)    the Junior Third Lien Debt; and

(3)    any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor (including replacements of Parity Lien Debt with other Parity Lien Debt to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) that is permitted to be incurred under Section  6.01(b)(3)(y) or Section  6.01(b)(3)(z) of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement that is secured equally and ratably with the Junior Third Lien Term Loans by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred under clause (c)(y) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and also permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause  (3) of this definition, that:

(a)    on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate executed and delivered in accordance with Section  3.8(b) , as “Junior Third Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement and this Agreement; provided , further , that no such Indebtedness may be designated as both (x) Parity Lien Debt and (y) either or both Priority Lien Debt or Second Lien Debt;

(b)    such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation;

(c)    the Parity Lien Representative for such Indebtedness executes and delivers a Collateral Trust Joinder in accordance with Section  3.8(b) ; and

(d)    all other requirements set forth in Section  3.8 have been complied with.

Parity Lien Debt Default ” means any “Event of Default” as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement, or any similar event or condition set forth in any other Parity Lien Document that causes, or permits holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has lapsed) to cause, the Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder to become immediately due and payable.

Parity Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents, the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

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Parity Lien Obligations ” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof, including any “Obligations” (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and any “Obligations” (as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement).

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

(1)    in the case of the Senior Third Lien Term Loans, the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent;

(2)    in the case of the Junior Third Lien Term Loans, the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent; or

(3)    in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who (A) is appointed to act for the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (B) that has executed a Collateral Trust Joinder.

Parity Lien Secured Parties ” means the holders of Parity Lien Obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the “Secured Parties” under and as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the “Secured Parties” under and as defined in the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement), the Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Parity Lien Representative.

Parity Lien Security Documents ” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement (but only insofar as, and solely to the extent that, the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents, the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement (but only insofar as, and solely to the extent that, the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents, and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section  7.1 .

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

Plan of Reorganization means any plan of reorganization, plan of liquidation, agreement for composition, or other type of plan of arrangement proposed in or in connection with any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Priority Lien ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent under the Credit Agreement and any successor thereof in such capacity under the Credit Agreement, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Facility (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

Priority Lien Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Documents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.”

Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Priority Lien Representative ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Senior Priority Lien Representative” term in the Second Lien Indenture.

Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar denominated), partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

Reaffirmation Agreement ” means an agreement reaffirming the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement.

Required Parity Lien Debtholders ” means (x) until the Discharge of the First-Out Obligations, the holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt (other than Party Lien Debt constituting Last-Out Obligations) then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section  7.2 and (y) thereafter, the holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section  7.2. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding; provided , that for purposes of such restriction Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, Oaktree Capital Management and LS Power Group and their respective Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company.

Restatement Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Restricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement.

 

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Second Lien ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Second Lien Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien Collateral Trustee” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Second Lien Indenture ” means that certain Indenture dated as of March 15, 2017 among the Company, as the Issuer (as defined therein), certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the Trustee (as defined therein) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced on or prior to the Restatement Effective Date and as may be amended, supplemented, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time after the Restatement Effective Date in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and with the same and/or different noteholders and/or trustees in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

Second Lien Debt ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien Debt” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Second Lien Documents ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien Documents” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Second Lien Majority Holders ” means the consent of the Holders (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including PIK Notes (each as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) if any) voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture)).

Second Lien Notes Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust, National Association in its capacity as Trustee (under and as defined in the Second Lien Indenture), and any of its assignees or successors permitted in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

Second Lien Security Documents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

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

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

Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents ” means the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents and all other loan documents (including the Loan Documents (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement)), notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Term Loans (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and other obligations under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement.

Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Guarantees ” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents and the Term Loans (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) by any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Documents.

Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2015, among the Company, the Grantors and Guarantors party thereto and the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the Parity Lien Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Restatement Effective Date the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement is (and is intended to be) documented pursuant to the same Security Agreement as the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement.

Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents ” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Agreement and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee (or the Collateral Trustee, as the case may be), for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) (or the Parity Lien Secured Parties, as the case may be), in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section  7.1 . For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Restatement Effective Date the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents are (and are intended to be) documented pursuant to the same documentation as the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents.

Senior Third Lien Debt ” means the Senior Third Lien Term Loans, the “Obligations” (as such term is defined in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement) and Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Guarantees thereof (including replacements of such Parity Lien Debt with other Parity Lien Debt that is secured equally and ratably with the Senior Third Lien Term Loans by a Parity Lien to the extent contemplated and permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) and all other Obligations in respect of the foregoing.

Senior Third Lien Term Loans ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

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

 

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Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any corporation, association, limited liability company or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or through another subsidiary, by that Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which (a) more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and (b) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Term Loans ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Trust Estate ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.1 .

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other applicable jurisdiction.

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation .

(a)    All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement.

(b)    Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to any agreement or instrument will be deemed to include a reference to that agreement or instrument as assigned, amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time or replaced in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c)    The use in this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

(d)    References to “Sections,” “clauses,” “recitals” and the “preamble” will be to Sections, clauses, recitals and the preamble, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Articles” will be to Articles of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Exhibits” and “Schedules” will be to Exhibits and Schedules, respectively, to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

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(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement (including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been made in accordance with the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement.

(f)    This Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable either to this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

ARTICLE 2

THE TRUST ESTATE

Section 2.1 Declaration of Trust .

(a)    To secure the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations and in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the Grantors hereby ratifies and confirms the grant of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties, on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Collateral and on all Liens now granted, previously granted or hereafter granted to the Collateral Trustee by each Grantor under any Parity Lien Security Document for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Parity Lien Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the “ Trust Estate ”).

(b)    The Collateral Trustee and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Parity Lien Obligations.

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:

(i)    all Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations have been released as provided in Section  4.1 ;

(ii)    the Collateral Trustee holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;

 

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(iii)    no monetary obligation (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not then due and payable and outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt that have been cash collateralized at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and

(iv)    the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all Parity Liens of the Collateral Trustee have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Documents and that the Grantors are not required by any Parity Lien Document to grant any Parity Lien upon any property,

then the Trust Estate arising hereunder will terminate, except that all provisions set forth in Sections  7.8 and 7.9 that are enforceable by the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.

The parties further declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Trustee subject to the further agreements herein.

Section 2.2 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably . The parties to this Agreement agree that the payment and satisfaction of all of the Parity Lien Obligations will be secured, subject to Section 3.4 of this Agreement, equally and ratably by the Parity Lien established in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties (but, for the avoidance of doubt, subject to the application of proceeds set forth in Section  3.4 ), notwithstanding the time of incurrence of any Parity Lien Obligations or time or method of creation or perfection of any Parity Liens securing such Parity Lien Obligations and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC or any other applicable law or any defect or deficiencies in, or failure to perfect or lapse in perfection of, or avoidance as a fraudulent conveyance or otherwise of, the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations or any other circumstance whatsoever, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced against the Company or any other Grantor, subject to the application of proceeds set forth in Section 3.4, it is the intent of the parties that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any other Grantor to secure any Parity Lien Obligations, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Parity Lien Obligations, and subject to the application of proceeds set forth in Section  3.4 that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Parity Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably.

Section 2.3 Similar Collateral and Agreements . The parties to this Agreement agree that it is their intention that the Parity Liens be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents) shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral.

 

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Section 2.4 Effectiveness in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings, Separate Classification . This Agreement, which the parties hereto expressly acknowledge is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, shall be effective before, during and after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding notwithstanding Section 1129(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, and is intended to be and shall be interpreted to be enforceable against the parties hereto including each Grantor. All references in this Agreement to the Company, any Guarantor and any Grantor shall include such Person as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

Section 2.5 Certain Bankruptcy Matters .

(a)    If any Grantor shall become subject to a case (a “ Bankruptcy Case ”) under the Bankruptcy Code and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a roll-up of the First-Out Obligations (“ DIP Financing ”) to be provided by one or more lenders, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include the holders of First-Out Obligations (the “ DIP Lenders ”), under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral or the sale of property that constitutes Collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, that is not objected to by the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent or otherwise in accordance with an Act of the Parity Lien Debtholders, each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent or Collateral Trustee upon an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders) agrees that it will not raise any objection to, or support any Person objecting to, and shall be deemed to have consented to, any such financing or to the Liens on the Collateral securing the same (“ DIP Financing Liens ”) or to any use of cash collateral or sale that constitutes Collateral (including any, bid or sale procedure in respect thereof), unless the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent or the Collateral Trustee upon an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, shall then oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or use of cash collateral or sale of Collateral (and (i) to the extent that such DIP Financing Liens are senior to the Liens on any such Collateral for the benefit of the holders of First-Out Obligations, each other holder of any Parity Lien Obligations will consent to the subordination of its Liens with respect to such Collateral on the same terms as the Liens of the holders of First-Out Obligations (other than any Liens of any holders of First-Out Obligations constituting DIP Financing Liens) are subordinated thereto, and (ii) to the extent that such DIP Financing Liens rank pari passu with the Liens on any such Collateral granted to secure the Parity Lien Obligations, each other holder of Parity Lien Obligations will confirm the priorities with respect to such Collateral as set forth herein), in each case so long as (A) the Parity Lien Secured Parties retain the benefit of their Liens on all such Collateral pledged to the DIP Lenders, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of such proceeding, with the same priority vis-à-vis all the other Parity Lien Secured Parties (other than any Liens of the holders of First-Out Obligations constituting DIP Financing Liens) as existed prior to the commencement of the Bankruptcy Case, (B) the Parity Lien Secured Parties of each Series of Parity Lien Debt are granted Liens on any additional collateral pledged to any Parity Lien Secured Parties as adequate protection or otherwise in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, with the same priority vis-à-vis the Parity Lien Secured Parties as set forth in this Agreement, (C) if any amount of such DIP Financing or cash collateral is applied to repay any of the Parity Lien Obligations, such amount is applied pursuant to Section 3.4 of this Agreement and (D) if any Parity Lien Secured Parties are granted adequate protection, including in the form of periodic payments, in connection with such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral, the proceeds of such adequate protection are applied pursuant to Section 3.4 of this

 

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Agreement; and provided , further , that the Parity Lien Secured Parties receiving adequate protection shall not object to any other Parity Lien Secured Party receiving adequate protection comparable to any adequate protection granted to such Parity Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing or use of cash collateral.

(b)    The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the First-Out Obligations (and the Collateral securing such Obligations) constitute a separate and distinct class and separate and distinct claims from the other Parity Lien Obligations (and the security therefor). To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that the claims of the First-Out Secured Parties and the Last-Out Secured Parties in respect of the Collateral constitute only one secured claim (rather than separate classes of secured claims), then each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that all distributions shall be made as if there were separate classes of secured claims against the Grantors in respect of the Collateral (for this purpose ignoring all claims in respect of any Last-Out Obligations) and the First-Out Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them from, or in respect of, the Collateral, payment in full, in cash, of all First-Out Obligations, irrespective of whether a claim for such amounts is allowed or allowable in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, before any distribution from, or in respect of, any Collateral is made in respect of the claims held by the Last-Out Secured Parties who are not First-Out Secured Parties, with the Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee (on behalf of the Last-Out Secured Parties who are not First-Out Secured Parties) and the Last-Out Secured Parties who are not First-Out Secured Parties acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the First-Out Secured Parties amounts otherwise received or receivable by them to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Last-Out Secured Parties who are not First-Out Secured Parties.

ARTICLE 3

OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 3.1 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee .

(a)    Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) acting through its respective Parity Lien Representative hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee to serve as collateral trustee hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement and, to the extent applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will, as collateral trustee, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Parity Lien Secured Parties:

(i)    accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Parity Lien Security Documents, including all Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Parity Lien Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Parity Lien Security Documents (including in connection with any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding);

 

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(ii)    unless it has received a contrary Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, be entitled (but not obligated) to, take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Parity Lien Security Documents necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;

(iii)    deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents;

(iv)     sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee, trust deed beneficiary and insurance beneficiary or loss payee) with respect to the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;

(v)    remit as provided in Section  3.4 all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Trustee from the collection, foreclosure or enforcement of its interest in the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;

(vi)    execute and deliver (i) amendments and supplements to the Parity Lien Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section  7.1 accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the amendment was permitted under Section  7.1 and (ii) acknowledgements of Collateral Trust Joinders delivered pursuant to Section  3.8 or 7.18 hereof

(vii)    release or subordinate any Lien granted to it by any Parity Lien Security Document upon any Collateral if and as required by Section  3.2 ; and

(viii)    enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b)    Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth in Section  3.1(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Trustee.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not commence any exercise of remedies or any foreclosure actions or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Collateral unless and until it shall have been directed by written notice of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement; provided , however , that Collateral Trustee may, but shall have no obligation to do so, take actions in its reasonable business judgment, as it deems necessary or desirable, necessary to prove, protect or preserve the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations to the extent permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement.

(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Trustee; provided , that for

 

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purposes of determining such eligibility standards Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and its Affiliates and subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company.

(e)    Each of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, by its acceptance hereof, agrees that it will not propose, sponsor, support, vote in favor of or agree to any Non-Conforming Plan of Reorganization.

Section 3.2 Release or Subordination of Liens . The Collateral Trustee will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Trustee or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Trustee, except:

(a)    as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the release or subordination was permitted by (x) prior to the Discharge of First-Out Obligations, the Parity Lien Documents evidencing the First-Out Obligations and (y) thereafter, each applicable Parity Lien Document, and otherwise setting forth the requirements of Sections  4.1(b)(i) and 4.1(b)(ii) ;

(b)    as required by Article  4 ;

(c)    to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral to the extent permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing;

(d)    as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and nonappealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(e)    for the subordination of the Trust Estate and the Parity Liens to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 3.3 Enforcement of Liens .

(a)    If the Collateral Trustee at any time receives written notice from a Parity Lien Representative stating that any event has occurred that constitutes a default or event of default under any Parity Lien Document entitling the Collateral Trustee to foreclose upon, collect or otherwise enforce its Liens under the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will promptly deliver written notice thereof to each Parity Lien Representative. Thereafter, the Collateral Trustee may await direction by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will act, or decline to act, as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, in the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Trustee’s interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Parity Lien Security Documents or applicable law and, following the initiation of such exercise of remedies, the Collateral Trustee will act, or decline to act, with respect to the manner of such exercise of remedies as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. Unless it has been directed to the contrary by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee in any event may (but will not be obligated to), subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, take or refrain from taking such action with respect to any default or event of default under any Parity Lien Document as it may deem advisable and in the interest of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided , however , nothing in this

 

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Section 3.3(a) shall require Collateral Trustee to take any action, or refrain to take any action which, in its judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose Collateral Trustee to liability or that is contrary to any Parity Lien Documents or applicable Governmental Requirement. No Parity Lien Secured Party will contest, protest or object to the exercise of any enforcement right relating to the Collateral brought by the Collateral Trustee or any other exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any rights and remedies relating to the Collateral, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(b)    Each Parity Lien Representative, on behalf of itself and the Parity Lien Secured Parties for which it is acting hereunder, agrees that it will not accept any Lien on any Collateral for the benefit of any Parity Lien Obligations (other than (i) funds deposited for the satisfaction, discharge, redemption or defeasance of any Series of Parity Lien Debt and (ii) cash collateral deposited with any Parity Lien Representative or Parity Lien Secured Party in accordance with the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) other than pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents, and by executing this Agreement (or a Collateral Trust Joinder), each Parity Lien Representative and each Parity Lien Secured Party for which it is acting hereunder agree to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents applicable to it.

(c)    Each Parity Lien Representative (in such capacity), on behalf of itself and each Parity Lien Secured Party for which it is acting hereunder, agrees that (i) it will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity, allowability or enforceability of any Parity Lien Obligations or any Parity Lien Document or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Lien under any Parity Lien Document or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by or other provisions of this Agreement; (ii) it will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshalled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such Collateral; (iii) it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement; (iv) [RESERVED]; (v) it will not object to or otherwise contest (or support any other Person contesting), any motion for relief from the automatic stay or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement in respect of the Collateral made by the Collateral Trustee; (vi) it will not seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of any Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Trustee; (vii) it will not object to, or otherwise contest (or support any Person contesting), (A) any request by the Collateral Trustee or Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee for adequate protection on account of the Collateral or (B) any objection by the Collateral Trustee or Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Collateral Trustee’s claimed lack of adequate protection with respect to the Collateral; (viii) it will not assert or enforce (or support any Person asserting or enforcing) any claim under section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code pari passu with or on a first priority basis to the Parity Liens for costs or expenses of preserving or disposing any Collateral; and (ix) other than as otherwise provided herein, oppose or otherwise contest (or support any other Person contesting) any lawful exercise by the Collateral Trustee or any First-Out Secured Party of the right to credit bid at any sale of Collateral; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any of the Collateral Trustee or any other Parity Lien Secured Party to enforce this Agreement.

 

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Section 3.4 Application of Proceeds .

(a)    Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon, or exercise of any right or remedy with respect to, any Collateral, any distribution received in connection with an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding concerning the Company, any Guarantor and/or any Grantor (including, without limitation, any distribution of debt or equity securities in full or partial satisfaction or waiver of any claims of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations against any Grantor in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and the proceeds of any title insurance or other insurance policy required under any Parity Lien Document or otherwise covering the Collateral, and any condemnation proceeds with respect to the Collateral, in the following order of application:

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Trustee’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Trustee or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Trustee in connection with any Parity Lien Security Document (including, but not limited to, indemnification obligations);

SECOND, to the applicable Parity Lien Representatives equally and ratably for application to the payment of all outstanding First-Out Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents relating to the First-Out Obligations in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding First-Out Obligations;

THIRD, to the respective Parity Lien Representatives equally and ratably for application to the payment of all other outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding);

FOURTH, as otherwise required by the Intercreditor Agreement; and

FIFTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to the Company or the applicable Grantor or Guarantor, as the case may be, its successors or assigns, and as directed in writing by the Company, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Series of Parity Lien Debt has released its Lien on any Collateral as described below in Section  4.4 , then such Series of Parity Lien Debt and any related Parity Lien Obligations of that Series of Parity Lien Debt thereafter shall not be entitled to share in the proceeds of any Collateral so released by that Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Trustee shall only apply proceeds in accordance with this Section  3.4 to the extent that such proceeds are actually so received by the Collateral Trustee.

(b)    This Section  3.4 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Collateral Trust Joinder including an Additional Secured Debt Designation as provided in Section  3.8 at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

(c)    In connection with the application of proceeds pursuant to Section  3.4(a) , except as otherwise directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee may sell any non-cash proceeds for cash prior to the application of the proceeds thereof.

(d)    In making the determinations and allocations in accordance with Section  3.4(a) , the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to its respective Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations and if such Parity Lien Representative does not provide such information to the Collateral Trustee, then the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon such information provided by the Company.

(e)    Each Parity Lien Secured Party (a “ Receiving Party ”) agrees that, so long as the Discharge of First-Out Obligations has not occurred, any and all Collateral (or assets and property purported to be Collateral) or proceeds thereof or any distributions in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding received by any Parity Lien Secured Party (in the form of cash or otherwise) pursuant to any Parity Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or in connection with any disposition of, collection on, or in connection with any insurance policy claim or any condemnation award (or deed in lieu of condemnation) with respect to, such Collateral (each a “ Shared Payment ”), is to be paid to the Collateral Trustee, which shall distribute such proceeds among the Parity Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 3.4(a) of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, a Shared Payment includes any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property, stock, debt securities or obligations (and the proceeds thereof), which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Collateral and/or as distributions in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

(f)    If any portion of a Shared Payment is in the form of cash, then such cash shall be applied pursuant to the priorities set forth in this Section  3.4 before any non-cash Shared Payments are applied pursuant to the priorities set forth in this Section  3.4 ; provided that, irrespective of the terms of any Plan of Reorganization (including the confirmation of such Plan of Reorganization pursuant to section 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or the equivalent provision of any other Bankruptcy Laws), each of the Parity Lien Debt Representatives hereby acknowledges and agrees to turn over to the Collateral Trustee any Shared Payments otherwise received or receivable by them under such Plan of Reorganization or otherwise to the extent

 

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necessary to effectuate the intent of this Section  3.4 . If any Parity Lien Secured Party collects or receives any proceeds of any exercise of any right or remedy with respect to any Collateral or proceeds thereof, proceeds of any title or other insurance or any other Shared Payment, and any proceeds subject to Liens that have been avoided or otherwise invalidated that should have been applied to the payment of the First-Out Obligations in accordance with Section 3.4(a) above, whether prior to or after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, such Parity Lien Secured Party will forthwith deliver the same to the Collateral Trustee, for the account of the applicable Parity Lien Secured Parties, to be applied in accordance with Section 3.4(a) . Until so delivered, such proceeds shall be segregated and will be held in trust by that Parity Lien Secured Party for the benefit of the applicable Parity Lien Secured Parties.

(g)    To the extent any Parity Lien Secured Party or Parity Lien Representative receives a Shared Payment or other cash, property or assets in respect of any Parity Lien Obligation from any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, such cash, property or other assets will be delivered to the Collateral Trustee for application in accordance with Section 3.4(a) .

Section 3.5 Powers of the Collateral Trustee .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Parity Lien Security Documents and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article  3 or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any directions given to it in writing from time to time in respect of any matter by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

(b)    No Parity Lien Representative or holder of Parity Lien Obligations (other than the Collateral Trustee) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee will have no liability whatsoever for any act or omission of any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 3.6 Documents and Communications . The Collateral Trustee will permit each Parity Lien Representative and each holder of Parity Lien Obligations upon reasonable written notice and at reasonable times from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Parity Lien Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such.

Section 3.7 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations . The Collateral Trustee will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Trustee and all other property of the Trust Estate solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Parity Lien Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it in realization thereon or from enforcement thereof solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section  3.4 .

 

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Section 3.8 Additional Parity Lien Debt .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee will, as trustee hereunder, perform its undertakings set forth in Section  3.1(a) with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred on or after the date hereof, provided that:

(i)    such Parity Lien Obligations are identified as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section  3.8(b) ; and

(ii)    unless such debt is issued under an existing Parity Lien Document for any Series of Parity Lien Debt whose Parity Lien Representative is already party to this Agreement, the designated Parity Lien Representative identified pursuant to Section  3.8(b) signs a Collateral Trust Joinder and delivers the same to the Collateral Trustee.

(b)    The Company will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Parity Lien Debt hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Parity Lien Debt incurred by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor on or after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents. The Company may only effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Trustee an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate that:

(i)    states that the Company or applicable Grantor intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“ Additional Parity Lien Debt ”) that is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably (but subject to Section 3.4 of this Agreement) with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

(ii)    specifies the name, address and contact information of the Parity Lien Representative for such series of Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section  7.6 ;

(iii)    attaches as Exhibit 1 to such Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate a Reaffirmation Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement, which Reaffirmation Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and each Grantor and Guarantor; and

(iv)    states that the Company has caused a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and the related Collateral Trust Joinder to be delivered to each then existing Parity Lien Representative.

Although the Company shall be required to deliver a copy of each Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and each Collateral Trust Joinder to each then existing Parity Lien Representative, the failure to so deliver a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and/or Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the status of such debt as Additional Parity Lien Debt if the other requirements of this Section  3.8 are complied with. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the other then existing Parity Lien Representatives shall receive a legal opinion or opinions of counsel (subject to customary assumptions and

 

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qualifications) from the Company as to the Additional Parity Lien Debt being permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents and secured by a valid and perfected security interest in the Collateral; provided that (i) such legal opinion or opinions need not address any Collateral of a type not previously covered by any legal opinion delivered by or on behalf of the Company and (ii) nothing shall preclude such legal opinion or opinions from being delivered on a post-closing basis after the incurrence of such Additional Parity Lien Debt if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor to incur additional Indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents. Liens upon the Collateral to secure Additional Parity Lien Debt shall be created pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents that create Liens upon the Collateral to secure the other Parity Lien Obligations; provided that, to the extent required by applicable law, such Liens upon the Collateral to secure Additional Parity Lien Debt may be created pursuant to separate Parity Lien Security Documents, which shall be in substantially the same form as the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents creating the Liens upon the Collateral to secure the other Parity Lien Obligations. Additional Parity Lien Debt shall not be secured by Liens upon any Collateral unless the other Parity Lien Obligations are also secured by Liens on such Collateral. Additional Parity Lien Debt shall be guaranteed by all of the applicable Guarantors and shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Guarantor.

(c)    With respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof, the Company and each of the Grantors and Guarantors agrees to take such actions (if any) as necessary and as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, and enter into such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements to the then existing Guarantees and Parity Lien Security Documents (or execute and deliver such additional Parity Lien Security Documents) as necessary and as may from time to time be reasonably requested by such Persons (including as contemplated by clause  (d) below), to ensure that the Additional Parity Lien Debt is secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Parity Lien Security Documents, and each Parity Lien Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits hereof) hereby agrees to, and authorizes the Collateral Trustee to enter into, any such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements (and additional Parity Lien Security Documents). The Company and each Grantor and Guarantor hereby further agrees that, if there are any recording, filing or other similar fees payable in connection with any of the actions to be taken pursuant to this Section  3.8(c) or Section  3.8(d) , all such amounts shall be paid by, and shall be for the account of, the Company and the respective Grantors and Guarantors, on a joint and several basis.

(d)    Without limitation of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees to take the following actions with respect to any real property Collateral (including Oil and Gas Properties) with respect to all Additional Parity Lien Debt (it being understood that any such actions may be taken following the incurrence of any such Additional Parity Lien Debt on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt):

(i)    each applicable Grantor shall enter into, and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a mortgage modification or new mortgage or deed of trust with regard to each real property subject to a mortgage or deed of trust (each such mortgage or deed of trust a “ Mortgage ” and each such property a “ Mortgaged Property ”), in proper form for recording in all applicable jurisdictions;

 

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(ii)    each applicable Grantor will cause to be delivered a local counsel opinion (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to each such Mortgaged Property; and

(iii)    each applicable Grantor will cause a title company to have delivered to the Collateral Trustee an endorsement to each title insurance policy for any real property Collateral (excluding Oil and Gas Properties), if any, then in effect for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, date down(s) or other evidence (which may include a new title insurance policy) (each such delivery, a “ Title Datedown Product ”), in each case insuring that (x) the priority of the Liens of the applicable Mortgage(s) as security for the Parity Lien Obligations has not changed and, if a new Mortgage is entered into, that the Lien of such new Mortgage securing the Parity Lien Debt then being incurred shall have the same priority vis-a-vis any other outstanding indebtedness (other than Parity Lien Obligations) as any existing Mortgage securing then existing Parity Lien Obligations, (y) since the later of the original date of such title insurance product and the date of the Title Datedown Product delivered most recently prior to (and not in connection with) such additional Indebtedness, there has been no change in the condition of title and (z) there are no intervening liens or encumbrances which may then or thereafter take priority over the Lien of the applicable Mortgage(s), in each case other than with respect to Liens permitted by each Parity Lien Document; provided , however , to the extent the real property Collateral is located in Texas, the foregoing shall only apply to the extent permitted by the procedural rules promulgated by the Texas department of insurance.

The Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee confirming that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.

(e)    Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that (x) the Indebtedness created under the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement and (y) the Indebtedness created under the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement, in each case, constitutes Parity Lien Debt.

Section 3.9 Post-Petition Interest . No Parity Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge or support any Person challenging any claim by the Collateral Trustee or any other Parity Lien Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of post-petition interest (at the rate provided for in the Parity Lien Documents with respect thereto), fees or expenses in respect of any Parity Lien Obligations.

Section 3.10 Reinstatement . If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, all or part of any payment with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, then such Parity Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of the amount so rescinded and, if theretofore terminated, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the Lien priorities and the relative rights and obligations of the Parity Lien Secured Parties provided for herein.

 

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ARTICLE 4

OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS

Section 4.1 Release of Liens on Collateral .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will be automatically released:

(i)    in whole, upon (A) payment in full in cash and Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full in cash and discharged, (B) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and (C) the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount of outstanding letters of credit and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

(ii)    as to any Collateral of a Grantor or Guarantor that is (A) released as a Grantor or Guarantor, as applicable, under each Parity Lien Document and (B) is not obligated (as primary obligor or guarantor) with respect to any other Parity Lien Obligations and so long as the respective release does not violate the terms of any Parity Lien Document which then remains in effect;

(iii)    as to any Collateral of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with Section  6.04 of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement (other than any sale, disposition or other transaction solely between or among any Grantors or any Guarantors and other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale as provided in such Section);

(iv)    as to a release of less than all or substantially all of the Collateral, if consent to the release of all Parity Liens on such Collateral has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders;

(v)    in whole, if the Liens on such Collateral have been released in accordance with the terms of each Series of Parity Lien Debt;

(vi)    as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, if (A) consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt at the time outstanding as provided

 

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for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and satisfaction of any other conditions precedent provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and (B) the Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained and any conditions precedent in the applicable Parity Lien Documents have been satisfied;

(vii)    as to a release of Collateral effected in connection with the enforcement or exercise of rights or remedies by the Collateral Trustee with respect to its Liens in such Collateral, if direction of such enforcement or exercise has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders; or

(viii)    if and to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section  4.01(a) or Section 4.01(b) of the Intercreditor Agreement; or

(ix)    if the Liens on the Collateral are released pursuant to a sale of Collateral pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization, provided that the Liens on such Collateral attach to the proceeds of such sale and any proceeds are applied in accordance with this Agreement.

(b)    The Collateral Trustee agrees for the benefit of the Company and the other Grantors that if the Collateral Trustee at any time receives:

(i)    an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that (A) the signing Officer has read Article  4 of this Agreement and understands the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and all other Parity Lien Documents, if any, relating to the release of the Collateral have been complied with and (C) in the opinion of such Officer, such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with; and

(ii)    the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable; then, promptly following receipt by the Collateral Trustee of the items required by this Section  4.1(b) , upon written request of the Company, the Collateral Trustee will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver evidence of such release to the Company or other applicable Grantor; provided that, in the case of a release of Liens under Section  4.1(a)(vii) , the Collateral Trustee shall execute and deliver such proposed instruments releasing its Liens contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of such similar instruments by the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

(c)    The Collateral Trustee hereby agrees that:

(i)    in the case of any release pursuant to Section  4.1(a)(iii) , if the terms of any such sale, transfer or other disposition require the payment of the purchase price to be contemporaneous with the delivery of the applicable release, then, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and at the written request of and at the expense of the

 

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Company or other applicable Grantor, the Collateral Trustee will either (A) be present at and deliver the release at the closing of such transaction or (B) deliver the release under customary escrow arrangements that permit such contemporaneous payment and delivery of the release; and

(ii)    at any time when a Parity Lien Debt Default has occurred and is continuing, within three Business Days of the receipt by it of any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee, pursuant to Section  4.1(a)(iv) , will deliver a copy of such Act of Parity Lien Debtholders to each Parity Lien Representative.

Section 4.2 Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives . The Company will deliver to each Parity Lien Representative (a) a copy of each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section  4.1(b) , together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate and (b) copies of all Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee. The Parity Lien Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon.

Section 4.3 Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record . Subject to Section  3.2 , the Collateral Trustee is not required to serve, file, register or record any instrument releasing or subordinating its Liens on any Collateral; provided that if the Company or any other Grantor shall make a written demand for a termination statement under Section 9-513(c) of the UCC, the Collateral Trustee shall comply with the written request of the Company or Grantor to comply with the requirements of such UCC provision as determined and prepared by the Company or Grantor.

Section 4.4 Release of Liens . In addition to any release pursuant to Section  4.1 hereof, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt (including the Term Loans), the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Lien will no longer secure such Series of Parity Lien Debt if such Parity Lien Debt has been paid in full, all commitments to extend credit in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt have been terminated and all other Parity Lien Obligations related thereto that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Parity Lien Debt is paid are also paid in full, or if otherwise required by the terms of such Parity Lien Debt or the Intercreditor Agreement.

ARTICLE 5

IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 5.1 No Implied Duty . The Collateral Trustee will not have any duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. No implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Trustee. The permissive right of the Collateral Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentences, the use of the term “trustee” in this Agreement with reference to the Collateral Trustee is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligation, whether before or after an event of default, arising under agency doctrine of

 

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any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 5.2 Appointment of Agents and Advisors . The Collateral Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.

Section 5.3 Other Agreements . The Collateral Trustee has accepted its appointment as collateral trustee hereunder and is bound by the Parity Lien Security Documents executed by the Collateral Trustee as of the date of this Agreement, and the Collateral Trustee shall at the written request of the Company or the applicable Parity Lien Representative execute additional Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement (including to secure Obligations arising under Additional Parity Lien Debt to the extent such Obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured under the Parity Lien Documents); provided that such additional Parity Lien Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the Collateral Trustee or conflict with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral Trustee will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Parity Lien Debt (other than this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents to which it is a party).

Section 5.4 Solicitation of Instructions .

(a)    The Collateral Trustee may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, an Officers’ Certificate or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, and Collateral Trustee shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval and shall not be under any liability whatsoever to any Person for refraining from any action or withholding any approval under any of the Parity Lien Documents until it shall have received such instructions in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders as to any action that it may be requested or required to take.

(b)    No written direction given to the Collateral Trustee by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Trustee imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Trustee any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or that in Collateral Trustee’s judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose Collateral Trustee to liability or that is contrary to any applicable Governmental Authority will be binding upon the Collateral Trustee.

 

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(c)    The Collateral Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request, order or direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders or pursuant to any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such holders shall have furnished to the Collateral Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities including attorneys’ fees and expenses which may be incurred therein or thereby.

Section 5.5 Limitation of Liability . The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Parity Lien Security Document, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 5.6 Documents in Satisfactory Form . The Collateral Trustee will be entitled, but not obligated, to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form reasonably satisfactory to it.

Section 5.7 Entitled to Rely . The Collateral Trustee may seek and conclusively rely upon, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Parity Lien Representative as to the holders of Parity Lien Obligations for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Trustee may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Parity Lien Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee in respect of any matter, the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel as to such matter and such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

Section 5.8 Parity Lien Debt Default . The Collateral Trustee will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any Parity Lien Debt Default and will not be affected by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default unless and until it is directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

Section 5.9 Actions by Collateral Trustee . As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant to hereto or thereto shall be binding on the holders of Parity Lien Obligations. The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance with an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

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Section 5.10 Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee . The Collateral Trustee will not be required to advance or expend any funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers or rights hereunder (or any omission to perform or exercise) unless it has been provided with security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any and all liability or expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take or omitting to take such action.

Section 5.11 Rights of the Collateral Trustee . In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Parity Lien Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Parity Lien Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Collateral held by the Collateral Trustee and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Trustee is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Trustee is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Parity Lien Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 5.12 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral .

(a)    Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Trustee will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee will execute, file or record UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by any Parity Lien Representative, it being understood that the Company and/or the applicable Grantor shall be responsible for all filings required in connection with any Parity Lien Security Document and the continuation, maintenance and/or perfection of any such filing or the lien and security interest granted in connection therewith. The Collateral Trustee shall deliver to each other Parity Lien Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Trustee will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Trustee in good faith.

 

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(b)    The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Grantor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any holder of Parity Lien Debt to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this or any other Parity Lien Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor.

Section 5.13 Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

(a)    each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not be executed;

(b)    the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Parity Lien Security Documents; and

(c)    the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of the Company or any Grantor.

Section 5.14 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials . In the event that the Collateral Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Trustee to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to immediately resign as Collateral Trustee or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Trustee will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Trustee’s actions or inactions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.

 

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Section 5.15 Other Relationships with the Company, Grantors or Guarantors . Wilmington Trust, National Association and its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor and its Affiliates as though it was not the Collateral Trustee hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Parity Lien Representatives or holders of any of the Parity Lien Obligations. The Parity Lien Representatives and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Wilmington Trust, National Association or its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may receive information regarding the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company, such Grantor or Guarantor or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that (i) such knowledge is not imputed to the Collateral Trustee and (ii) Wilmington Trust, National Association and its Affiliates shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to the Parity Lien Secured Parties. Nothing herein shall impose or imply any obligation on the part of Wilmington Trust, National Association (or any successor Collateral Trustee) to advance funds.

Section 5.16 No Liability for Interest . The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for interest or investment income on any money or securities received by it, except as the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

Section 5.17 Non-Reliance on Collateral Trustee . The Collateral Trustee shall not be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by the Company or a Grantor of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein. Except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to any Parity Lien Secured Party by the Collateral Trustee hereunder, the Collateral Trustee shall have no duty or responsibility to provide any Parity Lien Secured Party with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Company or any Grantor that may come into the possession of the Collateral Trustee or any of its Affiliates.

ARTICLE 6

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

Section 6.1 Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee . Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided in Section  6.2 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Trustee:

(a)    the Collateral Trustee may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ notice of resignation to each Parity Lien Representative and the Company; and

(b)    the Collateral Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

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Section 6.2 Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee . Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Trustee may be appointed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. If no successor Collateral Trustee has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after the predecessor Collateral Trustee gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Trustee may (at the expense of the Company), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Trustee, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee, which must be a bank or trust company:

(a)    authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; and

(b)    having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000.

Until the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided for in this Section  6.2 after the resignation or removal of the Collateral Trustee, all communications and determinations required to be made by, to or through Collateral Trustee shall instead be made by or through the Parity Lien Representatives. From and following the expiration of such thirty (30) day period, Collateral Trustee shall have the exclusive right, upon one (1) Business Days’ notice to the Parity Lien Representatives, to make its resignation effective immediately. From and following the effectiveness of such notice, the retiring or removed Collateral Trustee shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Parity Lien Documents.

Section 6.3 Succession . When the Person so appointed as successor Collateral Trustee accepts such appointment:

(a)    such Person will succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Trustee, and the predecessor Collateral Trustee will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; and

(b)    the predecessor Collateral Trustee will (at the expense of the Company) promptly transfer all Liens and collateral security and other property of the Trust Estate within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Trustee and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Trustee to transfer to the successor Collateral Trustee all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies of the predecessor Collateral Trustee in respect of the Parity Lien Security Documents or the Trust Estate.

Thereafter the predecessor Collateral Trustee will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in Article  5 and the provisions of Sections  7.8 and 7.9 , and said provisions will survive termination of this Agreement for the benefit of the predecessor of the Collateral Trustee.

Section 6.4 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee . Any Person into which the Collateral Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Trustee shall be the successor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section  6.3 , provided that (i) without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person

 

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satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in clauses  (a) and (b)  of Section  6.2 and (ii) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Trustee shall have notified the Company and each Parity Lien Representative thereof in writing.

Section 6.5 Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives .

(a)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by each Parity Lien Representative not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as trustee, representative or agent for the benefit of the related holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it under the related Parity Lien Documents, and in no event shall such Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by Wilmington Trust, National Association, not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Collateral Trustee, and in no event shall Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by Wilmington Trust, National Association not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent, and in no event shall Wilmington Trust, National Association or any other Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

(d)    In entering into this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of (x) the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Collateral Trustee” thereunder and (y) the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Collateral Trustee” thereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or any Parity Lien Representative.

(e)    Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or

 

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refraining from acting) solely upon the instructions of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders; provided that neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to take any action that (i) it in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless it receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the applicable holders of the Parity Lien Obligations with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or applicable law.

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 7.1 Amendment .

(a)    Except as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Parity Lien Security Document will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, except that:

(i)    any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:

(A)    adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Debt that was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Trustee therein, or

(B)    providing for the assumption of the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor’s obligations under any Parity Lien Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company, any Grantor or such Guarantor to the extent permitted by the terms of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the other Parity Lien Documents, as applicable,

will become effective when executed and delivered by the Company or any other applicable Grantor party thereto and the Collateral Trustee;

(ii)    no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations:

(A)    to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders or direction by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (or amends the provisions of this clause  (ii) or the definition of “ Act of Parity Lien Debtholders ” or “ Required Parity Lien Debtholders ”);

(B)    to share in the order of application described in Section  3.4 in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral; or

 

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(C)    to require that Liens securing Parity Lien Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Sections  4.1 or 4.5 ,

will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt adversely affected thereby under the applicable Parity Lien Document; and

(iii)    no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Trustee or such Parity Lien Representative, respectively.

(b)    Notwithstanding Section  7.1(a) but subject to Sections  7.1(a)(ii) and 7.1(a)(iii) :

(i)    any mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed in writing by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders, unless such amendment or supplement would not be permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Priority Lien Document;

(ii)    any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of any security document that secures Priority Lien Obligations will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Security Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations; and

(iii)    any mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee (but without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by any holder of Parity Lien Obligations) (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or (ii) to make other changes that do not have an adverse effect on the validity of the Lien created thereby.

(c)    The Collateral Trustee will not enter into any amendment or supplement unless it has received an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in a breach of any provision or covenant contained in the Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Parity Lien Documents. Prior to executing any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section  7.1 , the Collateral Trustee shall also receive an Opinion of Counsel of the Company to the effect that the execution of such document is authorized or permitted hereunder and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, and with respect to amendments adding Collateral, an Opinion of Counsel of the Company addressing customary creation and perfection, and if such additional Collateral consists of equity interests of any Person which equity interests constitute certificated securities, priority matters with respect to such additional Collateral (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and qualifications).

 

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Section 7.2 Voting . In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (to the extent such unfunded commitments have not been terminated by the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt). Following and in accordance with the outcome of the applicable vote under its Parity Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Representative of each Series of Parity Lien Debt will vote the total amount of Parity Lien Debt under that Series of Parity Lien Debt as a block in respect of any vote under this Agreement.

Upon request of the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative shall provide written notice to the Collateral Trustee of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Parity Lien Debt for which it is the Parity Lien Representative and the information described in clause (2) of the immediately preceding paragraph.

Section 7.3 Further Assurances .

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

(b)    Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Grantors and Guarantors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Parity Lien Security Documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided that no such Parity Lien Security Document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Company, any Grantor and the Guarantors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the date hereof) by the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors in connection with the borrowing of the Term Loans on or about the date hereof.

 

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(c)    From and after the date hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Grantor or Guarantor to, deliver such documents and takes such actions as are required by the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, the Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement and the other Parity Lien Documents.

(d)    Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors will permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives, at reasonable times and intervals upon reasonable prior notice, to visit their offices and sites and inspect any of the Collateral and to discuss matters relating to the Collateral with their respective officers and independent public accountants. The Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors shall, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors and their Subsidiaries, all at the Company’s expense.

Section 7.4 Successors and Assigns .

(a)    Except as provided in Section  5.2 , the Collateral Trustee may not, in its capacity as such, delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Collateral Trustee hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

(b)    Neither the Company nor any Grantor or Guarantor may delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Company, the Grantors and the Guarantors hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

Section 7.5 Delay and Waiver . No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

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Section 7.6 Notices . (a) Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given may be given to the following addresses

If to the Collateral Trustee,

the Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee

the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent

the Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee

the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Facsimile: (612) 217-5651

Attention: Meghan McCauley

with a copy to:

Lindquist & Vennum LLP

4200 IDS Center 80 South Eighth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

15414642_5 33

Attention: Mark C. Dietzen, Esq. Telephone:

Telephone: (612) 371-2452

Facsimile: (612) 371-3207

Email: MDietzen@Lindquist.com

If to the Company or any other Grantor:     EXCO Resources, Inc.

                                                                       12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

                                                                       Dallas, TX 75251

                                                                       Attention: Treasurer

                                                                       Facsimile: (214) 706-3409

with a copy to:

                                                                       EXCO Resources, Inc.

                                                                       12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

                                                                       Dallas, TX 75251

                                                                       Attention: General Counsel

                                                                       Facsimile: (214) 706-3409

and if to any other Parity Lien Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above.

(b)     All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or delivered by facsimile to the relevant address or number set forth above or, as to holders of Parity Lien Debt, its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Parity Lien Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Failure to mail or delivery by facsimile a notice or communication to a holder of Parity Lien Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Parity Lien Debt.

 

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(c)    If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered by facsimile in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Section 7.7 Entire Agreement . This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.

Section 7.8 Compensation; Expenses . The Grantors jointly and severally agree to pay, promptly upon demand:

(i)    such compensation, fees, costs and expenses to the Collateral Trustee and its agents (including attorney’s fees and expenses) as the Company and the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing from time to time;

(ii)    all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents (including attorney’s fees and expenses) in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;

(iii)    all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Company, any Grantor or any Guarantor;

(iv)    all other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Parity Lien Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

(v)    all other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Parity Lien Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

 

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(vi)    after the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee, its agents and any Parity Lien Representative in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Parity Lien Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Trustee or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any of the Parity Lien Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Parity Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Trustee, its agents or the Parity Lien Representatives.

The agreements in this Section  7.8 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.9 Indemnity .

(a)    The Grantors jointly and severally agree to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative, each holder of Parity Lien Obligations and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of the directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an “ Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. THIS INDEMNITY COVERS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES.

(b)    All amounts due under this Section  7.9 will be payable within 10 days upon written demand.

(c)    Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, agrees on a pro rata basis, to indemnify Collateral Trustee (to the extent not reimbursed by Grantors within ten (10) days) upon demand to the extent required by Section 10.03(c) of the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement (or any similar provision of any other Parity Lien Document).

(d)    To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section  7.9(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Grantors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

(e)    No Grantor will ever assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages

 

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arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Grantors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

(f)    The agreements in this Section  7.9 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.10 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in all other respects and of all remaining provisions, and of such provision in all other jurisdictions, will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 7.11 Headings . Section headings herein have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 7.12 Obligations Secured . All obligations of the Grantors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be Parity Lien Obligations and are secured by all Liens granted by the Parity Lien Security Documents.

Section 7.13 Governing Law . THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 7.14 Consent to Jurisdiction . All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably:

(i)    accepts generally and unconditionally the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts;

(ii)    waives any defense of forum non conveniens ;

(iii)    agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section  7.6 ;

(iv)    agrees that service as provided in clause  (3) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

 

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(v)    agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

Section 7.15 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INTENTS AND PURPOSES OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH PARTY HERETO HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH PARTY HERETO WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 7.15 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OR TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING THERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

Section 7.16 Counterparts, Electronic Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one and the same instrument. The parties hereto may sign this Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder and transmit the executed copy by electronic means, including facsimile or non-editable .pdf files. The electronic copy of the executed Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder is and shall be deemed an original signature.

Section 7.17 Effectiveness . This Agreement will become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by each party of written notification of such execution and written or telephonic authorization of delivery thereof.

Section 7.18 Grantors and Additional Grantors . Each Grantor represents and warrants that it has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. The Company will cause each

 

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Person that hereafter becomes a Grantor or is required by any Parity Lien Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Company shall promptly provide each Parity Lien Representative with a copy of each Collateral Trust Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section  7.18 ; provided that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as a Grantor if the other requirements of this Section  7.18 are complied with.

Section 7.19 Insolvency . This Agreement will be applicable both before and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Grantor. The relative rights, as provided for in this Agreement, will continue after the commencement of any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the commencement of any such case, as provided in this Agreement.

Section 7.20 Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives . The Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent, the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee will be entitled, to the extent applicable to such entity, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Senior Third Lien Credit Agreement, Junior Third Lien Credit Agreement and any future Parity Lien Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing the applicable Parity Lien Debt with respect to which such Person will act as representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein. In no event will any Parity Lien Representative be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or the Collateral Trustee hereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or any Parity Lien Representative hereunder.

Section 7.21 Intercreditor Agreement . Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee as provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) and instructs (or is deemed to instruct) the Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement as “Senior Third Lien Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) as “Junior Third Lien Collateral Agent” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). The Collateral Trustee agrees to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any Holder (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture), the Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent or the Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt (to the extent permitted to be incurred and secured by the applicable Secured Debt Documents and subject to the provisions of Article 5 of this Agreement) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are

 

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intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Parity Lien Documents to extend credit to the Company, as the borrower under the Parity Lien Debt, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of this provision and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (x) to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents shall not be required and (y) to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Second Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Second Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Agreement or the other Second Lien Security Documents shall not be required.

Section 7.22 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Collateral Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Collateral Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 7.23 U.S.A. Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Collateral Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Collateral Trustee. The parties to this Collateral Trust Agreement agree that they will provide the Collateral Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Collateral Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow. ]

 

48


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY :
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement (Second Lien)


GRANTORS :
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:  

EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC

its general partner

By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Senior Third Lien Administrative Agent

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Senior Third Lien Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Junior Third Lien Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Junior Third Lien Administrative Agent

By:  

/s/ Renee Kuhl

  Name:   Renee Kuhl
  Title:   Vice President

Exhibit 10.12

EXECUTION VERSION

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

AND

THE INVESTORS SPECIFIED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of March 15, 2017, by and among EXCO Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), and each of the investors specified on the signature pages hereto (each, an “ Investor ,” and collectively, the “ Investors ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into a Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), pursuant to which it has issued and sold $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.0% / 11.0% 1.5 Lien Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2022 (the “ 1.5 Lien Notes ”) which will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, the trustee and the collateral trustee;

WHEREAS, in connection with the offering of the 1.5 Lien Notes, the Company completed an exchange of $682.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loans due October 26, 2020 (the “ Second Lien Term Loans ”) for $682.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s new 1.75 Lien Term Loans due October 26, 2020 (the “ 1.75 Lien Term Loans ”);

WHEREAS, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and certain limitations, the Indenture and the credit agreement governing the 1.75 Lien Term Loans allow the Company to elect, at its option through December 31, 2018 and subject to the satisfaction of certain criteria thereafter, to pay interest on the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans by issuing shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Shares ,” and the Common Shares issued upon such elections, the “ PIK Shares ”);

WHEREAS, as part of the offering of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the exchange of Second Lien Term Loans for 1.75 Lien Term Loans, the Company issued warrants exercisable for Common Shares in three separate tranches to (i) the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes (the “ Financing Warrants ”), (ii) the Commitment Parties (as defined below) (the “ Commitment Fee Warrants ”) and (iii) the exchanging holders of the Second Lien Term Loans (the “ Amendment Fee Warrants ,” and collectively with the Financing Warrants and the Commitment Fee Warrants, the “ Warrants ”);

WHEREAS, the Investors are the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Term Loans and/or the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Investors; and

WHEREAS, it is an obligation under the Purchase Agreement that this Agreement be executed and delivered.


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01     Definitions . The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

1.5 Lien Notes ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

1.75 Lien Term Loans ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such particular Person.

Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in recitals of this Agreement.

Amendment Fee Warrants ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal legal holiday or day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or State of Texas are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

Commitment Fee Warrants ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Commitment Parties ” means Fairfax, ESAS, LS Power and Oaktree.

Common Shares ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Common Share Price ” means the volume weighted average closing price of Common Shares (as reported by The New York Stock Exchange or, if The New York Stock Exchange is not the Company’s primary securities exchange or market, such primary securities exchange or market or the over the counter market if the Common Shares are not then listed on an exchange or market) for the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made (or, if such price is not available, as determined in good faith by the Board).

Company Underwritten Offering ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.04 of this Agreement.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of a Person whether though the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The terms “ Controlled ” and “ Controlling ” shall have correlative meanings.

Controlling Person ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.05(i) of this Agreement.

 

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Company ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Effective Date ” means, with respect to a particular Shelf Registration Statement, the date that the SEC has declared such Shelf Registration Statement effective.

Effectiveness Period ” means the period beginning on the Effective Date for the Registration Statement and ending at the time all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

Electing Holders ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.03 of this Agreement.

ESAS ” means Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC, collectively with its subsidiaries and Affiliates.

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

Fairfax ” means Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, collectively with their subsidiaries and Affiliates.

Financing Warrants ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Freely Tradable ” means, with respect to any security, that such security is (i) no longer subject to the restrictions on trading under the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force), including volume and manner of sale restrictions, and the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c) (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) no longer applies and (ii) held by a Holder who owns less than $5 million of Registrable Securities calculated in accordance with the Registrable Securities Amount.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, or other governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.

Holder ” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.

Indenture ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Inspectors ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.05(k) of this Agreement.

Investor ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, order, code, governmental restriction, decree, injunction or other requirement of law, or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, of any Governmental Authority.

Losses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.08(a)  of this Agreement.

LS Power ” means LS Power, collectively with its subsidiaries and Affiliates.

Managing Underwriter ” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book- running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.

 

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NYSE ” means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Oaktree ” means Oaktree Capital Management, LP, collectively with its subsidiaries and Affiliates.

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

Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.04 of this Agreement.

PIK Shares ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Registrable Securities ” means the PIK Shares and the Common Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in order for any Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants to be included in any Registration Statement, the exercise of such Warrants must be effected no later than immediately prior to the closing of any sales under the Registration Statement pursuant to which such Common Shares are to be sold.

Registrable Securities Amount ” means the calculation based on the product of the Common Share Price times the number of applicable Registrable Securities.

Registration Expenses ” means all expenses incident to the Company’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on a Registration Statement pursuant to Section  2.01 or an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, any transfer taxes, and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance.

Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.01 of this Agreement.

Required Holders ” means Holders of greater than 50% of the Registrable Securities on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the issuance of any Common Shares underlying Warrants but not giving effect to any issuance of PIK shares that has not yet occurred other than any issuance of PIK Shares for which the Company has made an election to issue at the next interest payment date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

Requisite Shareholder Approvals ” means the approval by the Company’s shareholders of (i) the issuance of the PIK Shares and the Common Shares underlying the Warrants for purposes of Section 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and (ii) an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation, as amended, that would effectively increase the total number of Common Shares the Company is authorized to issue to an amount sufficient to allow the issuance of the Registrable Securities.

 

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

Second Lien Term Loans ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

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

Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting discounts and selling commissions or similar fees or arrangements allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel to the Selling Holders, except for the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Selling Holders required to be paid by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.08 and 2.09 .

Selling Holder ” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(a)  of this Agreement.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the SEC then in effect).

Underwritten Offering ” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which Registrable Securities are sold to one or more underwriters on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.

Underwritten Offering Notice ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section  2.03 of this Agreement.

Warrants ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Section 1.02     Registrable Securities .

Any Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security at the earliest of the following: (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the SEC and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the SEC then in effect) under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (as then in effect) are met; (c) when such Registrable Security is held by the Company; or (d) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities pursuant to Section  2.10 hereof. In addition, any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security upon the date that such security is Freely Tradable.

 

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ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 2.01     Shelf Registration .

Shelf Registration . Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the Closing Date (or, if the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have not been obtained by such date, within thirty (30) days of the date the Requisite Shareholder Approvals have been obtained), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file a Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC to permit the public resale of (i) such number of PIK Shares as are reasonably estimated by the Company to be issued in respect of PIK payments under each of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans and (ii) 100% of the Common Shares underlying the Warrants, on the terms, conditions and limitations specified in this Section  2.01 (a “ Registration Statement ”). The Company agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts to file such additional Registration Statements as are necessary to register the remainder of the Registrable Securities as soon as practicable thereafter.

The Registration Statement filed with the SEC pursuant to this Section  2.01 shall be on Form S-3 or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on Form S-1 or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities, covering the Registrable Securities, and shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit any Selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the SEC then in effect) at any time beginning on the Effective Date for such Registration Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section  2.01 to be declared effective as promptly as practicable after filing, but in no event later than two hundred ten (210) days after the Closing Date. A Registration Statement shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Selling Holders, including by way of an Underwritten Offering, if such an election has been made pursuant to Section  2.03 of this Agreement. During the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section  2.01 to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another registration statement is available for the resale of the Registrable Securities until all Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

The Company shall prepare and file a supplemental listing application with the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange on which the Registrable Securities are then listed and traded) to list the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such Registrable Securities approved for listing on the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange on which the Registrable Securities are then listed and traded) by the Effective Date of such Registration Statement, subject only to official notice of issuance; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to maintain any listing of the Common Shares on any securities exchange.

As soon as practicable following the Effective Date of a Registration Statement, but in any event within three Business Days of such date, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. When effective, a Registration Statement (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not 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 (in the case of any prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made).

If at any time the SEC deems the registration of any Registrable Securities to be a primary offering by the Company, and the SEC prohibits the use of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force) to sell such Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis, then the parties agree that the Company’s failure to have a Registration Statement declared effective shall not be a breach of this Agreement. In such event, the Company shall be permitted to exclude from such

 

6


Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities so as to allow such Registration Statement to be eligible for Rule 415. In the event that any Registrable Securities are excluded from the Registration Statement for purposes of maintaining eligibility to use Rule 415, the Company agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts to file another Registration Statement (or, if permitted, a post-effective amendment) registering such excluded Registrable Securities as soon as reasonably practicable. In such event, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each Holder in the Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all then applicable Holders.

Section 2.02     Delay Rights .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company may, upon written notice to (i) all Holders, delay the filing of a Registration Statement required under Section  2.01 , or (ii) any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus that is a part of such Registration Statement or other registration statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement but may settle any previously made sales of Registrable Securities) if the Company (x) is pursuing an acquisition, merger, tender offer, reorganization, restructuring, disposition or other similar transaction and the Board determines in good faith that (A) the Company’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in such Registration Statement or other registration statement or (B) such transaction renders the Company unable to comply with SEC requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to cause the Registration Statement (or such filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement on a post effective basis, as applicable, or (y) has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Board, would materially adversely affect the Company; provided , however , in no event shall (A) such filing of such Registration Statement be delayed under clauses (x) or (y) of this Section  2.02 for a period that exceeds sixty (60) calendar days or (B) such Selling Holders be suspended under clauses (x) or (y) of this Section  2.02 from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement or other registration statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of sixty (60) calendar days in any twelve (12) month period, in each case, exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Selling Holder in connection with any Underwritten Offering. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Company shall provide prompt notice, but in any event within one Business Day of such disclosure or termination, to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.

Section 2.03     Underwritten Offerings .

Upon request by the Required Holders (such request, an “ Underwritten Offering Notice ” and such electing Required Holders, the “ Electing Holders ”), the Company shall retain underwriters in order to permit the Electing Holders to effect an Underwritten Offering; provided , however , that the Required Holders shall have the option and right to require the Company to effect not more than three Underwritten Offerings pursuant to and subject to the conditions of this Section  2.03 , subject to a maximum of two Underwritten Offerings during any 12-month period.

Upon delivery of such Underwritten Offering Notice to the Company, the Company shall as soon as practicable (but in no event later than one Business Day following the date of delivery of the Underwritten Offering Notice to the Company) deliver notice of such Underwritten Offering Notice to all

 

7


other Holders, who shall then have two Business Days from the date that such notice is given to them to notify the Company in writing of the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder that they want to be included in such Underwritten Offering.

In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters, but only with the consent of the Required Holders (not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed). In connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in which a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and the Company shall be obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities whose offer and resale will be registered, on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law.

If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an underwriting, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Company, the Electing Holders and the Managing Underwriter; provided , however , that any such withdrawal must be made no later than the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. If all Selling Holders withdraw from an Underwritten Offering prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering or if the registration statement relating to an Underwritten Offering is suspended pursuant to Section  2.02 , the events will not be considered an Underwritten Offering and will not decrease the number of available Underwritten Offerings the Required Holders have the right and option to request under this Section  2.03 . No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect the Company’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses pursuant to Section  2.07 .

The Company shall not include in any Underwritten Offering any securities which are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. If the Managing Underwriter of a proposed Underwritten Offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that in its reasonable and good faith opinion the number of Common Shares proposed to be included in the Underwritten Offering, including all Registrable Securities and all other Common Shares proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering, exceeds the number of Common Shares which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering and/or the number of Common Shares proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering would adversely affect the price per share of the Common Shares proposed to be sold in such Underwritten Offering, the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering (i) first, the Common Shares the holders of Registrable Securities propose to sell, and (ii) second, the Common Shares proposed to be included therein by any other Persons (including Common Shares to be sold for the account of the Company and/or other holders of Common Shares) allocated among such Persons in such manner as they may agree. If the Managing Underwriter determines that less than all of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold can be included in such offering, then the Registrable Securities that are included in such offering shall be allocated pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such holder.

 

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Section 2.04     Piggyback Offering .

If the Company shall at any time propose to conduct an underwritten offering of Common Shares for cash (a “ Company Underwritten Offering ”) for its own account or for the account of any other Persons (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 or other offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan, (ii) an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto or (iii) an offering in connection with any dividend or distribution reinvestment or similar plan), the Company shall promptly notify all Holders of such proposal reasonably in advance of (and in any event at least ten (10) Business Days before) the commencement of the offering, which notice will set forth the principal terms and conditions of the issuance, including the proposed offering price (or range of offering prices), if known, the anticipated filing date of the registration statement (if applicable) and the number of Common Shares that are proposed to be offered (the “ Piggyback Notice ”); provided , however , notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter(s) of a Company Underwritten Offering advise the Company that in their reasonable opinion the inclusion of any of a Holder’s Registrable Securities requested for inclusion in the subject Company Underwritten Offering would likely have an adverse effect in any material respect on the price, timing or distribution of Common Shares proposed to be included in such Company Underwritten Offering, the Company shall have no obligation to provide a Piggyback Notice to such Holder and such Holder shall have no right to include any Registrable Securities in such Company Underwritten Offering. The Piggyback Notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Company Underwritten Offering the number of Registrable Securities as they may request. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to include in each such Company Underwritten Offering such Registrable Securities for which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within five (5) Business Days after sending the Piggyback Notice.

If the managing underwriter(s) of a Company Underwritten Offering advise the Company and the Holders who have requested their Registrable Securities be included in such offering following a Piggyback Notice that in its or their opinion the inclusion of all of such Holders’ Registrable Securities requested for inclusion in the subject Company Underwritten Offering (and any other Common Shares proposed to be included in such offering) would likely have an adverse effect in any material respect on the price, timing or distribution of Common Shares proposed to be included in such offering by the Company, the Company shall include in such Company Underwritten Offering only that number of Common Shares proposed to be included in such Company Underwritten Offering that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter(s), will not have such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated as follows: (A) first, to the Company and (B) second, if there remains availability for additional Common Shares to be included in such Company Underwritten Offering, on a pro-rata basis among all Holders desiring to include Registrable Securities based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such Company Underwritten Offering, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter(s) delivered on or prior to the time of the commencement of such offering.

The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Company Underwritten Offering initiated by it under this Section  2.04 at any time in its sole discretion whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section  2.08 hereof.

 

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Section 2.05     Sale Procedures .

In connection with its obligations under this Article II , the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

(a)    use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;

(b)    if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering from a Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Company in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;

(c)    furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC other than annual or quarterly reports on Form 10-K or 10-Q, respectively, current reports on Form 8-K or proxy statements; provided , however , that such reports or proxy statements shall be provided at least two Business Days prior to filing in connection with any Underwritten Offering), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing a Registration Statement or such other registration statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of such Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or other registration statement;

(d)    if applicable, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(e)    promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the SEC with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

 

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(f)    promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (ii) the issuance or express threat of issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, the Company agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include 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 in the light of the circumstances then existing and use its reasonable best efforts to take such other action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

(g)    upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the SEC or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;

(h)    in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the underwriters upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Company dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “cold comfort” letter shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as have been customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company and such other matters as such underwriters and Selling Holders may reasonably request;

(i)    if any Registration Statement refers to any Selling Holder by name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company and if in its sole and exclusive judgment such Selling Holder is or might be deemed to be an underwriter or “controlling person” (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (a “ Controlling Person ”) of the Company, such Selling Holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and substance satisfactory to such Selling Holder and presented to the Company in writing, to the effect that the holding by such Selling Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Selling Holder of the investment quality of the Company’s securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Selling

 

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Holder shall assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Selling Holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Selling Holder;

(j)    otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, covering a period of twelve months beginning within three months after the Effective Date of such Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

(k)    make available for inspection by any Selling Holder of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such holder or underwriter (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “ Records ), and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement; provided , that the Company need not disclose any non-public information to any such person unless and until such person has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Company;

(l)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which the Common Shares are then listed or quoted;

(m)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(n)    provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the Effective Date of such registration statement;

(o)    enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including making appropriate officers of the Company available to participate in any “road show” presentations before analysts, and other customary marketing activities (including one-on-one meetings with prospective purchasers of the Registrable Securities));

(p)    if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) as soon as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, and (ii) as soon as practicable make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and

 

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(q)    otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section  2.05(f) , shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.05(f)  or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such Selling Holder shall, or shall request the Managing Underwriter, if any, to deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

Section 2.06     Cooperation by Holders .

The Company shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement who has failed to timely furnish after receipt of a written request from the Company such information that the Company determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

Section 2.07     Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities .

To the extent requested by the Managing Underwriter, each Holder of Registrable Securities that participates in an Underwritten Offering will enter into a customary letter agreement with underwriters providing such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities during the ninety (90) calendar-day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the SEC with respect to the pricing of any Underwritten Offering, provided that (i) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters on the Company or the officers, directors or any other Affiliate of the Company on whom a restriction is imposed, (ii) the restrictions set forth in this Section  2.07 shall not apply to any Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Selling Holder.

Section 2.08     Expenses .

The Company shall pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined in good faith by the Board, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Registration Expenses of an Underwritten Offering, regardless of whether any sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, each Selling Holder’s pro rata allocation of Selling Expenses shall be the percentage derived by dividing (i) the number of Registrable Securities sold by such Selling Holder in connection with such sale by (ii) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities sold by all Selling Holders in connection with such sale. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.08 and 2.09 hereof, the Company shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.

Section 2.09     Indemnification .

(a)     By the Company . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Investor, its directors, officers, managers, employees, investment managers, agents and Affiliates

 

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and each Person, if any, who controls such Investor or its Affiliates within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees, investment managers or agents (collectively, the “ Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “ Losses ”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes documents incorporated by reference in) such Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or any free writing prospectus relating thereto 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 (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, and shall reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending or resolving any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or such other registration statement, or prospectus supplement, as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

(b)     By Each Selling Holder . Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or any free writing prospectus relating thereto; provided , however , that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.

(c)     Notice . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section  2.09 . In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement

 

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thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section  2.09 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided , however , that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnified party.

(d)     Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section  2.09 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided , however , that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, defending or resolving any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph. 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 is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e)     Other Indemnification . The provisions of this Section  2.09 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

 

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Section 2.10     Rule  144 Reporting .

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:

(a)    make and keep public information regarding the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the SEC then in effect), at all times from and after the date hereof;

(b)    to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

(c)    so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish, unless otherwise available electronically at no additional charge via the SEC’s EDGAR system, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

Section 2.11     Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights .

The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities granted to the Investor by the Company under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by the Investor to one or more transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities without the consent of the Company; provided , however , that (a) the Company is given written notice of said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each of the transferee or assignee and identifying the Registrable Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (b) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of the Investor under this Agreement and (c) if the Registrable Securities are Common Shares underlying a Warrant that has been transferred, the transfer of such Warrant is in compliance with the applicable agreement governing such Warrant.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, the Company may consent to and permit, without any further action of the Holders, any Person who subsequently acquires PIK Shares or Warrants to become a “Holder” hereunder by executing a joinder agreement hereto.

Section 2.12     Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights .

From and after the date hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders (a) grant any registration rights to third parties which are more favorable than or inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder; or (b) enter into any agreement, take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to its securities that violates or subordinates the rights expressly granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.01     Communications .

All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by electronic mail, courier service or personal delivery:

(a)    if to the Investors, to their respective addresses set forth in the books and records of the Company.

(b)    if to a transferee of an Investor, to such Holder at the address provided pursuant to Section  2.10 above; and

(c)    if to the Company:

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive

Suite 1700, LB 82

Attention: Heather Lamparter

Email: hlamparter@EXCOResources.com

with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):

Haynes and Boone, LLP

2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

Email: scott.wallace@haynesboone.com

Facsimile: (214) 200-0674

Attention: Scott Wallace

and

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Email: Justin.hoffman@kirkland.com

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

Attention: Justin F. Hoffman

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by courier service or any other means.

Section 3.02     Successor and Assigns .

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.

Section 3.03     Assignment of Rights .

All or any portion of the rights and obligations of the Investor under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Investor only in accordance with Section  2.11 hereof.

 

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Section 3.04     Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Common Shares.

The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all equity interests of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, share splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of shares and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.05     Counterparts .

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, including facsimile or .pdf counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

Section 3.06      Headings .

The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

Section 3.07     Governing Law; Jurisdiction .

This Agreement, including all issues and questions concerning its application, construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement, shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of New York. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENTS TO SUBMIT ITSELF TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT, AND AGREES THAT ALL SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 3.01, AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE TREATED AS COMPLETED WHEN RECEIVED. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED IN ANY SUCH COURT. THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE INVESTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF. NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT EACH OF THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGMENT ENTERED BY A COURT PERMITTED BY THIS SECTION 3.07 IN ANY OTHER COURT OR JURISDICTION.

Section 3.08     Severability of Provisions .

Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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Section 3.09     Entire Agreement .

This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Company set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

Section 3.10      Amendment .

This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Company and the Required Holders; provided , however , that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the prior written consent of such Holder.

Section 3.11     No Presumption .

If any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.

Section 3.12      Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement .

Each of the Parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than the Investor (and its permitted transferees and assignees) and the Company shall have any obligation hereunder. No recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, investment manager, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, investor or Affiliate of the Investor or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, investment manager, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, investor or Affiliate thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, investment manager, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, investor or Affiliate of the Investor or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, investment manager, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, investor or Affiliate thereof, as such, for any obligations of the Investor under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except in each case for any transferee or assignee of an Investor hereunder.

Section 3.13      Interpretation .

Article and Section references are to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” or words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by the Investor (and its transferees or assignees) under this

 

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Agreement, such action shall be in the Investor’s (and its transferees or assignees) sole discretion unless otherwise specified. Unless expressly set forth or qualified otherwise ( e.g. , by “ Business ” or “ Trading ”), all references herein to a “day” are deemed to be a reference to a calendar day.

Section 3.14      Injunctive Relief .

It is hereby agreed and acknowledged that it shall be impossible to measure in money the damages that would be suffered if the parties fail to comply with any of the obligations herein imposed on them and that in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved Person shall be irreparably damaged and shall not have an adequate remedy at law. Any such Person shall, therefore, be entitled (in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled in law or in equity) to injunctive relief, including, without limitation, specific performance, to enforce such obligations, and if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.

( Signature pages  follow )

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

EXCO RESOURCES, INC.

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and President

 

Signature Page to

Registration Rights Agreement


ADVENT CAPITAL (NO 3) LTD
BRIT INSURANCE (GIBRALTAR) PCC LIMITED
BRIT SYNDICATES LIMITED
FEDERATED INSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
NORTHBRIDGE GENERAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
CLEARWATER SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
NEWLINE CORPORATE NAME LIMITED (SYNDICATE)
ODYSSEY REINSURANCE COMPANY
TIG INSURANCE COMPANY
WENTWORTH INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.
ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS MASTER TRUST FUND
By: Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., its Investment Manager

/s/ Paul Rivett

Name:   Paul Rivett
Title:   Chief Operating Officer
Address: Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd.
95 Wellington Street West, Suite 802
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2N7
Facsimile: (416) 367-4946
Attention: Derek Bulas

 

Signature Page to

Registration Rights Agreement


Energy Strategic Advisory Services LLC

/s/ Jonathan Siegler

Name: Jonathan Siegler
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Address: 200 Crescent Court, STE 1900, Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Jonathan Siegler
Email: jsiegler@bluescapepartners.com
Facsimile: 682-626-1335

 

Signature Page to

Registration Rights Agreement


OCM EXCO Holdings, LLC
By: Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
Its: Manager

/s/ Rajath Shourie

Name:   Rajath Shourie
Title:   Managing Director

/s/ Robert O’Leary

Name:   Robert O’Leary
Title:   Managing Director
Address: 333 S. Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Robert LaRoche
Facsimile: (213) 830-6499

 

Signature Page to

Registration Rights Agreement


GEN IV INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LLC

/s/ Paul Segal

Name: Paul Segal
Title:   President
Address: 1700 Broadway, 35 th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC
Facsimile: DL_Geniv@lspower.com

 

Signature Page to

Registration Rights Agreement


VEGA ASSET PARTNERS, LP

/s/ Paul Segal

Name:   Paul Segal
Title:   Manager
Address: 1700 Broadway, 35 th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC
Facsimile: DL_Geniv@lspower.com

 

Signature Page to

Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 10.13

EXECUTION VERSION

SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO THE

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as the “ Amendment Agreement ”) dated as of March 15, 2017, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013, by and among EXCO RESOURCES, INC. (“ Borrower ”), CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BORROWER, as Guarantors (the “ Guarantors ”), the LENDERS party hereto (the “ Lenders ”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (“ Administrative Agent ”), and the other parties named therein (such Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, and as further amended, supplemented and/or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “ Original Credit Agreement ”.

W   I   T   N   E   S   S   E   T   H :

WHEREAS , Section 11.02 of the Original Credit Agreement permits the Borrower and the Lenders (or at least the requisite percentage thereof) to enter into waivers, amendments or other modifications to the Original Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in accordance with the provisions of such Section 11.02 of the Original Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS , the parties desire to amend the Original Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents on the terms set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, Borrower, the Guarantors, Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Defined Terms . Terms defined in the Original Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment Agreement (the “ Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ”) and used herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 2. Amendments to Credit Agreement. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of each condition precedent set forth in Section 3 hereof, and in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment Agreement, the Credit Agreement shall be amended effective as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date in the manner provided in this Section 2 .

2.1 Additional Definitions . The following definitions shall be and they hereby are added to Section 1.01 of the Original Credit Agreement in alphabetical order:

1.5 Lien Collateral Documents ” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, all Collateral Trust Joinder Agreements, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement and each other Security Instrument (each as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture).

 

Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement    Page 1


1.5 Lien Note Documents ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture, the 1.5 Lien Collateral Documents and each other Note Document (as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture).

1.5 Lien Notes ” means Indebtedness consisting of the Borrower’s $300,000,000 Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Notes due 2022 that is secured by Liens on the Collateral that are subordinate to the Liens securing the Obligations and expressly subject to an intercreditor agreement (on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders); provided that, (a) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption (including any required offer to redeem) or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to a date that is at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date, (except for any offer to redeem such Indebtedness required as a result of asset sales, events of loss, customary acceleration rights after an event of default or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the 1.5 Lien Notes Indenture), (b) the cash interest rate (other than (x) upon the occurrence of a default or (y) in the event of a failure to obtain required shareholder approvals in connection with the issuance of common stock prior to the date required therein) on the outstanding principal balance of such Indebtedness does not exceed the prevailing market rate then in effect for similarly situated credits at the time such Indebtedness is issued, and (c) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Indebtedness unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder.

1.5 Lien Notes Indenture ” means that certain Indenture dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Borrower, the Guarantors (as defined therein), Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral trustee, with respect to the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes, as amended, restated, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement.

1.5 Lien Obligations ” means the obligations under the 1.5 Lien Note Documents.

1.75 Lien Credit Agreement ” means that certain 1.75 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, as amended, restated, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement.

 

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1.75 Lien Debt ” means Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred under the 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement that is secured by Liens on the Collateral that are subordinate to the Liens securing the Obligations and the 1.5 Lien Obligations and expressly subject to an intercreditor agreement (on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders); provided that (a) the non-default cash interest rate on the outstanding principal balance of such Indebtedness does not exceed the prevailing market rate then in effect for similarly situated credits at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (b) the final stated maturity date of such Indebtedness is not earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (as in effect on the date of issuance of such Indebtedness), (c) such Indebtedness does not provide for any scheduled principal repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to a date that is at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (except for any mandatory redemption or offer to redeem such Indebtedness, in each case, required as a result of asset sales, event of loss, or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable 1.75 Lien Debt Documents) and (d) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Indebtedness unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder.

1.75 Lien Debt Documents ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, promissory notes, security documents, 1.75 Lien Credit Agreement, guarantees and all other documents or instruments executed and delivered by any Credit Party in connection with and pursuant to, the incurrence of 1.75 Lien Debt.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means (a) that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of October 26, 2015 and amended as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date among the Administrative Agent, as Original Priority Lien Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Original Third Lien Collateral Trustee and acknowledged and agreed to by each Credit Party, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms therein and herein and (b) any intercreditor agreement (on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders) entered into in substitution or replacement thereof in connection with any Permitted Refinancing.

Seventh Amendment ” shall mean the Seventh Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2017, among Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.

Seventh Amendment Effective Date ” shall mean the Seventh Amendment Effective Date (as defined in the Seventh Amendment).

South Texas Properties ” shall mean those certain Oil and Gas Interests and other Property of the Credit Parties located in the counties of Dimmit, Frio, La Salle and Zavala, Texas.

 

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2.2 Amended Definitions . The following definitions in Section 1.01 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and they hereby are amended and restated in their entirety to read follows:

Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the FRBNY Rate in effect on such day plus  1 2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the FRBNY Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the FRBNY Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

Consolidated EBITDAX ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) income or franchise Taxes paid or accrued; (b) Consolidated Interest Expense; (c) amortization, depletion and depreciation expense; (d) any non-cash losses or charges on any Swap Agreement resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Section 815-10 (as successor to FASB Statement 133) for that period; (e) oil and gas exploration expenses (including all drilling, completion, geological and geophysical costs) for such period; (f) losses from sales or other dispositions of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business) and other extraordinary or non-recurring losses; (g) workover expenses for such period; (h) losses resulting from the early termination of any Swap Agreement (giving effect to any netting agreements); and (i) other non-cash charges (excluding accruals for cash expenses made in the ordinary course of business); minus, to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period; (j) the sum of (1) any non-cash gains on any Swap Agreements resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Section 815-10 (as successor to FASB Statement 133) for that period; (2) extraordinary or non-recurring gains; (3) gains from sales or other dispositions of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business); and (4) gains resulting from the early termination of any Swap Agreement (giving effect to any netting agreements); provided that, with respect to the determination of Borrower’s compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11(c) for any period, as applicable, Consolidated EBITDAX shall be adjusted to give effect, on a pro forma basis, to any Acquisitions and/or Dispositions made during such period as if such Acquisitions and/or Dispositions were made at the beginning of such period.

 

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Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any period, without duplication, the sum of (a) all cash interest paid or accrued by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, in respect of Indebtedness of any such Person, including all interest fees and costs payable with respect to the obligations related to such Indebtedness (other than fees and costs which may be capitalized as transaction costs in accordance with GAAP) and the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations, all as determined in accordance with GAAP plus (b) all cash interest paid in connection with Indebtedness permitted hereunder to the extent that such payments are not accounted for as interest expense pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 470-60 or another applicable codification.

LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “ Impacted Interest Period ”) then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate.

LIBO Screen Rate ” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for U.S. Dollars) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness under the Senior Notes, the 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt and Third Lien Debt (and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof) and any other Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of the Borrower or any one or more of the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Guarantor would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

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Permitted Investors ” means (a) ESAS, (b) C. John Wilder and any Affiliate of C. John Wilder, (c) any spouse or lineal descendants (whether natural or adopted) of C. John Wilder and any trust solely for the benefit of C. John Wilder and/or his spouse and/or lineal descendants, (d) Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and its Affiliates, (e) Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC and its Affiliate Vega Asset Partners, LP, (f) OCM EXCO Holdings LLC and (g) any group (as such term is used in clause (a) of the definition of “Change of Control”) with respect to which Persons described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this definition own the majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Borrower that is owned by such group.

Permitted Refinancing ” means any Indebtedness of any Credit Party and Indebtedness constituting Guarantees thereof by any Credit Party, incurred or issued in exchange for, or the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund:

(a) any Existing Senior Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, including the refinancing or replacement of such Existing Senior Notes with the Net Cash Proceeds of or in exchange for, 1.5 Lien Notes, Second Lien Debt, Third Lien Debt, Indebtedness in the form of a Second Lien Substitute Facility or a Third Lien Substitute Facility (each as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) or Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(h) or Section 7.01(n); provided that (i) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing (or if such Permitted Refinancing is issued at a discount, the initial issuance price of such Permitted Refinancing) does not result in the principal amount of such Indebtedness exceeding the amount permitted under Section 7.01(h) (plus the amount of any premiums, accrued and unpaid interest, Indebtedness consisting of additional 1.75 Lien Debt or 1.5 Lien Notes issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith), (ii) such Permitted Refinancing does not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption (including any required offer to redeem) or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to a date that is at least one year after the Revolving Maturity Date (except for any mandatory redemption or offer to redeem such Indebtedness, in each case, required as a result of asset sales, events of loss, customary acceleration rights after an event of default or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable Indenture, 1.5 Lien Debt Documents, 1.75 Lien Debt Documents, Second Lien Debt Documents and/or Third Lien Debt Documents), (iii) the non-default cash interest rate on the outstanding principal balance of such Permitted Refinancing does not exceed the prevailing market rate then in effect for similarly situated credits at the time such Permitted Refinancing is incurred, (iv) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Permitted Refinancing unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder, and (v) to the extent such Permitted Refinancing is or is intended to be expressly subordinate to the payment in full of all of the Obligations, the subordination provisions contained therein are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders;

 

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(b) any Second Lien Debt and/or any Third Lien Debt, in whole or in part, from time to time, including the refinancing or replacement of any Second Lien Debt with the issuance of 1.75 Lien Debt in exchange for Second Lien Debt; provided that (i) such Permitted Refinancing is permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (including Section 4.04 thereof), (ii) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing (or if such Permitted Refinancing is issued at a discount, the discounted principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing) does not result in the principal amount of such Indebtedness exceeding the amount permitted under Section 7.01(h) (plus the amount of any premiums, accrued and unpaid interest, Indebtedness consisting of additional 1.75 Lien Debt issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith) and (iii) such Permitted Refinancing does not provide for any scheduled principal repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to a date that is at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (except for any mandatory redemption or offer to redeem such Indebtedness, in each case, required as a result of asset sales, events of loss, customary acceleration rights after an event of default or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable 1.75 Lien Debt Documents);

(c) any 1.75 Lien Debt, in whole or in part, from time to time; provided that, (i) such Permitted Refinancing is permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (including Section 4.04 thereof), (ii) the principal amount of any such Indebtedness is not increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such Permitted Refinancing (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions, expenses and Indebtedness consisting of additional 1.75 Lien Debt issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind), (iii) such Permitted Refinancing does not provide for any scheduled principal repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to a date that is at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (except for any mandatory redemption or offer to redeem such Indebtedness, in each case, required as a result of asset sales, events of loss, customary acceleration rights after an event of default or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable 1.75 Lien Debt Documents), (iii) the covenants, events of default, guarantees, collateral and other terms of which (other than interest rate and redemption premiums) taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive to the Credit Parties than those set forth in the 1.75 Lien Note Documents being refinanced, (iv) such Indebtedness does not mature before the 1.75 Lien Debt being refinanced, (v) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Indebtedness unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder and (vi) if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral, such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

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(d) any 1.5 Lien Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time; provided that, (i) such Permitted Refinancing is permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (including Section 4.04 thereof), (ii) the principal amount of any such Indebtedness is not increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such Permitted Refinancing (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions, expenses and, Indebtedness consisting of additional 1.5 Lien Notes issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind), (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations prior to a date that is at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or event of loss and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees, collateral and other terms of which (other than interest rate and redemption premiums) taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive to the Credit Parties than those set forth in the 1.5 Lien Note Documents being refinanced, (v) such Indebtedness does not mature before the 1.5 Lien Notes being refinanced, (vi) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Indebtedness unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder and (vii) if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral, such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

Revolving Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or Lender Certificate pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed or agreed to provide its Revolving Commitment, as applicable, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.02, (b) increased from time to time as a result of such Lender delivering a Lender Certificate pursuant to Section 2.03(a), and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 11.04; provided that any Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall not at any time exceed such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Borrowing Base then in effect. The amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date is set forth on the Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. After giving effect to the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(o) on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments shall be automatically reduced to $150,000,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Borrower and the Lenders, and the Borrower and the Lenders agree and acknowledge, that any reduction in the Revolving Commitments as a result of the incurrence of 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt permitted by Section 7.01(h) or Section 7.01(o), as applicable, shall not, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, result in, or be construed as, a permanent reduction in the borrowing capacity of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, any increases in the borrowing capacity of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries hereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement (including Section 2.03, Article III and Section 11.02(b)(i)-(ii)).

 

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Second Lien Debt Documents ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, promissory notes, security documents, second lien credit agreement, guarantees and all other documents or instruments executed and delivered by any Credit Party in connection with and pursuant to, the incurrence of Second Lien Debt.

Third Lien Debt ” means Indebtedness for borrowed money and secured by Liens on substantially the same Collateral securing the Obligations but expressly subordinate (such subordination shall be on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders) to the Liens securing the Obligations, the 1.5 Lien Obligations, the 1.75 Lien Debt and the Second Lien Debt; provided that (a) the non-default interest rate on the outstanding principal balance of such Indebtedness does not exceed the prevailing market rate then in effect for similarly situated credits at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (b) the final stated maturity date of such Indebtedness is not earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (as in effect on the date of issuance of such Indebtedness), (c) such Indebtedness does not provide for any scheduled principal repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to a date that is at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Maturity Date (except for any mandatory redemption or offer to redeem such Indebtedness, in each case, required as a result of asset sales, events of loss, customary acceleration rights after an event of default or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable Third Lien Debt Documents, including any Indenture) and (d) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Indebtedness unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor hereunder.

Third Lien Debt Documents ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, promissory notes, security documents, third lien credit agreement, guarantees and all other documents or instruments executed and delivered by any Credit Party in connection with and pursuant to, the incurrence of Third Lien Debt.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Borrower in the manner provided below, (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) EBG Acquisition and any of its Subsidiaries, (d) Bonchasse Land Company, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company and any of its Subsidiaries, (e) the Marcellus JV Operator and any of its Subsidiaries, (f) the Marcellus Midstream Owner and any of its Subsidiaries and (g) PCMWL, LLC, Moran Minerals, LLC and Moran Land Company, LLC. The Board of Directors of the Borrower may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries at the time of such designation or at any time thereafter

 

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(i) is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, or owns, directly or indirectly, a Material Domestic Subsidiary, (ii) owns Oil and Gas Interests included in the Borrowing Base Properties or owns, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary that owns Oil and Gas Interests included in the Borrowing Base Properties or (iii) guarantees, or is a primary obligor of, any indebtedness, liabilities or other obligations under any Senior Notes, 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof) or owns, directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary that provides such a guarantee, or is such a primary obligor.

2.3 Deleted Definitions . The defined terms, “ Consolidated Funded Indebtedness ”, “ Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” and “ Senior Secured Indebtedness ” in Section 1.01 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and they hereby are deleted from the Original Credit Agreement.

2.4 Borrowing Base Redetermination . The proviso in the first sentence of Section 3.02 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article III, from and after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the Scheduled Redetermination scheduled to occur on or about September 1, 2017 shall occur on or about November 1, 2017 and no Redetermination shall occur prior to such Scheduled Redetermination.

2.5 Reduction of Borrowing Base Upon Asset Dispositions . Section 3.06(a) of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(a) Reduction of Borrowing Base Upon Asset Dispositions . With respect to any Disposition described in Section 7.03(a)(viii), the Borrowing Base shall be automatically reduced, effective immediately upon any such Disposition, by an amount equal to (i) at any time prior to the Asset Sale Termination Date, the Net Cash Proceeds received by any Credit Party with respect to such Disposition and (ii) at all other times, the Engineered Value of the Oil and Gas Interests Disposed of (as determined by the Administrative Agent and confirmed by the Required Revolving Lenders), and the Borrowing Base as so reduced shall become the new Borrowing Base immediately upon the consummation of such Disposition, effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders until the next redetermination or adjustment of the Borrowing Base pursuant to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to Dispositions of the South Texas Properties permitted under Section 7.03(a)(viii)(B), the Borrowing Base shall be automatically reduced pursuant to this Section 3.06(a) by an amount equal to $50,000,000.00 regardless of the Engineered Value of the South Texas Properties Disposed of.

 

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2.6 Financial Statements; Other Information . Section 6.01 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be amended by (i) adding “ , except with respect to any such qualifications or exceptions with respect to the audit for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, as a result of any financial covenant Default, interest payment Default or principal payment Default hereunder being anticipated to occur within 12 months from the date of such audit and opinion ” immediately after “ without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit ” in clause (a)  thereof and (ii) amending and restating clause (c)  thereof in its entirety to read as follows:

(c) (i) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, and with respect to determining compliance with the financial covenant in Section 7.11(a), a certificate in a form reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (A) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, and (B) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating (1) compliance with Sections 7.04(j), (k), (l), (m), (n) and (o) and Section 7.11 and (2) the Net Asset Sale Amount as of the end of each fiscal quarter ending on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date and on such first anniversary date and a brief description of the event or events occurring from and including the Effective Date included in such calculation and (ii) as soon as available but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the end of each fiscal month, a certificate in a form reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (A) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (B) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 7.11(a) and (C) attaching a schedule and aging of the Credit Parties’ accounts payable.

2.7 Minimum Mortgaged Value . The first sentence of Section 6.11 of the Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended by replacing “ ninety percent (90%) ” with “ ninety-five percent (95%) ”.

2.8 Additional Indebtedness . Section 7.01 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be amended by (i) deleting the word “and” at the end of clause (m) thereof, replacing the “.” with “;” (ii) inserting the word “and” at the end of clause (n) thereof, and (iii) amending and restating clause (h) thereof and inserting the following new clause (o) immediately after clause (n), in each case, to read as follows:

(h) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties under the (i) Senior Notes (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $1,250,000,000 at any time prior to the incurrence by Borrower of any Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt and thereafter the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any exchange of Existing Senior Notes for Second Lien Debt, or Third Lien Debt, and the incurrence of Second Lien Debt and Third Lien Debt to repurchase or redeem Existing Senior Notes, (ii) 1.75 Lien

 

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Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount after giving effect to such incurrence not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of any Second Lien Debt exchanged therefor (plus the principal amount of any additional 1.75 Lien Debt issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind) at any time, (iii) Second Lien Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount after giving effect to such incurrence not to exceed the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any exchange of Second Lien Debt for 1.75 Lien Debt, at any time and (iv) Third Lien Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount after giving effect to such incurrence, but in any event with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 7.01(h), not to exceed at any time, when combined with the 1.5 Lien Notes and the lesser of (x) the aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time and (y) the Borrowing Base then in effect, $1,200,000,000 (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions, expenses and Indebtedness consisting of 1.75 Lien Debt, if any, issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind), in each case, subject to Section 3.06(b);

( o) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties pursuant to the 1.5 Lien Notes issued on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof); provided that, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed $300,000,000 at any time (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions, expenses and Indebtedness consisting of additional 1.5 Lien Notes, if any, issued for accrued interest thereon paid-in-kind).

2.9 Additional Liens . Section 7.02 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be amended by (i) deleting the word “and” at the end of clause (i) thereof, (ii) replacing the “.” with “ ; and ” at the end of clause (j)  thereof and (iii) inserting the following clause (k)  immediately after such clause (j)  to read as follows:

( k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(h) and Section 7.01(o), as applicable, only to the extent such Indebtedness is 1.5 Lien Notes or 1.75 Lien Debt (including any Permitted Refinancing respectively thereof); provided that, such Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

2.10 Permitted Dispositions . Section 7.03(a)(viii) of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(viii) subject to Section 2.12(b) and Section 3.06(a), the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (A) with the prior written consent of Required Revolving Lenders, Dispose of Borrowing Base Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise) and (B) at any time prior to the delivery by the Administrative Agent of the New Borrowing Base Notice with respect to the Scheduled Redetermination to occur on or about November 1, 2017, Dispose of the South Texas Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise); provided

 

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that, both before and immediately after giving effect to any Disposition of the South Texas Properties, the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11(c) ; provided further that, the Credit Parties may not sell, transfer, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise Dispose of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of the Borrowing Base Properties (whether pursuant to a Disposition of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise) without the prior written consent of all of the Lenders;

2.11 Transactions with Affiliates . Section 7.07 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) transactions described on Schedule 7.07, (d) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.06, (e) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries consisting of certain services agreements and secondment agreements pursuant to which any Credit Party provides services and secondees to such Unrestricted Subsidiaries to assist with such Unrestricted Subsidiaries’ operations, (f) the investments permitted under Section 7.04 (other than any investments made pursuant to clause (o) thereof), (g) the MLP Transactions and (h) entering into, and performing under, the 1.5 Lien Note Documents and the 1.75 Lien Debt Documents (including any amendments, modifications or waivers thereto from time to time to the extent permitted hereunder and under the Intercreditor Agreement) and entering into, and performing under any definitive documentation with respect to any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing, including any exchange agreements, amendments or other documents relating to the initial exchange of any Second Lien Debt for 1.75 Lien Debt, and incurring the Indebtedness respectively thereunder.

2.12 Restrictive Agreements. Section 7.08 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by modifying clause (ii) of the proviso therein to add the phrase “, the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, the 1.75 Lien Debt Documents ” immediately after the phrase “ set forth in the Loan Documents ”.

2.13 Amendments of Organizational Documents; Purchase of Indebtedness; Certain Agreements . Section 7.10 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and hereby is amended and restated in its entireties to read as follows:

 

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(a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit any material modification or amendment of, or waive any material right or obligation of any Person under its Organizational Documents other than, in the case of Borrower, any amendments required in connection with authorization of a stock split of Borrower’s common stock or the authorization of the issuance of additional common stock.

(b) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, prepay, repay, redeem, exchange, defease, or purchase in any manner any Senior Notes, any 1.5 Lien Notes, and 1.75 Lien Debt, any Second Lien Debt or any Third Lien Debt (or, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof); provided that so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the Borrower may (i) prepay, repay, redeem, exchange, defease or purchase Existing Senior Notes, 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt with (A) the proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(h) or Section 7.01(o), as applicable or (B) in exchange for an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock) or any combination of (A) and (B), and (ii) at any other time, prepay, repay, redeem, exchange, defease or purchase Existing Senior Notes to the extent that such Existing Senior Notes are, by their terms, permitted or required to be retired, redeemed, defeased, exchanged, repurchased, prepaid or repaid; provided further that in the case of this clause (ii), after giving pro forma effect to any such prepayment, repayment, exchange, redemption, defeasance or repurchase, (1) the sum of the Revolving Commitments at such time (or, if less, the amount of Revolving Commitments at such time that are available to the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.06(a) after giving effect to the Dispositions of the South Texas Properties permitted under Section 7.03(a)(viii)(B)) plus the Borrower’s unrestricted cash exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure by an amount equal to or greater than $100,000,000 and (2) the repurchase in cash of Existing Senior Notes does not exceed $75,000,000 in the aggregate.

(c) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit any modification or amendment of (i) the Senior Note Documents, the effect of which is to (A) increase the maximum principal amount of the Senior Notes or the rate of interest on any of the Senior Notes (other than as a result of the imposition of a default rate of interest in accordance with the terms of the Senior Note Documents), (B) change or add any event of default or any covenant with respect to the Senior Note Documents if the effect of such change or addition is to cause any one or more of the Senior Note Documents to be more restrictive on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries than such Senior Note Documents were prior to such change or addition, (C) change the dates upon which payments of principal or interest on the Senior Notes are due or shorten the date of maturity of any Senior Notes, (D) change any redemption or prepayment provisions of the Senior Notes, (E) grant any Liens in any assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Liens granted to secure the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Debt, the Second Lien Debt and the Third

 

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Lien Debt permitted hereunder and any other permitted liens hereunder or under the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, the 1.75 Lien Debt Documents, the Second Lien Debt Documents and the Third Lien Debt Documents, (ii) the Senior Note Documents, any 1.5 Lien Note Documents, any 1.75 Lien Debt Documents, and Second Lien Debt Documents or any Third Lien Debt Documents, the effect of which is to permit any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Senior Notes, the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Debt, the Second Lien Debt or the Third Lien Debt, as applicable, unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor and/or (iii) any 1.5 Lien Note Documents, any 1.75 Lien Debt Documents, any Second Lien Debt Documents or any Third Lien Debt Documents, in each case, in contravention of the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may enter into or permit modifications or amendments of the 1.75 Lien Debt Documents and/or Second Lien Debt Documents, as applicable, in connection with the initial exchange of any Second Lien Debt for 1.75 Lien Debt. Upon the issuance of any 1.5 Lien Notes or the incurrence of any 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, the Borrower shall concurrently with the receipt of cash proceeds from such 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying true, accurate and complete copies of the 1.5 Lien Note Documents, 1.75 Lien Debt Documents, Second Lien Debt Documents and Third Lien Debt Documents, as applicable.

2.14 Financial Covenants . Section 7.11 of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(a) Minimum Liquidity Test . As of the end of (i) the last day of any fiscal month, the Borrower will not permit the amount by which the sum of the Revolving Commitments on such date plus the Borrower’s unrestricted cash (but specifically including any Credit Party’s interest in cash held in the BG Operating Account and the BG Escrow Account for purposes of funding BG Development Costs) on such date exceeds the sum of Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure on such date plus the aggregate amount of accounts payable that are more than 90 days past due as of such date, to be less than $50,000,000 and (ii) the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Borrower will not permit the amount by which the sum of the Revolving Commitments on such date plus the Borrower’s unrestricted cash (but specifically including any Credit Party’s interest in cash held in the BG Operating Account and the BG Escrow Account for purposes of funding BG Development Costs) on such date exceeds the sum of Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure on such date plus the aggregate amount of accounts payable that are more than 90 days past due as of such date, to be less than $70,000,000 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

(b) Interest Coverage Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio, for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017, to be less than (i) 1.75 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending

 

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September 30, 2017 and (iii) 2.00 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending on or after December 31, 2017; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of calculating the Interest Coverage Ratio and determining compliance with this Section 7.11(b), (x) Consolidated EBITDAX for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017 shall be Consolidated EBITDAX for such fiscal quarter multiplied by 4.00, Consolidated EBITDAX for the two fiscal quarter period ending December 31, 2017 shall be Consolidated EBITDAX for such two fiscal quarter period multiplied by 2.00 and Consolidated EBITDAX for the three fiscal quarter period ending March 31, 2018 shall be Consolidated EBITDAX for such three fiscal quarter period multiplied by 4/3 and (y) Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2017 shall be Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal quarter multiplied by 4.00, Consolidated Interest Expense for the two fiscal quarter period ending December 31, 2017 shall be Consolidated Interest Expense for such two fiscal quarter period multiplied by 2.00 and Consolidated Interest Expense for the three fiscal quarter period ending March 31, 2018 shall be Consolidated Interest Expense for such three fiscal quarter period multiplied by 4/3.

(c) Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure to Consolidated EBITDAX Ratio . As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the Borrower will not permit the ratio of (i) the sum of Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure plus the aggregate amount of other secured Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(h) and Section 7.01(o)) permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 to (ii) Consolidated EBITDAX, for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended to be greater than 1.20 to 1.00.

2.15 Change of Control . Clause (n)  of Article IX shall be and it hereby is amended by inserting “ 1.5 Lien Note Document, 1.75 Lien Debt Document, ” immediately prior to the reference to “ Second Lien Debt Document ” therein.

2.16 Intercreditor Agreement . The last sentence of the last paragraph of Article X of the Original Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

Each Lender and Issuing Bank authorize Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement, any intercreditor agreement in connection with any Permitted Refinancing permitted by Section 7.01(h) or Section 7.01(o) or any intercreditor agreement with respect to any 1.5 Lien Notes, 1.75 Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, in each case, that is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders.

2.17 Schedule 2.01 . Schedule 2.01 to the Original Credit Agreement shall be and it hereby is amended and restated in its entirety with Schedule 2.01 attached hereto.

SECTION 3. Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendment Agreement and Occurrence of Seventh Amendment Effective Date . This Amendment Agreement, including the amendments to the Original Credit Agreement specified in Section 2 hereof, shall become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied or waived (such date, the “ Seventh Amendment Effective Date ”‘):

 

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3.1 Execution and Delivery of Amendment Agreement . The Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, each of the other Credit Parties and the Super-Majority Lenders.

3.2 Reduction of Revolving Loans . The Borrower shall have repaid (or shall repay substantially contemporaneously with the Seventh Amendment Effective Date) the outstanding Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure to an amount that does not exceed $25,000,000.00 (without a corresponding reduction of the Revolving Commitments).

3.3 Revolving Commitments and Borrowing Base . Contemporaneously with the incurrence of the 1.5 Lien Notes, and the application of the proceeds of the 1.5 Lien Notes to the outstanding Revolving Loans, the Revolving Commitments shall be reduced ratably among the Lenders to $150,000,000.00 and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced to $150,000,000.00. This Section 3.2(b) shall constitute notice of the redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Credit Agreement in connection with the Scheduled Redetermination to occur on or about March 1, 2017, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, Borrower and the other Credit Parties hereby acknowledge that effective as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowing Base is $150,000,000.00 and such redetermined Borrowing Base shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Redetermination to occur on or about November 1, 2017, or such earlier date as required pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Credit Agreement and (ii) the date such Borrowing Base is otherwise adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

3.4 No Default . No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Original Credit Agreement on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

3.5 Fees and Expenses . The Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent all reasonable documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Amendment Agreement (including, to the extent invoiced, the reasonable documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and charges of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP), to the extent required to be paid by Section 11.03 of the Original Credit Agreement. With respect to any Lender who retained outside counsel pursuant to Section 11.03 and to the extent such reasonable and documented fees and expenses have been provided to the Borrower on or prior to the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower shall have paid such reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such outside counsel to the extent required to be paid by Section 11.03 of the Original Credit Agreement and otherwise thereafter upon delivery of reasonable and documented fees and expenses to the extent required to be paid by Section 11.03 of the Original Credit Agreement.

3.6 Intercreditor Agreement; Reaffirmation Agreement . The Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed copy of each of (i) the intercreditor agreement(s), or amendments thereto, as applicable, in each case that are required by the Credit Agreement and this Amendment Agreement with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness under the 1.5 Lien Notes, the 1.75 Lien Debt, the Second Lien Debt and the Third Lien Debt and (ii) a reaffirmation agreement substantially in the form of Annex I to this Amendment Agreement (the “ Reaffirmation Agreement ” and together with such intercreditor agreement(s), the “ 2017 January Agreements ”).

 

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3.7 Legal Opinion . The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed legal opinion, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of Haynes and Boone, LLP, special counsel for the Borrower.

SECTION 4. Representation and Warranties . Each Credit Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

4.1 Corporate Authority; Enforceability . Each of the Amendment Agreement and the 2017 January Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Credit Party that is party hereto or thereto, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms and the Existing Agreement, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing;

4.2 No Conflict . The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of each of this Amendment Agreement and the 2017 January Agreements to which it is a party will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents (including any partnership, limited liability company or operating agreements) or by-laws of any such Credit Party, (B) any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to which any such Credit Party is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under any such indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in subclause (i) or (ii) of this Section 3.2(b) would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by any such Credit Party, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Permitted Liens (after giving effect to the amendments to the Original Credit Agreement specified in Section 2 hereof);

4.3 Reaffirmation of Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); and

 

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4.4 No Default . Prior to and after giving effect to the Amendment Agreement, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Continuing Effect; No Other Amendments or Waivers . Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment Agreement shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Borrower or any other Credit Party under the Original Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Original Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle the Borrower to any future consent to, or waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Original Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances. Upon the occurrence of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, any reference to the “Credit Agreement” in the Original Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall mean the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

5.2 FATCA . From and after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, and hold it harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including Taxes and the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any of the foregoing, arising in connection with the Administrative Agent’s treating, for purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, this Amendment as qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

5.3 Amendment; Counterparts . This Amendment Agreement may not be amended nor may any provision hereof be waived except pursuant to a writing signed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders required under Section 11.02 of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. This Amendment Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts by the parties hereto (including by telecopy or via electronic mail), each of which counterparts when so executed shall be an original, and all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

5.4 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; JURISDICTION . THIS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY AGREES AS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 11.09 AND 11.10 OF THE ORIGINAL CREDIT AGREEMENT AS IF SUCH SECTIONS WERE SET FORTH IN FULL HEREIN.

5.5 Headings . The Article and Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Amendment Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting this Amendment Agreement.

 

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5.6 Severability . Any provision of this Amendment Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

[ Signature pages follow .]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to be executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER :
EXCO RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial
  Officer and Treasurer
GUARANTORS :
EXCO HOLDING (PA), INC.
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (PA), LLC
EXCO PRODUCTION COMPANY (WV), LLC
EXCO RESOURCES (XA), LLC
EXCO SERVICES, INC.
EXCO MIDCONTINENT MLP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS GP, LLC
EXCO PARTNERS OLP GP, LLC
EXCO HOLDING MLP, INC.
EXCO LAND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial
  Officer and Treasurer
EXCO OPERATING COMPANY, LP
By:   EXCO Partners OLP GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief
  Financial Officer and Treasurer

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


EXCO GP PARTNERS OLD, LP
By:   EXCO Partners GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief
  Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

Name:   Tyler Farquharson
Title:   Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
RAIDER MARKETING, LP
By:   Raider Marketing GP, LLC
  its general partner
  By:  

/s/ Tyler Farquharson

  Name:   Tyler Farquharson
  Title:   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  and Treasurer

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
  Administrative Agent and as a Lender
By:  

/s/ David Morris

Name:   David Morris
Title:   Authorized Officer

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Bryan McDavid

Name:   Bryan McDavid
Title:   Director

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ James V. Ducote

Name:   James V. Ducote
Title:   Managing Director

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


CREDIT SUISSE AG, Cayman Islands Branch,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Bryan J. Matthews

Name:   Bryan J. Matthews
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Julia Bykhovskaia

Name:   Julia Bykhovskaia
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


ING CAPITAL LLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Juli Bieser

Name:   Juli Bieser
Title: Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Charles Hall

Name:   Charles Hall
Title: Managing Director

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Kenneth Chin

Name:   Kenneth Chin
Title: Director, Banking Products Services, US
By:  

/s/ Darlene Arias

Name:   Darlene Arias
Title: Director

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Brice LeFoyer

Name:   Brice Le Foyer
Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Vikram Nath

Name:   Vikram Nath
Title: Director

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Marcus Tarkington

Name:   Marcus Tarkington
Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Benjamin Souh

Name:   Benjamin Souh
Title: Vice President

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Ushma Dedhiya

Name:   Ushma Dedhiya
Title: Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

EXCO Resources, Inc.

12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75251

Investor Relations Contact: Tyler Farquharson (214) 368-2084

EXCO Resources Announces Transformational Capital Structure Transactions

Highlights

 

 

    Issued $300 million in 1.5 Lien Notes that include the option to pay interest in-kind in common shares or additional debt. Proceeds from issuance were primarily utilized to repay all outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;

 

    Exchanged $683 million of Second Lien Term Loans for a like amount of 1.75 Lien Term Loans that include the option to pay interest in-kind in common shares or additional debt;

 

    Increased pro forma liquidity by $116 million, calculated as cash plus the available borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement;

 

    Reduced potential cash interest payments up to $109 million per year, or $433 million through maturity, with option to pay interest in common shares or additional debt on 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans, subject to certain restrictions;

 

    Amended Credit Agreement to establish a borrowing base of $150 million, permit the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, and modify certain financial covenants; and

 

    Established structural liquidity to deploy capital towards EXCO’s portfolio of drilling opportunities with high rates of return and financial flexibility to pursue additional liability management initiatives.

DALLAS, TEXAS, March 15, 2017… EXCO Resources, Inc. (NYSE: XCO) (“EXCO” or the “Company”) today announced a series of transactions that will significantly improve its capital structure, including the issuance of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured 1.5 lien notes due March 20, 2022 (“1.5 Lien Notes”) and the exchange of approximately $683 million of senior secured second lien term loans due October 26, 2020 (“Second Lien Term Loans”) for a like amount of senior secured 1.75 lien term loans due October 26, 2020 (“1.75 Lien Term Loans”). The 1.5 Lien Notes were issued to affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”), Energy Strategic Advisory Services, LLC (“ESAS”), Oaktree Capital Management, LP (“Oaktree”) and an unaffiliated investor. The proceeds from the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes were utilized for the repayment of the entire amount outstanding under EXCO’s credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”), transaction fees and expenses, and general corporate purposes. In connection with these transactions, the Credit Agreement was amended to reduce the borrowing base to $150 million, permit the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes and the 1.75 Lien Term Loans, and modify certain financial covenants.


Harold L. Hickey, EXCO’s Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, “We appreciate the continued support and confidence from our investors that participated in these transactions. The option to pay interest in-kind in lieu of cash gives us the opportunity to invest cash in the business to create value for our shareholders. We will continue our disciplined approach to the allocation of capital through our process of prioritizing opportunities based on a profitability index. This capital is currently being put to work on certain locations in the Haynesville shale that are estimated to generate rates of return in excess of 100% based on year end 2016 futures prices. We are developing our long-term plans to incorporate the outcome of these financing transactions, and we’re excited to deploy this capital towards the 850 gross (280 net) operated locations in our portfolio with rates of return in excess of 25%. In addition, our portfolio contains further upside including non-operated locations and operated locations that could generate attractive rates of return through technological advances or improved prices. These transactions also provide flexibility to pursue additional liability management initiatives such as the issuance of equity in exchange for indebtedness, repurchase of indebtedness and asset divestitures.”

The terms of the transactions are outlined below:

Issuance of 1.5 Lien Notes

 

    Issued at par;

 

    Maturity date of March 20, 2022;

 

    Interest is payable in cash at a rate of 8% per annum, or at EXCO’s option, payable in EXCO’s common shares or additional 1.5 Lien Notes at a rate of 11% per annum, subject to certain limitations. Interest is payable bi-annually beginning on September 20, 2017;

 

    Investors were issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of approximately 323 million of EXCO’s common shares with an exercise price of $0.93 per share (“Financing Warrants”); and

 

    Investors were issued, at their election, either: (a) warrants to purchase EXCO’s common shares at an exercise price of $0.01 (“Commitment Fee Warrants”) or (b) cash. This resulted in the payment of approximately $4 million in cash and the issuance of an aggregate of approximately 6 million Commitment Fee Warrants.

Exchange Transactions; 1.75 Lien Term Loans

 

    An aggregate of approximately $683 million principal amount of the Second Lien Term Loans was exchanged for an aggregate of approximately $683 million principal amount of 1.75 Lien Term Loans. Approximately $17 million in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Term Loans remain outstanding subsequent to the exchange transactions;

 

    The 1.75 Lien Term Loans contain similar terms as the Second Lien Term Loans with appropriate modifications to accommodate the financing transactions;

 

    The Second Lien Terms Loans were amended, with the consent of the exchanging lenders, to permit the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans, and eliminate substantially all of the covenants and events of default;

 

    Interest is payable on the 1.75 Lien Term Loans in cash at a rate of 12.5% per annum, or at EXCO’s option, payable in EXCO’s common shares or additional 1.75 Lien Term Loans at a rate of 15% per annum, subject to certain limitations; and

 

    Exchanging lenders were issued, at their election, either: (a) warrants to purchase the Company’s common shares at an exercise price of $0.01 (“Amendment Fee Warrants”) or (b) cash. This resulted in the payment of approximately $9 million in cash and the issuance of an aggregate of approximately 20 million Amendment Fee Warrants.


The exercisability of the warrants and EXCO’s ability to pay interest in common shares is restricted until the requisite shareholder approvals are obtained to permit the issuance of such common shares. The Company will also seek approval to amend its charter to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance or to effect a reverse stock split, without a proportionate reduction of authorized shares, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. If requisite shareholder approval is not obtained by September 30, 2017, subject to certain extensions, the interest rate payable in cash on the 1.5 Lien Notes will increase to 15% per annum and the interest rate payable in common shares or additional indebtedness will increase to 20% per annum. EXCO intends to seek approval for these transactions within such period. Upon receipt of shareholder approval, EXCO may elect to pay interest on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans in common shares at its sole discretion until December 31, 2018. The Company may be required to pay a portion or all of the interest in cash if it meets certain specified liquidity thresholds subsequent to December 31, 2018. The amount of interest paid through the issuance of additional indebtedness on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans is subject to incurrence covenants within certain of the Company’s debt agreements that limit aggregate secured indebtedness to $1.2 billion.

Additional information about the transactions is available in a Form 8-K to be filed by the Company in connection with the transactions described above.

Affiliates of Fairfax purchased approximately $151 million aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes and exchanged approximately $412 million aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Term Loans for a like amount of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans. Affiliates of Fairfax are current beneficial owners of 9.9% of EXCO’s common shares. Samuel A. Mitchell, a member of EXCO’s Board of Directors, is a Managing Director of Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., the investment manager of Fairfax and certain affiliates thereof.

ESAS purchased approximately $70 million aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes and exchanged approximately $48 million aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Term Loans for a like amount of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans. ESAS is owned by Bluescape Energy Recapitalization and Restructuring Fund III LP, which is directed by its general partner, Bluescape Energy Partners III GP LLC (“Bluescape”), and is the current beneficial owner 6.6% of EXCO’s common shares. Mr. Charles John Wilder, the Executive Chairman of EXCO’s Board of Directors, serves as the sole manager of Bluescape and has the power to direct the affairs of Bluescape.

Affiliates of Oaktree purchased approximately $40 million aggregate principal amount of the 1.5 Lien Notes. Affiliates of Oaktree are the current beneficial owners of 11.0% of EXCO’s common shares, and B. James Ford, a member of EXCO’s Board of Directors, serves as a Senior Adviser of Oaktree.

These transactions were approved by a special committee of the Board of Directors consisting of the sole disinterested member of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors authorized and approved the transactions based on the recommendation of the special committee.


Financial Impact of Transactions

EXCO anticipates the transactions will enhance its capital structure, provide the optionality to improve future cash flows and establish structural liquidity to implement its business plan. The financial impact of the transactions includes the following:

 

    Increased pro forma liquidity by $116 million;

 

    Provides EXCO the optionality to reduce cash interest payments up to $109 million per year through the issuance of common shares or additional indebtedness (based on the assumption that all interest is paid in common shares or additional indebtedness); and

 

    Extends weighted average debt maturity from 3.0 years to 3.9 years.

Table 1: Pro forma capitalization

Q4 16; mixed measures

 

            12/31/16  

Factors

   Unit    Actual      Pro forma
adjustments
(1.5 Lien
Notes)
    Pro forma
adjustments
(Exchange
Transactions)
    Pro forma      Delta     %  

Cash (1) (2)

   $MM      20        35       (13     42        22       110  

Amount drawn on revolver

   $MM      229        (229     —         —          (229     (100

1.5 Lien Notes

   $MM      —          300       —         300        300       100  

1.75 Lien Term Loans

   $MM      —          —         683       683        683       100  

Second Lien Term Loans

   $MM      700        —         (683     17        (683     (98

2018 Senior Notes

   $MM      132        —         —         132        —         —    

2022 Senior Notes

   $MM      70        —         —         70        —         —    

Total Debt

   $MM      1,131            1,202        71       6  

Net Debt

   $MM      1,111                        1,160        49       4  

 

(1) Includes restricted cash of $11 million.
(2) Pro forma cash was reduced by $13 million of cash paid to investors of the 1.5 Lien Notes and lenders of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans electing to receive cash in lieu of warrants, $12 million of estimated transaction fees and expenses associated with the financing transactions, and repayments of additional borrowings of $25 million under the Credit Agreement subsequent to December 31, 2016.

Table 2: Pro forma liquidity

Q4 16; mixed measures

 

            12/31/16  

Factors

   Unit    Actual      Pro forma
adjustments
    Pro forma      Delta     %  

Borrowing capacity on revolver

   $MM      285        (135     150        (135     (47

Amount drawn on revolver

   $MM      229        (229     —          (229     (100

Letters of credit

   $MM      10        —         10        —         —    

Available for borrowing

   $MM      46        —         140        94       204  

Cash (1) (2)

   $MM      20        22       42        22       110  

Liquidity (3)

   $MM      66                182        116       176  

 

(1) Includes restricted cash of $11 million.
(2) Pro forma cash was reduced by $13 million of cash paid to investors of the 1.5 Lien Notes and lenders of the 1.75 Lien Term Loans electing to receive cash in lieu of warrants, $12 million of estimated transaction fees and expenses associated with the financing transactions, and repayments of additional borrowings of $25 million under the Credit Agreement subsequent to December 31, 2016.
(3) Liquidity is calculated as cash plus the available borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement. Management reviews the Company’s liquidity position as part of its analysis of financial flexibility, capital structure and leverage.


Table 3: Warrants and common shares

Q4 16; mixed measures

The following table depicts EXCO’s outstanding common shares as of December 31, 2016 and the warrants issued on March 15, 2017 in connection with the issuance of the 1.5 Lien Notes and exchange transactions.

 

              Warrants (1)      Common shares (2)  

Description

   Unit      Exercise
price
     Outstanding
amount
     Par value      Outstanding
amount
 

Amendment Fee Warrants

   $ /M      $ 0.01        19,883          

Commitment Fee Warrants

   $ /M      $ 0.01        6,471          

Financing Warrants

   $ /M      $ 0.93        322,581          

Common shares, net of treasury shares

   $ /M                        $ 0.001        282,974  

 

(1) The exercisability of the warrants within this table is subject to conditions including the receipt of certain shareholder approvals. The amount of actual common shares purchased by the exercise of the Financing Warrants could be significantly lower than the amount depicted in this table depending on the holder’s election of either a cash or cashless exercise. The warrants previously issued to ESAS in connection with a services and investment agreement are excluded due to the time and performance based contingencies required for vesting.
(2) The common shares within this table exclude the potential dilution attributable to the common shares that could be issued to pay interest on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans. If the Company elects to pay interest on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans solely in common shares, the Company would issue approximately 242 million common shares on an annual basis assuming a constant share price consistent with the closing price of $0.56 for EXCO’s common shares as of February 28, 2017. The amount of shares issued to pay interest on the 1.5 Lien Notes and 1.75 Lien Term Loans may significantly differ from this amount due to factors such as fluctuations in the price of EXCO’s common shares, decisions of the Company on the method of interest payments, and limitations on the ability to pay interest in common shares within the indenture governing the 1.5 Lien Notes and credit agreement governing the 1.75 Lien Term Loans.

EXCO plans to pursue additional transactions to improve its capital structure and liquidity, including the issuance of equity in exchange for indebtedness, repurchase of indebtedness or divestitures of assets. The Company is currently evaluating the potential sale of its oil and natural gas properties in South Texas.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC served as sole placement agent and bookrunner to the Company on the 1.5 Lien Notes and debt adviser to the Company on the exchange transactions. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Haynes and Boone, LLP served as legal advisers to the Company.

About EXCO

EXCO Resources, Inc. is an oil and natural gas exploration, exploitation, acquisition, development and production company headquartered in Dallas, Texas with principal operations in Texas, Louisiana and Appalachia.

Additional information about EXCO Resources, Inc. may be obtained by contacting Tyler Farquharson, EXCO’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, at EXCO’s headquarters, 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700, Dallas, TX 75251, telephone number (214) 368-2084, or by visiting EXCO’s website at www.excoresources.com. EXCO’s SEC filings and press releases can be found under the Investor Relations tab.


Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to future financial results, business expectations and business transactions. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted as a result of factors over which EXCO has no control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to obtain the requisite shareholder approvals, the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (“Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), future issuances of common stock as interest payments and the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the covenants in the indenture governing the 1.5 Lien Notes and the credit agreement governing the 1.75 Lien Term Loans and the Company’s other debt agreements. A discussion of the risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company is set forth in its filings with the SEC. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.

The requisite shareholder approval matters are expected to be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for their consideration pursuant to a Proxy Statement that will be filed by the Company with the SEC and mailed to the Company’s shareholders. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN THAT ARE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE REQUISITE SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL MATTERS. Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents containing important information about the Company, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The Company will make available free of charge at www.excoresources.com (in the “Investor Relations” section), copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the SEC, or investors and shareholders may contact the Company at (214) 368-2084 to receive copies of documents that it files with or furnishes to the SEC.

Participants in the Proxy Solicitation

The Company and certain of its respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of the Company in connection with the requisite shareholder approval matters. Information about the directors and officers of the Company is set forth in its Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 6, 2016, as well as its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2016, May 24, 2016, August 22, 2016, October 25, 2016, February 2, 2017 and March 3, 2017. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.