UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 27, 2017

 

 

Whiting Petroleum Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-31899   20-0098515

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1700 Broadway, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80290-2300

(Address of principal executive offices, including ZIP code)

(303) 837-1661

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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 C.F.R. §230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company   

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 27, 2017, Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) completed a private unregistered offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of its 6.625% senior notes due 2026 (the “Notes” and the offering of the Notes, the “Offering”). At the closing of the Offering on December 27, 2017, the Company received approximately $987.5 million in aggregate net proceeds from the Offering. Also on December 27, 2017, the Company notified the trustee under the Senior Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of September 12, 2013, among the Company, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation (“WOGC”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by that First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 12, 2013, by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantor a party thereto and the Trustee, governing the Company’s outstanding 5.00% senior notes due 2019, that the Company elected to redeem such notes on January 26, 2018.

Indenture

The Notes were issued under the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by a Fifth Supplemental Indenture (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), dated December 27, 2017, among the Company, WOGC, Whiting US Holding Company (“Whiting US”), Whiting Canadian Holding Company ULC (“Whiting Canadian”), and Whiting Resources Corporation (“Whiting Resources” and, together with WOGC, Whiting US and Whiting Canadian, the “Guarantors”) and the Trustee, establishing the terms and providing for the issuance of the Notes. The Notes are the Company’s senior unsecured debt. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors.

The Fifth Supplemental Indenture and form of Note, which is attached as an exhibit to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, provide, among other things, that the Notes will bear interest of 6.625% per year from December 27, 2017 (payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2018), and will mature on January 15, 2026.

Prior to October 15, 2025, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a make whole premium, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, as of the date of redemption, subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date. On and after October 15, 2025 (the date three months prior to the maturity date), the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date.

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, will limit the Company’s ability and the ability of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem our capital stock, (ii) prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt, (iii) make loans and investments, (iv) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock, (v) create certain liens, (vi) enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other payments from our restricted subsidiaries to the Company, (vii) sell assets, (viii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company’s restricted subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ix) engage in transactions with affiliates and (x) create unrestricted subsidiaries. Many of the foregoing covenants will terminate if the Notes achieve an investment grade rating from each of Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services. Upon the occurrence of certain change of control triggering events or if the Company consummates certain sales of assets, the Company must offer to repurchase the Notes.

 

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The Indenture contains customary events of default. In the case of an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, with respect to the Company, any subsidiary of the Company that is a significant subsidiary or any group of subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other event of default occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, upon notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the completion of the Offering, the Company and the Guarantors entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated as of December 27, 2017, with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, for itself and as representative of the initial purchasers in the Offering. The Registration Rights Agreement requires the Company and the Guarantors (i) to use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement with respect to a registered exchange offer (the “Registered Exchange Offer”) to exchange the Notes for publicly registered 6.625% senior notes due 2026, (ii) to use their reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC within 365 days after December 27, 2017 and (iii) after the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement, promptly commence the exchange offer and use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Registered Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date offer.

Under certain circumstances and within specified time periods, the Company and Guarantors are required to file with the SEC a shelf registration statement covering resales of the Notes, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a shelf registration statement to be declared effective and to keep the shelf registration statement effective until such time as the Notes cease to be registrable securities, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Subject to certain limitations, the Company will be required to pay the holders of the Notes additional interest on the Notes of up to 1.0% per annum if the Company fails to complete the Registered Exchange Offer or a shelf registration statement covering resales of the Notes is not declared effective within specified time periods or if a shelf registration statement covering resales of the Notes is declared effective, but ceases to remain effective for specified time periods.

The foregoing descriptions of the Base Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Base Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 10.1 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

The information set forth above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8–K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

The Company issued on December 27, 2017 a press release announcing the completion of the Offering, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. Such press release is filed pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired . Not applicable.

 

  (b) Pro Forma Financial Information . Not applicable.

 

  (c) Shell Company Transactions . Not applicable.

 

  (d) Exhibits . The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index below are filed as part of this report.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

  (4.1)   Senior Indenture, dated September  12, 2013, among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Whiting Petroleum Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2013 (File No. 001-31899)].
  (4.2)   Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated December  27, 2017, among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Whiting US Holding Company, Whiting Canadian Holding Company ULC, Whiting Resources Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, creating the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2026.
(10.1)   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December  27, 2017, by and among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Whiting US Holding Company, Whiting Canadian Holding Company ULC, Whiting Resources Corporation and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, for itself and as representative of the initial purchasers named therein.
(99.1)   Press Release of Whiting Petroleum Corporation dated December 27, 2017.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
Date: December 27, 2017     By:   /s/ Michael J. Stevens
      Michael J. Stevens
      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 4.2

E XECUTION V ERSION

 

 

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION,

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of December 27, 2017

to

SENIOR INDENTURE

Dated as of September 12, 2013

Providing for Issuance of

6.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     2  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      2  

Section 1.02

  Other Definitions      29  

Section 1.03

  Rules of Construction      29  

Section 1.04

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      30  

ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES

     30  

Section 2.01

  Creation and Form      30  

Section 2.02

  Execution and Authentication      31  

Section 2.03

  Outstanding Notes      31  

Section 2.04

  CUSIP Numbers      31  

Section 2.05

  Issuance of Additional Notes      32  

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE

     32  

Section 3.01

  Redemption and Purchase      32  

Section 3.02

  Optional Redemption      32  

Section 3.03

  Mandatory Redemption      33  

Section 3.04

  Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      33  

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS

     35  

Section 4.01

  Payment of Notes      35  

Section 4.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      35  

Section 4.03

  Reports      36  

Section 4.04

  Compliance Certificate      37  

Section 4.05

  Taxes      37  

Section 4.06

  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      37  

Section 4.07

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      38  

Section 4.08

  Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries      41  

Section 4.09

  Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock      44  

Section 4.10

  Limitation on Asset Sales      47  

Section 4.11

  Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates      50  

Section 4.12

  Limitation on Liens      51  

Section 4.13

  Additional Subsidiary Guarantees      52  

Section 4.14

  Corporate Existence      52  

Section 4.15

  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event      52  

Section 4.16

  [Intentionally Omitted.]      55  

Section 4.17

  Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      55  

Section 4.18

  Covenant Termination      55  

ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS

     56  

Section 5.01

  Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets      56  

Section 5.02

  Successor Entity Substituted      57  

 

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ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     57  

Section 6.01

  Events of Default      57  

Section 6.02

  Acceleration      60  

Section 6.03

  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension of Laws      60  

ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE; REPORTS

     60  

Section 7.01

  Notice of Defaults      60  

Section 7.02

  Compensation and Reimbursement      61  

Section 7.03

  Reports by Company and Subsidiary Guarantors      61  

ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     61  

Section 8.01

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 8.02

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      61  

Section 8.03

  Covenant Defeasance      62  

Section 8.04

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      63  

Section 8.05

  Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      64  

Section 8.06

  Repayment to Company      64  

Section 8.07

  Reinstatement      65  

Section 8.08

  Discharge      65  

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     65  

Section 9.01

  Without Consent of Holders of Notes      65  

Section 9.02

  With Consent of Holders of Notes      67  

Section 9.03

  Revocation and Effect of Consents      68  

ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES OF NOTES

     69  

Section 10.01

  Subsidiary Guarantees      69  

Section 10.02

  Notation of Subsidiary Guarantees      70  

Section 10.03

  Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms      70  

Section 10.04

  Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees      71  

Section 10.05

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      72  

Section 10.06

  “Trustee” to Include Paying Agent      72  

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS

     72  

Section 11.01

  Fifth Supplemental Indenture Controls      72  

Section 11.02

  No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      72  

Section 11.03

  Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Submission to Jurisdiction      73  

Section 11.04

  Force Majeure      73  

Section 11.05

  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      73  

Section 11.06

  Table of Contents and Headings      73  

Section 11.07

  Counterparts      74  

Section 11.08

  Tax Withholding      74  

Section 11.09

  Certain Right of Trustee      74  

Section 11.10

  Conflicting Interests      74  

Section 11.11

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of the Notes      75  

 

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APPENDIX   

APPENDIX

  Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix      App-1  
EXHIBITS   

EXHIBIT A

  Form of Note      A-1  

EXHIBIT B

  Form of Supplemental Indenture      B-1  

 

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This Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 27, 2017 (this “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), supplements and amends the Senior Indenture, dated as of September 12, 2013 (the “Original Indenture”), among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

RECITATIONS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company, WOGC (as defined below) and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered the Original Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Company’s senior debt securities to be issued in one or more series (herein called the “Securities”);

WHEREAS, Section 901 of the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may without the consent of Holders enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture to, among other things, (a) add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Original Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (i) shall neither (A) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Security outstanding and (b) establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the issuance of a series of Securities to be designated as the “6.625% Senior Notes due 2026,” and to set forth the form and terms thereof;

WHEREAS, the Company proposes in and by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture to supplement and amend the Original Indenture, but only insofar as it will apply to the Notes; and

WHEREAS, all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the creation and issuance of the Notes, and all action on the part of each of the Guarantors necessary to authorize its guarantee of the Notes under the Original Indenture and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture (the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, being hereinafter called the “Indenture”), has been duly taken.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That, in order to establish the designation, form and terms of, and to authorize the authentication and delivery of the Notes and the Guarantees of the Guarantors, and in consideration of the acceptance of the Notes and the Guarantees by the Holders thereof and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

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ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Original Indenture.

(b) Section 101 of the Original Indenture is amended and supplemented, with respect to the Notes, by inserting or restating, as the case may be, in their appropriate alphabetical position, the following definitions:

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

(1) the sum of:

(a) discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, or, at the Company’s option, the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available, which reserve report is prepared or reviewed by independent petroleum engineers as to reserves accounting for at least 80% of all such discounted future net revenue and by the Company’s petroleum engineers with respect to any other such reserves covered by such report, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue from:

(i) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and

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

in each case calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue attributable to

 

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(iii) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and

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

in each case calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable); provided , however , that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s engineers, except that if as a result of such acquisitions, dispositions, discoveries, extensions or revisions, there is a Material Change, then such increases and decreases in the discounted future net revenue shall be confirmed in writing by an independent petroleum engineer;

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

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

(d) the greater of (I) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (II) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, as applicable;

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

(a) noncontrolling interests;

(b) any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, as applicable;

 

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

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

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

Any calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the pro forma adjustments contained in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. If the Company changes its method of accounting for its oil and gas properties from the successful efforts method to the full cost method or a similar method of accounting, ACNTA will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the successful efforts method of accounting. For the avoidance of doubt, the financial statements referred to in the calculation of ACNTA would relate to the same annual or quarterly period as the reserve report.

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

(1) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is incurred or issued in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; provided, however , that Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of such acquired Person which is redeemed, defeased, retired or otherwise repaid at the time of or substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of the transactions by which such Person merges with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such Person shall not be Acquired Debt; and

 

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

Additional Assets ” means:

(1) any assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business;

(2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; or

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

provided , however , that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clauses (2) or (3) is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

Additional Interest ” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement. Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references in this Indenture or the Notes in any context to any interest on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest to the extent then applicable.

Additional Notes ” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, 6.625% Senior Notes due 2026 of the Company as may be originally issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture, together with all other Notes issued upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, such Notes, whether or not such Notes bear the same CUSIP number.

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

Applicable Law ,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, foreign or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to a Note being redeemed (in whole or in part) at any Redemption Date, the greater of (x) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note being redeemed and (y) the excess of (A) the present value at such Redemption Date of (1) the principal amount of such Note, plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due with respect to such principal on October 15, 2025 (without regard to accrued and unpaid interest first due on the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such Note being redeemed on such Redemption Date.

 

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Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a Production Payment or sale and leaseback transaction); provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale by the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by Applicable Law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary).

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $25.0 million;

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

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

(4) the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, any abandonment, farm-in, farm-out, lease or sublease of any oil and gas properties or the forfeiture or other disposition of such properties pursuant to standard form operating agreements, or any operating lease or sublease in each case in the ordinary course of business in a manner customary in the Oil and Gas Business, but excluding from this clause (4) any disposition as a result of the creation of a Production Payment;

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

(6) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or a Permitted Investment;

(7) any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of oil and gas properties or other properties or assets for oil and gas properties or other properties or assets owned or held by another Person; provided that the fair market value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted

 

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Subsidiary (together with any cash) is reasonably equivalent to the fair market value of the properties or assets (together with any cash) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided , further , that any cash received must be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(8) the creation or perfection of a Lien (but not the sale or other disposition of the properties or assets subject to such Lien);

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

(10) any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business (including the assignment, cancellation or abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful in any material respect in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as whole); and

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

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

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

Board of Directors ” means:

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

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the Board of Directors of the managing member, if the managing member is an entity, or the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof, if the managing members are individuals; and

 

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

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

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in Chicago, Illinois, Denver, Colorado or New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any lease existing on the Issue Date or entered into thereafter that would have been classified as an operating lease pursuant to GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date (excluding the future phase-in of the effectiveness of any amendments to GAAP that have been adopted as of the Issue Date) will be deemed not to be a capital lease or a financing lease.

Capital Markets Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness incurred in or under (i) any registered offering of debt securities under the Securities Act or (ii) any private placement of debt securities (including under Rule 144A of the Securities Act) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Capital Stock means:

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

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

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership 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, but excluding from all of the foregoing Convertible Securities regardless of whether such Convertible Securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

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Cash Equivalents means:

(1) U.S. dollars;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank;

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

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

(6) money market funds the assets of which primarily constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition; and

(7) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above.

Change of Control Triggering Event ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereof;

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

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereof; or

 

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(4) the occurrence of a “change of control” as defined under the indenture governing the Existing Senior Notes, which occurrence is followed by a Rating Decline within 60 days thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a change of control if (x) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (y)(i) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (ii) immediately following that transaction, no Person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

For purposes of clause (3) of this definition, a Person shall not be deemed to beneficially own securities that are the subject of a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until consummation of the transactions or, as applicable, series of related transactions contemplated thereby.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

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

(3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and any non-cash interest on any convertible or exchangeable notes that exists by virtue of the bifurcation of the debt and equity components of such convertible or exchangeable notes in accordance with GAAP, but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (other than as provided above), the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

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

(5) unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

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

(7) to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (x) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (y) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments,

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

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

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

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

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

(4) income resulting from transfers of assets (other than cash) between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and an Unrestricted Subsidiary, on the other hand, will be excluded;

(5) any write-downs of non-current assets will be excluded; provided that any ceiling limitation write-downs under Commission guidelines shall be treated as capitalized costs, as if such write-downs had not occurred; and

 

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(6) any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of hedge or non-hedge derivatives (including those resulting from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815) will be excluded.

In addition, notwithstanding the preceding, for the purposes of Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity.

Convertible Securities ” means debt securities of the Company of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are convertible or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Company (including the Existing Convertible Notes).

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business in Chicago, Illinois shall be principally administered, which office as of the date of this instrument is located at 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, IL 60602, except that with respect to presentation of Notes for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate agency business shall be conducted, which office at the date of this instrument is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286; Attention: Corporate Trust Division—Corporate Finance Unit, or, in the case of any of such offices or agency, such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company.

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2014, as amended, among WOGC, the Company, the other guarantors named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the other financial institutions and lenders parties thereto from time to time, providing for revolving credit borrowings, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, supplemented, restated, refinanced, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether at maturity, upon early repayment and termination or thereafter) in whole or in part from time to time including by or pursuant to one or more agreements or indentures, or by means of issuance of debt securities to institutional investors, including any agreement or indenture that extends the maturity of any Indebtedness thereunder, or increases the amount of available borrowings thereunder ( provided that any increase in amounts drawn is otherwise permitted under Section 4.09 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture), or adds or changes the borrower or guarantor and whether by the same or any other agent, lender, group of lenders, purchasers or debt holders.

Credit Facilities ” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), indentures, commercial paper facilities or capital markets financings, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell receivables to) such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including refinancing with any capital markets

 

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transaction or by means of sales of debt securities) in whole or in part from time to time (and whether or not with the original administrative agent, lenders or trustee or another administrative agent or agents, other lenders or another trustee and whether provided under the original Credit Agreement or any other credit or other agreement or indenture).

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

Default ” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

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

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

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

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

Exchange Notes ” means notes issued in a registered exchange offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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Existing Convertible Notes ” means the 1.25% convertible senior notes of the Company due April 2020, which are convertible into common stock of the Company and/or cash based on the value of such common stock and were offered in an offering which closed in March 2015.

Existing Indebtedness ” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Existing Senior Notes and the Existing Convertible Notes but excluding any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement which is considered incurred under clause (1) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09) in each case, in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

Existing Senior Notes ” means, collectively, the $1.1 billion original aggregate principal amount 5% Senior Notes due 2019, the $1.2 billion original aggregate principal amount 5.75% Senior Notes due 2021, and the $750 million original aggregate principal amount 6.25% Senior Notes due 2023, each issued by the Company.

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

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

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of such period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto);

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

 

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

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

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and any non-cash interest on any convertible or exchangeable notes that exists by virtue of the bifurcation of the debt and equity components of such convertible or exchangeable notes in accordance with GAAP, but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments (other than as provided above), the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations; plus

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

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

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

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was not formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Fifth Supplemental Indenture ” means this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors named on the signature pages hereto and the Trustee relating to the Notes, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Indenture.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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Global Security ” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 205 of the Original Indenture.

Government Securities ” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

Guarantors ” means each of (1) WOGC, Whiting US Holding Company, a Delaware corporation, Whiting Canadian Holding Company ULC, a British Columbia unlimited liability company, and Whiting Resources Corporation, a Colorado corporation, (2) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with Section 4.13 or 10.03 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, and (3) each of the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries, as required under Article 10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, in each case until such time as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 8.02, 8.03 or 10.04 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes under:

(1) 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 the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred and not for purposes of speculation;

(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one of more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred and not for purposes of speculation;

(3) 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 Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates.

Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

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Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

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

(3) in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment, but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment). Subject to the preceding sentence, neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall exclude indebtedness that has been defeased, satisfied and discharged, repaid, retired, repurchased or redeemed in accordance with its terms and, to the extent such defeasance, satisfaction and discharge, repayment, retirement, repurchase or redemption constitutes a Restricted Payment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

(2) in the case of any Hedging Obligation, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

(3) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

Initial Notes ” means the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2026 of the Company issued on the Issue Date, together with all other Notes issued upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, such Notes.

 

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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.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

Issue Date ” means December 27, 2017.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, 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 sell or give a security interest in and any valid and effective filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement not intended as a security agreement.

Material Change ” means an increase or decrease (excluding changes that result solely from changes in prices and changes resulting from the incurrence of previously estimated future development costs) of more than 25% during a fiscal quarter in the discounted future net revenues from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with clause (1)(a) of the definition of ACNTA; provided , however, that the following will be excluded from the calculation of Material Change:

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

(2) any disposition of oil and gas properties existing at the beginning of such fiscal quarter that have been disposed of in compliance with Section 4.10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

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“Material Domestic Subsidiary” means any wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor at the time of determination and that at such time together with its Subsidiaries holds assets in excess of 5.0% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case based upon the most recent quarterly financial statements available to the Company, but excluding the value of the Equity Interests of all of its Domestic Subsidiaries and intercompany debt owed to such Domestic Subsidiary from any other Domestic Subsidiary or the Company.

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

Net Cash Proceeds ,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

(1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries; and

(2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

(1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale,

(2) taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements,

(3) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than under the Credit Facilities, secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, and

 

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(4) any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

Net Working Capital ” means:

(1) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, minus

(2) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness;

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

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

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

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

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness 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 (other than the Notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

(3) the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except solely in circumstances customarily excluded by lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate guaranty or indemnification agreements in non-recourse financings.

Notes ” means the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, treated as a single class.

Obligations ” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person.

 

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Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 102 of the Original Indenture.

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

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

(2) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing (but not refining), storage, selling and transporting of any production from those interests; and

(3) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described above.

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 102 of the Original Indenture. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

The term “ outstanding ,” when used with respect to the Notes, has the meaning provided in Section 2.03 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness that ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Subsidiary Guarantees, in the case of any Guarantor (without giving effect to collateral arrangements).

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

Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business, including through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risk 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 without limitation:

(1) direct or indirect ownership of crude oil, natural gas, other related hydrocarbon and mineral properties or any interest therein or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems; and

(2) the entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, processing agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, production sharing agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements

 

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(whether general or limited), or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(5) any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(6) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(7) Hedging Obligations permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(8) Permitted Business Investments;

(9) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged or consolidated with or into the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

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

(11) payroll, commission, travel, relocation and similar advances 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;

(12) loans or advances to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, and as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the proceeds of which are used to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, or to refinance loans or advances made pursuant to this clause (12), in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $4.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(13) 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 Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(14) 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, concessions or operating leases related to the Oil and Gas Business;

(15) Investments in the Notes as contemplated by the provisions in Section 3.02 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or by tender offer, open market purchase, negotiated transaction or otherwise in accordance with applicable securities laws;

(16) Investments in existence on the Issue Date; and

(17) 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 (17) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $250.0 million and (b) 2.5% of ACNTA.

Permitted Liens ” means:

(1) Liens securing any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility;

(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(4) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;

(5) Liens securing Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets used in the Oil and Gas Business (including the office buildings and other real property used by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in conducting its operations); provided that (i) such Liens attach only to the assets acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness, and (ii) such Indebtedness is not in excess of the purchase price of such fixed assets;

(6) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than under the Credit Agreement);

(7) Liens securing Hedging Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(8) any Lien incurred in the ordinary course of business incidental to the conduct of the business of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries or the ownership of their property (including (a) easements, rights of way and similar encumbrances, (b) rights or title of lessors under leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), (c) rights of collecting banks having rights of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with or in the possession of such banks, (d) Liens imposed by law, including Liens under workers’ compensation or similar legislation and mechanics’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, suppliers’ and vendors’ Liens, (e) Liens incurred to secure performance of obligations with respect to statutory or regulatory requirements, performance or return-of-money bonds, surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature and incurred in a manner consistent with industry practice, or (f) operators Liens under joint operating agreements or similar customary agreements in the Oil and Gas Business);

(9) Liens securing all outstanding Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees thereof;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred under clauses (3), (4) or (5) that was previously so secured; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets ( plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

 

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(11) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed, at the time of incurrence of such Lien, the greater of (a) $250.0 million and (b) 2.5% of ACNTA at any one time outstanding; and

(12) Liens on Cash Equivalents or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded ( plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

(4) such Indebtedness is not incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if the Company is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; provided , however , that a Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Guarantor may guarantee Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the Company, whether or not such Restricted Subsidiary was an obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.09 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be subject only to the refinancing provision in the definition of Credit Facilities and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

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

Production Payments ” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments, Volumetric Production Payments and any other grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, partnership or other

 

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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 where the holder of such interest has recourse solely to such production or proceeds of production, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to operate and maintain, or cause the subject interests to be operated and maintained, in a reasonably prudent manner or other customary standard or subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to indemnify for environmental, title or other matters customary in the Oil and Gas Business, 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 or other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

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 Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s, or both, as the case may be.

Rating Decline ” means the occurrence of a decrease of one or more gradations (including gradations within rating categories as well as between rating categories) in the rating of the Notes by either Rating Agency.

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

Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue Date by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers set forth therein, and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more substantially similar registration rights agreements among the Company and the other parties thereto, as such agreements may be amended from time to time.

Reporting Failure ” means the failure of the Company to file with the Commission and make available or otherwise deliver to the Trustee and each Holder, within the time periods specified in Section 4.03 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the periodic reports, information, documents or other reports that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to such provision.

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Division – Corporate Finance Unit (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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

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

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 Issue Date.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of 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 (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof), but only if such Person and its Subsidiaries are entitled to receive more than 20% of the assets of such partnership upon its dissolution.

Subsidiary Guarantees ” means the joint and several guarantees of the Company’s payment Obligations under this Indenture and on the Notes issued by the Guarantors pursuant to Article 10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

TIA ” or “ Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Treasury Rate ” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of the 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 or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to October 15, 2025; provided, however , that if the period from the Redemption Date to October 15, 2025 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Redemption Date to October 15, 2025 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.

 

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company (other than WOGC) that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Company will be in default of such covenant.

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

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.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

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(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

WOGC ” means Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Asset Sale Offer”

   3.04

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.15

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.15

“Change of Control Purchase Date”

   4.15

“Change of Control Settlement Date”

   4.15

“Company”

   Preamble

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“Discharge”

   8.08

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“incur”

   4.09

“Indenture”

   Recitations

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Offer Amount”

   3.04

“Offer Period”

   3.04

“Original Indenture”

   Preamble

“Payment Default”

   6.01

“Permitted Debt”

   4.09

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

“Securities”

   Recitations

“Settlement Date”

   3.04

“Termination Date”

   3.04

“Trustee”

   Preamble

Section 1.03 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires, in construing this Fifth Supplemental Indenture:

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it herein or, if not assigned herein, then in the Original Indenture;

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

 

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(3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

(7) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Fifth Supplemental Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision, and references to specific Sections, Articles or other subdivisions without contrary reference shall refer to Sections, Articles or subdivisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, as applicable.

Section 1.04 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This Fifth Supplemental Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Commission” means the Commission;

(2) “indenture securities” means the Notes and the Guarantees;

(3) “indenture security holder” means a Holder;

(4) “indenture to be qualified” means this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(5) “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

(6) “obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Guarantor and any other obligor on the indenture securities.

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

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Creation and Form.

Pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the Original Indenture, there is hereby created a new series of Securities designated as the “6.625% Senior Notes due 2026” (which are herein referred to as the “Notes” for purposes of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture). The Notes shall be subject to the provisions of the Appendix hereto, shall be substantially in the form specified in Exhibit A to this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, shall have the terms set forth therein and shall be entitled to the benefits of the other provisions of the Original Indenture as modified by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and specified herein.

 

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Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $1,000,000,000 of Initial Notes and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Additional Notes for original issue, in each case upon the Trustee’s receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 303 of the Original Indenture. Such order shall specify the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.05 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture after the Issue Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with such Section 2.05 and Section 4.09 hereof. The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of Global Securities, for which The Depository Trust Company shall act as Depositary, as more fully set forth in the Appendix. Notes in the form of Global Securities shall bear the legends set forth on the form of Note attached hereto and such other legends as may be specified in the Appendix.

Section 2.03 Outstanding Notes.

Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as otherwise provided in TIA §316(a), a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 306 of the Original Indenture, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York time, on a Redemption Date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or otherwise maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and cancelled, at the Company’s option. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the Section 4.15 will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

Section 2.04 CUSIP Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such

 

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numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

Section 2.05 Issuance of Additional Notes.

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.09 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance, the issue price and the date from which interest will accrue. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided , however , that if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will be issued as a separate series under this Indenture and will have a separate CUSIP number and ISIN from the Initial Notes.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE

Section 3.01 Redemption and Purchase.

The Notes shall be subject to redemption and purchase by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Article Eleven of the Original Indenture and this Article 3.

(a) Section 1103 of the Original Indenture, inasmuch as it relates to the Notes is hereby modified by replacing the first paragraph with the following:

“If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select notes for redemption on a pro rata basis, by lot, in accordance with the procedures of DTC applicable to the Trustee or by such other method as the Trustee, in its sole discretion, deems to be fair and appropriate.”

(b) Section 1104 of the Original Indenture, inasmuch as it relates to the Notes is hereby modified by (1) replacing the word “transmitted” in the first sentence of such Section with the phrase “mailed by first-class mail or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary,” and (2) adding the following sentence at the end of such Section:

“Notices of redemption may, in the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.”

Section 3.02 Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in this clause (a) or in Section 4.15 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to October 15, 2025. At any time prior to October 15, 2025, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record as of the close of business on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

 

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The Company shall determine any Applicable Premium and shall notify the Trustee thereof in writing at least two Business Days in advance of the payment date thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.02, at any time on and after October 15, 2025, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record as of the close of business on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

(c) The Company (or its agent) shall be responsible for making all determinations and calculations in respect of the redemption price of the Notes. The Trustee may conclusively rely and be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the redemption price of the Notes.

Section 3.03 Mandatory Redemption.

Except as set forth under Sections 4.10 and 4.15 hereof, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

Section 3.04 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

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 Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Settlement Date ”), the Company shall purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the “ Offer Amount ”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the manner prescribed in the Notes.

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send, by first class mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), 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. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

 

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(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.04 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open, including the time and date the Asset Sale Offer will terminate (the “ Termination Date ”);

(b) the Offer Amount and the purchase price;

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

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

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

(f) 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” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Company or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, before the Termination Date;

(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, prior to the Termination Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders, and Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount the Company is required to repurchase, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate of the aggregate accreted value (if issued with original issue discount) or principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that the selection of such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness) (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof will be purchased). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero; and

(i) 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 (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

If any of the Notes subject to an Asset Sale Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases.

 

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Promptly after the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer in the aggregate principal amount required by Section 4.10 hereof, and prior to the Settlement Date it shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.04 and Section 4.10 hereof. On the Settlement Date, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or before the Settlement Date.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Except for Section 1003, the provisions of Article Ten of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and in lieu thereof the following provisions of this Article 4 shall apply to the Notes.

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes .

The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Guarantor, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York time on the due date money deposited by the Company or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the 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.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company 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 Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. Further, if at any time there shall be no such office or agency in the City of New York where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, the Company shall forthwith designate and maintain such an office or agency in the City of New York, in order that the Notes shall at all times be payable in the City of New York. The Company 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 Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent and designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 301 of the Original Indenture.

Section 4.03 Reports .

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the Commission for public availability within the time period specified (after giving effect to all applicable grace periods) in the Commission’s rules and regulations under the Exchange Act (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing), and the Company will furnish to the Trustee and, upon its request, to any of the Holders, within ten Business Days of filing the same with the Commission:

(1) all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants and summary data relating to proved reserves required by the Commission’s rules; and

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

The Company’s filing of any such information, document or report with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or EDGAR) system or any successor thereto shall satisfy the reporting obligations described above.

The Company shall at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).

(b) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by Section 4.03(a) shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

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(c) If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will, so long as any of the Notes will, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, upon the written request of a Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of the Notes, promptly furnish such Holder, Beneficial Owner or prospective purchaser the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of the notes pursuant to Rule 144A, as such rule may be amended from time to time. The Company will take such further action as any Holder or Beneficial Owner of such Notes may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such holder or beneficial owner to sell the notes in accordance with Rule 144A.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate .

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with the year ending December 31, 2017), an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments of interest on the Notes are prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Taxes .

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

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .

Each of the Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it 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;

 

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and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it 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 .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party) any Equity Interests or Convertible Securities (in the case of Convertible Securities, only that amount paid in cash in excess of the principal amount thereof and accrued and unpaid interest thereon) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (other than with the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided that such Net Cash Proceeds shall be excluded from clause 3(b) of the next succeeding paragraph);

(3) make any principal payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (other than Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Guarantor or Indebtedness of a Guarantor owing to and held by the Company or any other Guarantor permitted under clause (6) of Section 4.09) prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, except a payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition of any such Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or the Stated Maturity thereof, in each case, due within one year of the date of such payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition; or

(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”),

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

 

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(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after May 11, 2004 (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2004 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus

(b) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company (including the fair market value of any Additional Assets to the extent acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock)) since May 11, 2004 as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), plus

(c) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after May 11, 2004 is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (i) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment, plus

(d) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after May 11, 2004, the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the Company’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation or (ii) such fair market value as of the date on which such Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption of debt that is subordinate to the Notes, within 60 days after the date of declaration of such dividend or the delivery of any irrevocable notice of redemption, as the case may be, if the dividend, distribution or redemption payment on the date of declaration or the date of the notice of redemption, as the case may be, would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or acquisition occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided that the amount of any such Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be excluded from clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph;

(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the Net Cash Proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(4) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(5) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity subscription agreement or plan, stock option agreement or similar agreement or plan; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $4.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years up to a maximum of $8.0 million in any calendar year);

(6) the acquisition of Equity Interests by the Company in connection with the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights or other equity-based awards by way of cashless exercise;

(7) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) at a purchase price not greater than 101.0% of the principal amount thereof ( plus accrued and unpaid interest) in the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event in accordance with provisions similar to Section 4.15 or (b) at a purchase price not greater than 100.0% of the principal amount thereof ( plus accrued and unpaid interest) in accordance with provisions similar to Section 4.10; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, as provided in such covenants with respect to the Notes and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer;

 

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(8) the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Capital Stock in connection with any transaction otherwise permitted under this Section 4.07; and

(9) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount since May 11, 2004 not to exceed $50.0 million;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under the preceding clause (9), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined, in the case of amounts under $50.0 million, in good faith by an officer of the Company and, in the case of amounts of $50.0 million or more, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. The amount of any Restricted Payment paid in cash shall be its face amount. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (excluding any Restricted Payment described in the preceding clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8)) in excess of $50.0 million, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in the preceding clauses (1) through (9), or is entitled to be made pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.07, the Company will be permitted to divide or classify (or later divide, classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07.

Section 4.08 Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to pay dividends or make distributions on Capital Stock), or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

However, the preceding restrictions of this Section 4.08 will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness, Capital Stock and Credit Facilities as in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those contained in the applicable agreements or instruments on the Issue Date as determined in good faith by the Company;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(3) Applicable Law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred, and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided , further , that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of such acquisition as determined in good faith by the Company;

(5) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

(6) Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;

(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions and/or transfers of properties and assets by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

 

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(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced as determined in good faith by the Company;

(9) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements, agreements respecting Permitted Business Investments and other similar agreements entered into (a) in the ordinary course of business or (b) with the Company’s approval by its Board of Directors, which limitation is applicable only to property or Capital Stock that are subject to such agreements;

(11) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers or suppliers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(12) restrictions on the sale, lease or transfer of property or assets arising or agreed to 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 property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(13) Hedging Obligations permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 hereof;

(14) with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary incorporated or organized outside the United States, any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was incurred if either (a) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (b) the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive; and

(15) encumbrances or restrictions contained in agreements governing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or preferred stock, as applicable, of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.09; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, are not materially less favorable to the Company taken as a whole, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, than the provisions contained in the Credit Agreement and in this Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), neither the Company nor any Guarantor will issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Company will not permit any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided , however , that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The first paragraph of this Section 4.09 will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under one or more Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum available amount thereunder) not to exceed an amount equal to the greater of (a) $3.0 billion and (b) 30.0% of ACNTA as of the date of such incurrence;

(2) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the Issue Date and any Exchange Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees thereof;

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the Oil and Gas Business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance or replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed the greater of (a) $100.0 million and (b) 1.0% of ACNTA as of the date of such incurrence at any time outstanding;

 

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(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, or the issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Disqualified Stock or by any Restricted Subsidiary of preferred stock, in each case in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock or preferred stock that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred or issued under the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 or clauses (2) or (3) of this paragraph or this clause (5);

(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that:

(a) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor; and

(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

(7) the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary of shares of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock; provided , however , that:

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, and

(b) any sale or other transfer of any such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary,

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations;

 

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(9) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(11) the incurrence by the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Non-Recourse Debt; provided , however , that if any such Indebtedness ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was not permitted by this clause (11);

(12) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

(13) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary; provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

(14) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is promptly extinguished;

(15) Indebtedness arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(16) Indebtedness owed on a short-term basis to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary with such banks or financial institutions that arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary;

(17) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a transaction meeting either one of the financial tests set forth in clause (4) under Section 5.01 hereof; and

 

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(18) the incurrence or issuance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock in an aggregate principal amount, accreted value or liquidation preference, as applicable, at any time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $250.0 million and (b) 2.5% of ACNTA as of the date of incurrence.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, as applicable, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (18) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company will be permitted to divide and classify (or later divide, classify, reclassify or re-divide in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, as applicable in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09, except that any Indebtedness under Credit Facilities on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the application of the proceeds from the offering of the Initial Notes contemplated by the offering memorandum relating to such offering) shall be considered incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 4.09. In addition, the principal amount of any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Person shall be deemed to be equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock, or with respect to any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, any preferred stock.

The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock and the payment of dividends on preferred stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of preferred stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided , in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

Section 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of;

(2) the fair market value is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors as evidenced by a Board Resolution; and

 

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(3) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received from such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this clause (3) of Section 4.10 only, each of the following will be deemed to be Cash Equivalents:

(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a novation agreement that releases the Company or such Subsidiary from further liability;

(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash within 270 days of the receipt thereof, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

(c) with respect to any Asset Sale of oil and natural gas properties where the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary retains an interest in such property, the aggregate costs and expenses of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary related to the exploration, development, completion or production of such properties and activities related thereto which the transferee (or an Affiliate thereof) agrees to pay; and

(d) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (d) net of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration, not to exceed an amount equal to 5.0% of the Company’s ACNTA (determined at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration), with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value other than as a result of payments received in connection therewith as contemplated by the definition of Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

(I) to prepay, repay, redeem or repurchase any Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor (other than intercompany Indebtedness, Capital Stock or Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees) or any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (other than intercompany Indebtedness);

 

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(II) to acquire all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more other Persons primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, and, for this purpose, a division or line of business of a Person shall be treated as a separate Person;

(III) to acquire a majority of the Voting Stock of one or more other Persons primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business;

(IV) to make one or more capital expenditures; or

(V) to acquire other property or assets that are used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .”

On the 361st day after the Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $50.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders, and all holders of other Pari Passu Indebtedness containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, pursuant to the terms in Section 3.04 hereof and this Section 4.10. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered in such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate accreted value (if issued with original issue discount) or principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that the selection of such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness) (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof will be purchased). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Law to the extent applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 3.04 or this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such compliance.

 

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Section 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, unless:

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person or, if in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million but less than or equal to $50.0 million, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11; and

(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0 million, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.11 and has been approved by the resolution of a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors.

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph of this Section 4.11:

(1) any employment, severance or consulting agreement or other compensation agreement, arrangement or plan or any amendment thereto, any issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other payments, awards or grants in cash, Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment, severance or consulting agreements and other compensation agreements, arrangements and plans, options to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, restricted stock plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits plans, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) transactions between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(3) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns an Equity Interest in such Person, including, without limitation, any transaction with a joint venture or similar entity (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary);

(4) payment of reasonable directors’ fees, consulting fees and other benefits to Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of the Company;

(5) provision of officers’ and directors’ indemnification and insurance in the ordinary course of business to the extent permitted by law;

(6) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to Affiliates of the Company;

(7) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07 hereof;

(8) any transaction in which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, deliver to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.11;

(9) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, Affiliates, customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or lessors or lessees of property, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are, in the aggregate (taking into account all the costs and benefits associated with such transactions) materially no less favorable to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person, in the good faith determination of the Company’s Board of Directors, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party; and

(10) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person.

Section 4.12 Limitation on Liens .

The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is secured on an equal and ratable basis (or on a senior basis to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee,

 

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as the case may be) with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien. For the avoidance of doubt, the creation, incurrence, assumption and existence of Liens (but not the foreclosure thereof) shall be governed by this Section 4.12 and not by Sections 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01.

Section 4.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees .

If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Material Domestic Subsidiary after the Issue Date, or if any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary either (a) becomes a borrower or guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company under the Credit Agreement or (b)(i) guarantees any other Capital Markets Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Existing Senior Notes), or (ii) incurs any Capital Markets Indebtedness, then in each case that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and delivering it to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it was acquired or created or guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, together with any Opinion of Counsel described in Section 903 of the Original Indenture.

Section 4.14 Corporate Existence .

Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms hereof (including as permitted by Section 5.01 hereof), the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall not be required to preserve the existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event.

(1) Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of settlement (the “ Change of Control Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor whether a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and stating:

 

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(a) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

(b) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered (or, in the case of a notice mailed or otherwise delivered in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date of such Change of Control Triggering Event (the “ Change of Control Purchase Date ”);

(c) that the Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice on the Change of Control Purchase Date and that the Company shall pay the Change of Control Payment for all Notes purchased as of the Change of Control Purchase Date promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date;

(d) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

(e) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Settlement Date;

(f) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer on the Change of Control Purchase Date;

(g) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

(h) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder and all Applicable Law to the

 

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extent those laws, regulations and orders are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations or any such other Applicable Law conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.15, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and all such other Applicable Law and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such compliance.

(2) On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral $1,000 multiple in excess thereof) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date the Company shall:

(a) deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

(b) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent shall mail to each Holder properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depositary) and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided , however , that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.

(c) The preceding provisions under this Section 4.15 shall be applicable whether or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

(d) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price determined as provided in Section 3.02. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer by the Company or a third party may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, and conditioned upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control Triggering Event at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

 

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(3) In the event that Holders of Notes of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company purchases all of the Notes held by such holders, the Company will have the right to, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a purchase price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus , to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, if any, to the Change of Control Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Any such redemption shall be effected in accordance with Article Eleven of the Original Indenture, as modified by Section 3.01 hereof.

Section 4.16 [Intentionally Omitted.]

Section 4.17 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary (including any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof or represent Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation shall only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence immediately following such designation.

Section 4.18 Covenant Termination.

If at any time (a) the rating assigned to the Notes by both S&P and Moody’s is an Investment Grade Rating and (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Default under one or more of the provisions listed below; provided that such Default did not exist immediately prior to the transaction or series of

 

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related transactions resulting in the applicable change in ratings), then upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the following provisions of this Indenture: Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 or 4.11 or clause (d) of Section 5.01. The Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will remain subject to all other provisions of this Indenture, including, without limitation, Sections 4.03, 4.12, 4.13, 4.17 and 5.01 other than clause (d) thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, upon covenant termination as set forth in this Section 4.18, the Company will continue to be able to incur secured Indebtedness as set forth under Section 4.12.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

The provisions of Article Eight of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and in lieu thereof the following provisions of this Article 5 shall apply to the Notes.

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets .

The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving entity), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(a) either (1) the Company is the surviving Person; or (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided that if the Company or such other Person is not a corporation, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia shall assume by supplemental indenture all obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture as a co-issuer of the Notes;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes by a supplemental indenture in a form satisfactory to the Trustee all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and assumes by written agreement all obligations of the Company under the Registration Rights Agreement;

(c) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

(d) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, on the date of such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either (a) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant

 

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to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof or (b) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that is equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition;

(e) each Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 10.03 shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such successor Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture;

provided, however , that (i) this Section 5.01 shall not apply to any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) clauses (c) and (d) hereof shall not apply to any merger or consolidation of the Company (a) with or into one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose or (b) with or into an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporation (or the substantial equivalent) of the Company in another jurisdiction.

Section 5.02 Successor Entity Substituted .

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company herein and shall be substituted for the Company (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor entity and not to the Company); and thereafter, if the Company is dissolved following a transfer of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole in accordance with this Indenture, the Company shall be discharged and released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor Person and such discharge and release of the Company.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default .

In accordance with Section 301(18) of the Original Indenture, Section 501 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows with respect to the Notes:

 

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“An ‘ Event of Default ’ occurs if one of the following shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be involuntary or be effected by operation of law):

(1) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest with respect to the Notes, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(2) the Company defaults in the payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes, whether upon Stated Maturity, redemption or otherwise;

(3) the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Sections 4.10 or 4.15 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(4) the Company fails to comply for 30 days after notice by the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes with Sections 4.07 and 4.09 or, except in the case of a failure to purchase Notes when required described above in clause (3), Sections 4.10 or 4.15;

(5) the Company or any Guarantor fails to comply with any other covenant or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 60 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

(6) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if such default:

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “ Payment Default ”); or

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $100.0 million or more; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration is rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 20 days from the continuation of such default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default under this Indenture and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded unless such rescission would conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction;

 

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(7) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed (including a stay pending appeal) for a period of 60 days after the date of such final judgment (or, if later, the date when payment is due pursuant to such judgment);

(8) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture); and

(9) the Company, any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(a) commences a voluntary case,

(b) consents in writing to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

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

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

(e) admits in writing it generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

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

(a) is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(c) orders the liquidation of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

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and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.”

Section 6.02 Acceleration .

As permitted by Section 301(18) of the Original Indenture, the first paragraph of Section 502 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows with respect to the Notes:

“If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, thereon. Notwithstanding the preceding, if an Event of Default specified in clause (9) or (10) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable without further action or notice, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, thereon.

An Event of Default for the Notes shall not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities that may be issued under this Indenture in the future and vice versa.”

Section 6.03 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension of Laws.

Section 515 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes inasmuch as it is duplicative of Section 4.06 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE; REPORTS

Section 7.01 Notice of Defaults .

With respect to the Notes only, the proviso in the first sentence of Section 602 of the Original Indenture shall be deemed inapplicable. With respect to the Notes only, Section 602 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to include the following:

The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Notes) if it determines in good faith that withholding notice is in their interest. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

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Section 7.02 Compensation and Reimbursement.

With respect to the Notes only, Section 607 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to include the following:

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Notes.

In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(9) or 6.01(10) hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

Trustee ” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Notes, the termination for any reason of this Indenture, and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 7.03 Reports by Company and Subsidiary Guarantors.

Section 704 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes inasmuch as its requirements are duplicative of those set forth in Section 4.03(a) of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

The provisions of Article Fifteen of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and in lieu thereof the following provisions of this Article 8 shall apply to the Notes.

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Company may, at its option and at any time, exercise its rights under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee, on the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the

 

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outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged its Subsidiary Guarantee (which in each case shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Sections of the Original Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below) and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 of the Original Indenture and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Article 4 hereof (other than those in Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.06 and 4.14 hereof) and in clause (d) of Section 5.01 hereof on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ 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 Company and any Guarantor 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 with respect to the Notes under Section 501 of the Original Indenture (as amended by Section 6.01 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture), but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(5) through 6.01(7) of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall not constitute Events of Default with respect to the Notes.

 

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If the Company exercises its Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(i) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to the Stated Maturity or to a particular Redemption Date;

(ii) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

(1) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(2) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(iii) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(iv) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowing);

 

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(v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

(vii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 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 the Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company 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, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or 8.08 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 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 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 8.04(i) 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, as the case may be.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Company .

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a secured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,

 

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and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided , however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

Section 8.08 Discharge.

This Indenture shall be satisfied and discharged (a “ Discharge ”) and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, upon the terms and conditions, and subject to the exceptions, set forth in Article Four of the Original Indenture, excluding the terms and conditions set forth in clause (4) of Section 401 under the Original Indenture.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

Section 901 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows with respect to the Notes:

“Notwithstanding Section 902 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(ii) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(iii) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of Notes pursuant to Article 5 or Section 10.03 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

 

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(iv) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

(v) to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees;

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

(vii) to add any additional Guarantor with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with Article 10 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

(viii) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(ix) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee;

(x) to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes or private exchange notes (which shall be identical to Exchange Notes except that they will not be freely transferable) and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding notes, as a single class of securities;

(xi) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of notes” in the offering memorandum relating to the offering of the Initial Notes; and

(xii) 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 the Notes, the Exchange Notes or, if incurred in compliance with this Indenture, Additional Notes; provided , however , that (A) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (B) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.

Upon the request of the Company 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 Opinion of Counsel described in Section 9.03 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such 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.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.01 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

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Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes .

Section 902 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows with respect to the Notes:

“Except as provided above in Section 901 and below in this Section 902, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Sections 508 and 513 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for Notes).

Upon the request of the Company 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 Opinion of Counsel described in Section 903 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under 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 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company 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. Subject to Sections 508 and 513 hereof and to the last paragraph of this Section 902, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note or reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note pursuant to Section 3.02, change the time at which any Note may be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.02 or make any change relative to the Company’s obligation to purchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event or an Asset Sale after (but not before) the occurrence of the applicable Change of Control Triggering Event or Asset Sale;

 

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(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(d) waive a Default or Event of 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 principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Notes (except as permitted in clause (g) below);

(g) waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 3.04, 4.10 and 4.15 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture);

(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(i) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.”

Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents .

A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder given in connection with a purchase, tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes shall not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

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 Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date except to the extent that the requisite number of consents to the amendment, supplement or waiver have been obtained within such 90-day period or as set forth in the next paragraph of this Section 9.03.

 

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After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (i) of Section 902 of this Indenture, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES OF NOTES

The Notes shall have the benefit of Subsidiary Guarantees. The provisions of Article Thirteen of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and in lieu thereof the following provisions of this Article 10 shall apply to the Notes.

Section 10.01 Subsidiary Guarantees .

Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, 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 Fifth Supplemental Indenture or this Indenture, the Notes held thereby and the Obligations of the Company hereunder and thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full and 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, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default with respect to the Notes under this Indenture shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Company.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Fifth Supplemental Indenture 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 Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives

 

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diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to, and hereby waives, any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any 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, (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Five of the Original Indenture for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article Five of the Original Indenture, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantees.

Section 10.02 Notation of Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Subsidiary Guarantees shall be evidenced by the execution and delivery of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or a supplement to this Indenture and no notation of any Subsidiary Guarantee need be endorsed on any Note, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Original Indenture.

Section 10.03 Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms .

(a) A Guarantor shall not consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Guarantor is the surviving entity), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to another Person (other than the Company or another Guarantor), unless, (i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists, and (ii) either (1) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) unconditionally assumes by a supplemental indenture in a form satisfactory to the Trustee all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Notes, this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee on terms set forth therein and shall have by written agreement confirmed that its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement shall continue to be in effect, or (2) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof.

 

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(b) In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture described in clause (a) of this Section 10.03, executed and delivered to the Trustee, of the Subsidiary Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

Section 10.04 Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released:

(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with Section 4.10 hereof; provided that (i) all Subsidiary Guarantees and other obligations of such Guarantor in respect of all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries terminate upon consummation of such transaction and (ii) any Investment of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Subsidiary of such Guarantor) in such Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Guarantor in the form of an Obligation or preferred stock is repaid, satisfied, released and discharged in full upon such release; or

(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with Section 4.10 hereof; provided that (i) all Subsidiary Guarantees and other obligations of such Guarantor in respect of all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries terminate upon consummation of such transaction and (ii) any Investment of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Subsidiary of such Guarantor) in such Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Guarantor in the form of an Obligation or preferred stock is repaid, satisfied, released and discharged in full upon such release; or

(3) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary which after the Issue Date is required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.13 upon the release or discharge in full from its obligations as a borrower or guarantor (as the case may be) under the Credit Agreement and any Capital Markets Indebtedness which resulted, or would result, in such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligation to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.13 (including by reason of the termination of the Credit Agreement or such Capital Markets Indebtedness but excluding, if such Restricted Subsidiary was a guarantor under the Credit Agreement or such other Capital Markets Indebtedness, a release or discharge as a result of repayment under its guarantee thereof); so long as such Restricted Subsidiary does not thereafter become a borrower or guarantor under the Credit Agreement or incur or guarantee Capital Markets Indebtedness which would result in such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligation to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.13 without also guaranteeing the Notes; or

 

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(4) if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; or

(5) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or Discharge in accordance with Article 8 hereof.

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that any of the foregoing clauses (1) – (5) has occurred, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

Section 10.05 Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Section 10.06 Trustee to Include Paying Agent .

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article 10 shall in each case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article 10 in place of the Trustee.

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01 Fifth Supplemental Indenture Controls .

To the extent that there is any conflict or inconsistency between the Original Indenture and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall control.

Section 11.02 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

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Section 11.03 Governing Law ; Waiver of Jury Trial; Submission to Jurisdiction.

THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND EACH HOLDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE ANY OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS INDENTURE OR WITH REGARD TO THE NOTES (BUT THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE WILL NOT BE PREVENTED FROM REMOVING ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING FROM A STATE COURT TO THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK).

Section 11.04 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable, nor shall the Company be responsible or liable to the Trustee, 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, and nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God; it being understood that the Trustee or the Company, as the case may be, shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances; provided that the foregoing limitations shall not apply to any obligations of Company or the Guarantors under the Notes.

Section 11.05 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 11.06 Table of Contents and Headings .

The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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Section 11.07 Counterparts.

This Fifth Supplemental Indenture may be signed in counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 11.08 Tax Withholding.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Original Indenture or this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to make a deduction or withholding from any payment which it makes under this Fifth Supplemental Indenture for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or charges if and to the extent so required by any applicable law and any current or future regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof or any law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto or by virtue of the relevant holder failing to satisfy any certification or other requirements in respect of the Notes, in which event the Trustee shall make such payment after such withholding or deduction has been made and shall account to the relevant authorities for the amount so withheld or deducted and shall have no obligation to gross up any payment hereunder or pay any additional amount as a result of such withholding tax.

Section 11.09 Certain Right of Trustee.

Section 603(5) of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows with respect to the Notes:

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

Section 11.10 Conflicting Interests.

Section 608 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows with respect to the Notes:

“If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.”

 

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Section 11.11 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of the Notes .

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

[Signatures on following page]

 

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SIGNATURES

 

COMPANY:

 

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Michael J. Stevens

  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

GUARANTORS:

 

WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Michael J. Stevens

  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WHITING US HOLDING COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Michael J. Stevens

  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WHITING CANADIAN HOLDING COMPANY ULC
By:  

/s/ Michael J. Stevens

  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WHITING RESOURCES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Michael J. Stevens

  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture]


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Richard Tarnas

  Name:   Richard Tarnas
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture]


RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

ARTICLE 1

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES AND ADDITIONAL NOTES

Section 1.01 Definitions

(a) Definitions . For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

Depositary ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Notes ” means the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, treated as a single class.

Purchase Agreement ” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2017 among the Company, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers named therein, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes.

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

Registration Rights Agreement ” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated the Issue Date and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means the shelf registration statement issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

Transfer Restricted Securities ” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.03(b) hereof.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in Section  

“Agent Members”

     2.01 (b) 

“Distribution Compliance Period”

     2.01 (b) 

“Global Notes”

     2.01 (a) 

“Regulation S”

     2.01 (a) 

“Regulation S Notes”

     2.01 (a) 

“Restricted Global Note”

     2.01 (a) 

“Rule 144A”

     2.01 (a) 

“Rule 144A Notes”

     2.01 (a) 

 

App-1


ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01

(a) Form and Dating . Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“ Rule 144A Notes ”) under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”) or in reliance on Regulation S (“ Regulation S Notes ”) under the Securities Act (“ Regulation S ”), in each case as provided in a Purchase Agreement, shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global Notes legend and restricted Notes legend set forth in Annex A to this Fifth Supplemental Indenture (each, a “ Restricted Global Note ”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Initial Notes sold in reliance on either Rule 144A or Regulation S may be held through Euroclear or Clearstream, as indirect participants in the Depositary. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Additional Notes or other Notes, in each case that are not Transfer Restricted Securities, shall be issued in global form (with the global Notes legend set forth in Annex A) or in certificated form as provided in this Indenture. Notes issued in global form and Restricted Global Notes are sometimes referred to in this Appendix as “ Global Notes .” The Global Notes are “Global Securities” within the meaning of this Indenture, and shall be subject to the further provisions of this Indenture with respect thereto.

(b) Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 2.01(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary. The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.01(b) and this Indenture, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary. If such Global Notes are Restricted Global Notes, then separate Global Notes shall be issued to represent Rule 144A Notes and Regulation S Notes so long as required by law or the Depositary.

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

 

App-2


Until the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of any Initial Notes and the original issue date of such Initial Notes (such period, the “ Distribution Compliance Period ”), a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the form of Note in Annex A) to the effect that such transfer is being made to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes is purchasing for its own account or accounts as to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that such Person is a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction. After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes.

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

(c) Certificated Notes . Except as provided in this Indenture, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes. Certificated Notes shall not be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Notes.

Section 2.02 Authentication . The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes as provided in this Indenture.

Section 2.03 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes .

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

 

App-3


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

(3) In the event that a Restricted Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form pursuant to this Indenture, prior to the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.03 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(b) Restricted Notes Legend .

(1) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (2) and (3), each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY 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, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY),] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S], ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION

 

App-4


STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT (A) EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF (I) AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), (II)A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (III)AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN,

 

App-5


ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (I) OR (II) (EACH OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (I), (II) AND (III), COLLECTIVELY, REFERRED TO AS A “PLAN”), OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS, AND (B) IF THE HOLDER IS USING ASSETS OF ANY PLAN SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (AN “ERISA PLAN”) TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, SUCH ERISA PLAN WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT (I) NONE OF ISSUER, THE INITIAL PURCHASERS OR THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEVANT PARTIES”) HAS ACTED AS THE ERISA PLAN’S FIDUCIARY, OR HAS BEEN RELIED UPON FOR ANY ADVICE, WITH RESPECT TO THE ERISA PLAN’S DECISION TO ACQUIRE, HOLD, SELL, EXCHANGE, VOTE OR PROVIDE ANY CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECURITY AND ANY INTEREST HEREIN AND NONE OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES SHALL AT ANY TIME BE RELIED UPON AS THE ERISA PLAN’S FIDUCIARY WITH RESPECT TO THE ERISA PLAN’S DECISION TO ACQUIRE, HOLD, SELL, EXCHANGE, VOTE OR PROVIDE ANY CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN AND (II) THE DECISION TO INVEST IN THIS SECURITY AND ANY INTEREST HEREIN HAS BEEN MADE AT THE RECOMMENDATION OR DIRECTION OF AN “INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY” (“INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF U.S. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS 29 C.F.R. SECTION 2510.3-21(C), AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “FIDUCIARY RULE”), WHO (A) IS INDEPENDENT OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES; (B) IS CAPABLE OF EVALUATING INVESTMENT RISKS INDEPENDENTLY, BOTH IN GENERAL AND WITH RESPECT TO PARTICULAR TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES (WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE FIDUCIARY RULE); (C) IS A FIDUCIARY (UNDER ERISA AND/OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE) WITH RESPECT TO THE ERISA PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXERCISING INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT IN EVALUATING THE INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY; (D) IS EITHER (1) A BANK AS DEFINED IN SECTION 202 OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE “ADVISERS ACT”), OR SIMILAR INSTITUTION THAT IS REGULATED AND SUPERVISED AND SUBJECT TO PERIODIC EXAMINATION BY A STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES; (2) AN INSURANCE CARRIER WHICH IS QUALIFIED UNDER THE LAWS OF MORE THAN ONE STATE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PERFORM THE SERVICES OF MANAGING, ACQUIRING OR DISPOSING OF ASSETS OF SUCH AN ERISA PLAN; (3) AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REGISTERED UNDER THE

 

App-6


ADVISERS ACT OR, IF NOT REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER UNDER THE ADVISERS ACT BY REASON OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF SECTION 203A OF THE ADVISERS ACT, IS REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE (REFERRED TO IN SUCH PARAGRAPH (1)) IN WHICH IT MAINTAINS ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND PLACE OF BUSINESS; (4) A BROKER DEALER REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED; AND/OR (5) AN INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY THAT HOLDS OR HAS UNDER MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL TOTAL ASSETS OF AT LEAST $50 MILLION; AND (E) IS AWARE OF AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NONE OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES IS UNDERTAKING TO PROVIDE IMPARTIAL INVESTMENT ADVICE, OR TO GIVE ADVICE IN A FIDUCIARY CAPACITY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE ERISA PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY, AND (II) THE RELEVANT PARTIES HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE ERISA PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY ON ACCOUNT OF THE FEES AND OTHER REMUNERATION THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, ANY ERISA PLAN WHICH IS AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT THAT IS NOT REPRESENTED BY AN INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE REPRESENTATION IN CLAUSE (II)(D) ABOVE.

(2) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Restricted Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

(3) After a transfer of any Initial Note pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Note, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Note will cease to apply, any requirement that any such Initial Note issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Note or an Initial Note in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Note upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Note or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Note, as applicable.

 

App-7


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[     Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AS REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERENCED. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.] 1

[THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY 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, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY),] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S], ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE

 

1  

If this Note is a Global Security, add this provision.

 

A-1


FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,(E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F)TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]] 2

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

 

1   If this Note is a Global Security, add this provision.
2  

Include for Restricted Global Notes.

 

A-2


UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS, AND (B) IF THE HOLDER IS USING ASSETS OF ANY PLAN SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (AN “ERISA PLAN”) TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, SUCH ERISA PLAN WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT (I) NONE OF ISSUER, THE INITIAL PURCHASERS OR THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEVANT PARTIES”) HAS ACTED AS THE ERISA PLAN’S FIDUCIARY, OR HAS BEEN RELIED UPON FOR ANY ADVICE, WITH RESPECT TO THE ERISA PLAN’S DECISION TO ACQUIRE, HOLD, SELL, EXCHANGE, VOTE OR PROVIDE ANY CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECURITY AND ANY INTEREST HEREIN AND NONE OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES SHALL AT ANY TIME BE RELIED UPON AS THE ERISA PLAN’S FIDUCIARY WITH RESPECT TO THE ERISA PLAN’S DECISION TO ACQUIRE, HOLD, SELL, EXCHANGE, VOTE OR PROVIDE ANY CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN AND (II) THE DECISION TO INVEST IN THIS SECURITY AND ANY INTEREST HEREIN HAS BEEN MADE AT THE RECOMMENDATION OR DIRECTION OF AN “INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY” (“INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF U.S. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS 29 C.F.R. SECTION 2510.3-21(C), AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “FIDUCIARY RULE”), WHO (A) IS INDEPENDENT OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES; (B) IS CAPABLE OF EVALUATING INVESTMENT RISKS INDEPENDENTLY, BOTH IN GENERAL AND WITH RESPECT TO PARTICULAR TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES (WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE FIDUCIARY RULE); (C) IS A FIDUCIARY (UNDER ERISA AND/OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE) WITH RESPECT TO THE ERISA PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXERCISING INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT IN EVALUATING THE INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY; (D) IS EITHER (1) A BANK AS DEFINED IN SECTION 202 OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE “ADVISERS ACT”), OR SIMILAR INSTITUTION THAT IS REGULATED AND SUPERVISED AND SUBJECT TO PERIODIC EXAMINATION BY A STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES; (2) AN INSURANCE CARRIER WHICH IS QUALIFIED UNDER THE LAWS OF MORE THAN ONE STATE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PERFORM THE SERVICES OF MANAGING, ACQUIRING OR DISPOSING OF ASSETS OF SUCH AN ERISA PLAN; (3) AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REGISTERED UNDER THE ADVISERS ACT OR, IF NOT REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER UNDER THE ADVISERS ACT BY REASON OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF SECTION 203A OF THE ADVISERS ACT, IS REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE (REFERRED TO IN SUCH PARAGRAPH (1)) IN WHICH IT MAINTAINS ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND PLACE OF BUSINESS; (4) A BROKER DEALER REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED; AND/OR (5) AN INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY THAT HOLDS OR HAS UNDER MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL TOTAL ASSETS OF AT LEAST $50 MILLION; AND (E) IS AWARE OF AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NONE OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES IS UNDERTAKING TO PROVIDE IMPARTIAL INVESTMENT ADVICE, OR TO GIVE ADVICE IN A FIDUCIARY CAPACITY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE ERISA PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY, AND (II) THE

 

A-3


RELEVANT PARTIES HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE ERISA PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY ON ACCOUNT OF THE FEES AND OTHER REMUNERATION THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, ANY ERISA PLAN WHICH IS AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT THAT IS NOT REPRESENTED BY AN INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE REPRESENTATION IN CLAUSE (II)(D) ABOVE.

 

A-4


WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

 

No. __      $  
     CUSIP No. ________  
     ISIN No. ________  

6.625% Senior Note due 2026

Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      Dollars on January 15, 2026 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto]. 1

Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15.

Record Dates: January 1 and July 1.

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

 

ATTEST:      WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:                                                                            By:                                                                  
Name:      Name:
Title:      Title:

 

A-5


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the

series designated therein referred to in the

within-mentioned Indenture.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A., As Trustee
By  

 

 

Authorized Officer

Dated:

 

A-6


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

6.625% Senior Note due 2026

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest . Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 6.625% per annum from [                    ][December 27, 2017] 3 until maturity [and shall pay any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. References herein to “interest” include such Additional Interest to the extent applicable] 4 . The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing [                    ][July 15, 2018] 5 , or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from [                    ][December 27, 2017] 6 ; provided that if there is no existing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date, except in the case of the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is the rate then in effect; 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 periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment . The Company will pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 1 or July 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 307 of the Indenture with respect to Defaulted Interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest due at maturity. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Security Register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to any amounts due on all Global Securities and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3   Include for Initial Notes.
4   Include for Initial Notes and Additional Notes as applicable.
5   Include for Initial Notes.
6  

Include for Initial Notes.

 

A-7


3. Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Security Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. Indenture . This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of the series of Securities of the Company designated as its 6.625 % Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), issued under a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 12, 2013 (“Original Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, as supplemented and amended by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture (herein so called), dated as of December 27, 2017 (the Original Indenture, as so supplemented and amended, being called herein the “Indenture”). Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company limited to $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount in the case of Notes issued on the Issue Date. The Company may, subject to Sections 2.05 and 4.09 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, issue Additional Notes under the Indenture after the Issue Date in either a limited or an unlimited aggregate principal amount. Any Additional Notes so issued and the Initial Notes shall be treated as a single class under the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption .

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5 or in Section 4.15 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to October 15, 2025.

(b) At any time prior to October 15, 2025, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record as of the close of business on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time on or after October 15, 2025, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record as of the close of business on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

6. Mandatory Redemption .

Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

 

A-8


7. Repurchase at Option of Holder .

(a) Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor whether a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by Section 4.15 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

(b) On the 361st day after an Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $50.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, to all Holders, and all holders of other Pari Passu Indebtedness containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof and other Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered by holders or lenders in such Asset Sale Offer, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate accreted value (if issued with original issue discount) or principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that the selection of such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness) (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be purchased). Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

8. Notice of Redemption . Notice of redemption will be mailed (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) at least 30 days but not more than 60 days (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture if the notice is issued in connection with a Covenant Defeasance, Legal Defeasance or Discharge) before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in

 

A-9


denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. Notices of redemption may, in the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Company or the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and may require a Holder to pay any taxes due on transfer or exchange. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before the day of the sending of a notice of redemption of Notes selected for redemption.

10. Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . The Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended pursuant to Article 9 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

12. Defaults and Remedies . The Events of Default are set forth in Article 6 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

13. Defeasance and Discharge . The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

14. No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.

15. Authentication . This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

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

17. CUSIP Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-10


18. Governing Law . THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

19. Successor Entity . In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company will be released from all such obligations.

[20. Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities . In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 27, 2017, among the Company, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers named therein (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).] 7

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

Whiting Petroleum Corporation

1700 Broadway, Suite 2300

Denver, Colorado 80290-2300

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

7   Include in Initial Notes and Additional Notes as applicable.

 

A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

Date:                                                        Your Signature:                                                                                               

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

[In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of six months after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes (or the date of any subsequent reopening of the Notes) and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (or, in the case of Regulation S Notes, prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

1.       ☐       to the Company; or
2.     pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
3.     to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act of 1933”)) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
4.     outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
5.     pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

A-12


Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

Signature

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

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

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                
   Notice: To be executed by an executive officer] 8

 

8   Include for Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

A-13


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, check the box below:

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of equal to $2,000 or any integral $1,000 multiple in excess thereof) you elected to have purchased: $____________

 

Date:                                                         

Your

Signature:

  

 

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

 

Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.:  

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 

 
 

(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

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

 

A-14


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITY]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

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

 

Date

  

Amount of

decrease in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Security

  

Amount of

increase in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Security

  

Principal

Amount of this

Global Security

following such

decrease or

increase

  

Signature of

authorized

officer

of Trustee

 

A-15


EXHIBIT B

 

 

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

and

the Guarantors named herein

 

 

6.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

 

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

AND AMENDMENT — SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

DATED AS OF ____________ __, ____

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

B-1


This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of                              ,      is among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each of the parties identified under the caption “Guarantors” on the signature page hereto (the “Guarantors”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company, the initial Guarantors and the Trustee entered into a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 12, 2013 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture (herein so called) thereto, dated as of December 27, 2017 (the Original Indenture as so supplemented and amended being called herein the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company has issued [$1,000,000,000] 9 in principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”); and

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(vii) of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture provides that the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to add Guarantors with respect to the Notes, without the consent of the Holders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Company, of the Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Company, Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders as follows:

ARTICLE 1

Section 1.01. This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 1.02. This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

ARTICLE 2

From this date, by executing this Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantors whose signatures appear below shall be Guarantors with respect to the Notes on terms contemplated by and subject to the provisions of Article 10 of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

9  

Amount to be raised in the event of the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

B-2


ARTICLE 3

Section 3.01. Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

Section 3.02. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto.

Section 3.03. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 3.04. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

[NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]

 

B-3


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

 

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By  

 

Name:   [     ]
Title:   [     ]
ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR:
[NAME]  
By  

 

Name:   [     ]
Title:   [     ]
TRUSTEE:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By  

 

Name:   [     ]
Title:   [     ]

 

B-4

Exhibit 10.1

E XECUTION V ERSION

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated December 27, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into by and among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ WOGC ”), Whiting US Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“ Whiting US ”), Whiting Canadian Holding Company ULC, a British Columbia unlimited liability company (“ Whiting Canadian ”), Whiting Resources Corporation, a Colorado corporation (together with WOGC, Whiting US and Whiting Canadian, the “ Initial Guarantors ”), and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“ J.P. Morgan ”), for itself and as representative of the several initial purchasers listed in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”). The Company and the Guarantors are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Whiting Parties.

The Whiting Parties and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2017 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Securities ”), which will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of the Guarantors. As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Whiting Parties have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Additional Guarantor ” shall mean any subsidiary of the Company that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.

Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.

DTC ” shall mean the Depository Trust Company.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Exchange Dates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.

Exchange Offer ” shall mean the exchange offer by the Whiting Parties of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.


Exchange Offer Registration ” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Exchange Securities ” shall mean the senior unsecured notes issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Free Writing Prospectus ” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.

Guarantors ” shall mean the Initial Guarantors and any Additional Guarantors and their respective successors.

Holders ” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 of this Agreement, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.

Indemnified Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indemnifying Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indenture ” shall mean the Senior Indenture, dated as of September 13, 2013, among the Company, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended and supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of December 27, 2017, among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Initial Guarantors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Initial Purchasers ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Inspector ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiii) hereof.

Issue Date ” shall mean December 27, 2017.

 

2


Issuer Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

J.P. Morgan ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Majority Holders ” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and provided, further, that if the Company shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.

Notice and Questionnaire ” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Company upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.

Participating Broker-Dealers ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Person ” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recital.

Registrable Securities ” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the earliest of (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has been declared effective by the SEC and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) if an Exchange Offer is completed, on or after the Exchange Date with respect to the Holders that are eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer but fail to tender such Securities in the Exchange Offer, or (iii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding.

Registration Expenses ” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Whiting Parties with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and

 

3


disbursements of one counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons approved by the Company in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, including the Trust Indenture Act, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Whiting Parties and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Whiting Parties, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial Purchasers and any Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement filed under the Securities Act of the Whiting Parties that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

SEC ” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recital.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Shelf Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration ” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Whiting Parties that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Shelf Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

4


Subsidiary Guarantee ” shall mean the guarantee of the Securities and guarantees of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors under the Indenture.

Staff ” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

Target Registration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.

Trust Indenture Act ” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.

Trustee ” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

Underwriter ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.

Underwritten Offering ” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

WOGC ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Whiting Canadian ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Whiting Parties ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Whiting US ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

2. Registration Under the Securities Act . (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Whiting Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to (i) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities, (ii) cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement be declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 365 th day following the Issue Date and (iii) have such Registration Statement remain effective until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers or (2) such time as no Participating Broker-Dealer that receives Exchange Securities in exchange for Securities in the Exchange Offer holds any such Exchange Securities. The Whiting Parties shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date.

The Whiting Parties shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

 

  (i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

 

5


  (ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed (or longer if required by applicable law)) (the “ Exchange Dates ”);

 

  (iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;

 

  (iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (x) in the case of a Holder electing to exchange a Registrable Security in global form, to comply with the applicable procedures of DTC for book-entry tenders, and, (y) in the case of a Holder electing to exchange a Registrable Security in certificated form, to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

 

  (v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (x) in the case of a Holder withdrawing its election to exchange a Registrable Security in global form, complying with the applicable procedures of DTC for withdrawal of tenders, and, (y) in the case of a Holder withdrawing its election to exchange a Registrable Security in certificated form, sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Registrable Securities exchanged.

As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Whiting Parties that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of any of the Whiting Parties and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Whiting Parties shall:

 

  (i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

 

  (ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder.

 

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The Whiting Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. Subject to the Section 3(a)(xix), the Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.

(b) In the event that (i) the Whiting Parties determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or the Exchange Offer may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed on or prior to the 365 th day following the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser shall make a written request representing that such Initial Purchaser holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer (a “ Shelf Request ”) (which Shelf Request must be made to the Whiting Parties on or before the 385 th day following the date of this Agreement), the Whiting Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC; provided that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(a)(xvii).

In the event that the Whiting Parties are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Whiting Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.

The Whiting Parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for one year or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (the “ Shelf Effectiveness Period ”). The Whiting Parties further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Whiting Parties for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause

 

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any such amendment to be declared effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Whiting Parties agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

(c) The Whiting Parties shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC.

In the event that (i) either the Exchange Offer is not completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or 2(b)(ii) hereof, is not declared effective on or prior to the 365 th day following the Issue Date (the “ Target Registration Date ”), or (ii) the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), and the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby is not declared effective by the SEC by the later of (x) the 365 th day following the Issue Date or (y) 90 days after the delivery of such Shelf Request (such later date, the “ Shelf Additional Interest Date ”), then the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (A) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the Target Registration Date or the Shelf Additional Interest Date, as applicable, and (B) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period that liquidated damages continue to accrue, in each case until the Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is declared effective by the SEC, as applicable, or the Securities no longer qualify as Registrable Securities, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum of additional interest.

If the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has been declared effective by the SEC and thereafter either ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 45 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period, then the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum commencing on the 45th day in such 12-month period and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period (whether or not consecutive) and ending on such date that the Shelf Registration Statement has again been declared effective by the SEC or the Prospectus again becomes usable, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum of additional interest.

(e) Any additional interest paid in accordance with this Section 2 shall be liquidated damages and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy available to Holders due to a failure by the Whiting Parties to comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.

 

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3. Registration Procedures . (a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Whiting Parties shall as expeditiously as possible:

(i) (A) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Whiting Parties, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement reasonable best efforts, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, commercially reasonable efforts, to cause such applicable Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof; (B) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;

(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;

(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(a)(xviii) hereof, the Whiting Parties consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

(iv) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, use their reasonable best efforts, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, use their commercially reasonable efforts, to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such

 

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jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided that none of the Whiting Parties shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

(v) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities and counsel for such Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed and when any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Whiting Parties of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of any of the Whiting Parties contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if any of the Whiting Parties receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by any of the Whiting Parties that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;

(vi) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, use their reasonable best efforts, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, use their commercially reasonable efforts, to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest practicable moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;

 

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(vii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); provided, however, that any such document available on the SEC’s EDGAR database shall satisfy such obligation;

(viii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities in certificated form to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Holders may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities in certificated form;

(ix) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(v)(5) hereof, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, use their reasonable best efforts, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, use their commercially reasonable efforts, to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Whiting Parties shall notify the Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Whiting Parties have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;

(x) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Whiting Parties as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Whiting Parties shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel) shall reasonably object;

 

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(xi) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;

(xii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

(xiii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative (an “ Inspector ”) of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority of the Holders of Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Whiting Parties and their subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Whiting Parties to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, in each case as is customary for “due diligence” examinations in the context of underwritten offerings; provided , that the foregoing inspection on behalf of the Holders shall be conducted by one counsel designated by the Majority Holders, and provided, further, that each such party shall maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other Person (other than disclosures to such Person’s affiliates and its and their respective employees who need to know such information in connection with permitted uses thereof) any information or records reasonably designated by the Company as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information is or has become available to the public (either through its inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality owed by such Person to the Whiting Parties or otherwise except as a result of a breach of this or any other obligation of confidentiality to the Whiting Parties known to such party), or (B) such Person shall be required so to disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such order, and only after such Person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement), (C) disclosure is required in connection with any suit, action or proceeding for the purpose of defending itself, reducing its liability or protecting or exercising any of its rights, remedies or interests, or (D) such information is required to be set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

 

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(xiv) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Whiting Parties have received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;

(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other commercially reasonable actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Whiting Parties and their subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Whiting Parties (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder (to the extent such Holder has advised the Company that such Holder may have a “due diligence” defense under Section 11 of the Securities Act) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accounting firm of the Whiting Parties (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Whiting Parties, or of any business acquired by the Whiting Parties for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Whiting Parties made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement;

(xvi) so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or acquisition by the Company of such Additional Guarantor, to execute a joinder agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such joinder agreement, together with an opinion of counsel as to the enforceability thereof against such entity, to the Initial Purchasers no later than five Business Days following the execution thereof;

 

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(xvii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Whiting Parties may from time to time reasonably request in writing;

(xviii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities covered in such Shelf Registration Statement agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Whiting Parties of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(v)(3) or Section 3(a)(v)(5) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(ix) hereof and, if so directed by the Whiting Parties, such Holder will deliver to the Whiting Parties all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice;

(xix) if the Whiting Parties shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Whiting Parties shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Whiting Parties may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period; and

(xx) the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “ Underwriter ”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided that, such selections shall be subject to the approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer . (a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

The Whiting Parties understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by

 

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Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.

(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Whiting Parties agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(xix) of this Agreement), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Whiting Parties further agree that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.

(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to any of the Whiting Parties or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.

5. Indemnification and Contribution . (a) Each of the Whiting Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act), directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus used in violation of this Agreement or any “issuer information” (“ Issuer Information ”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through J.P. Morgan or any selling Holder, respectively, expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Whiting Parties, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.

 

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(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Whiting Parties, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Whiting Parties, each officer of the Whiting Parties who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Whiting Parties, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Whiting Parties in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.

(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “ Indemnified Person ”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Person ”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 5 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 5. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, agents, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against

 

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any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request, (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Whiting Parties from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Whiting Parties on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Whiting Parties on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Whiting Parties or by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) The Whiting Parties and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any

 

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damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Whiting Parties or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling any of the Whiting Parties, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

6. General .

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Whiting Parties represent, warrant and agree that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by any of the Whiting Parties under any other agreement and (ii) none of the Whiting Parties has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(b) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Whiting Parties have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

(c) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Whiting Parties, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address,

 

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notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.

(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Whiting Parties with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Whiting Parties, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(h) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(i) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Whiting Parties and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Michael J. Stevens
  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
INITIAL GUARANTORS:
WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Michael J. Stevens
  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WHITING US HOLDING COMPANY
By:   /s/ Michael J. Stevens
  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WHITING CANADIAN HOLDING COMPANY ULC
By:   /s/ Michael J. Stevens
  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WHITING RESOURCES CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Michael J. Stevens
  Name:   Michael J. Stevens
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
  For itself and on behalf of the
  several Initial Purchasers listed
  in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement
By:   /s/ Brian A. Tramontozzi
  Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


Annex A

Form of Joinder Agreement

The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 27, 2017 by and among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware company, the Guarantors party thereto, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, on behalf of itself and the other Initial Purchasers) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this agreement as of ______________, 20__.

 

[NAME]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

  

1700 Broadway, Suite 2300, Denver, CO 80290-2300

 

Phone: 303.837.1661 | FAX: 303.861.4023

News Release

 

 

 

Company Contact: Eric K. Hagen

  

December 27, 2017

Title: Vice President, Investor Relations

  

For immediate release

Phone: 303.837.1661

  

Email: Eric.Hagen@whiting.com

  

Whiting Announces Completion of Offering of

$1.0 Billion of Senior Notes Due 2026; Irrevocable Notice of Redemption of 2019 Notes

DENVER – December 27, 2017 – Whiting Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: WLL) today announced that it completed its previously announced private unregistered offering to eligible purchasers of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.625% senior notes due 2026 (the “notes”).

Whiting received approximately $987.5 million in aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the notes. Whiting expects to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to redeem all of its 5.000% senior notes due 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and pay related fees and expenses, including the redemption premium and accrued interest on the 2019 Notes. In connection with the closing of the sale of the notes, Whiting irrevocably provided notice to the trustee of the indenture governing the 2019 Notes to redeem the 2019 Notes on January 26, 2018.

The offering was made only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, projected revenues, earnings, costs,


capital expenditures and debt levels, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as we “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “should” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: declines in, or extended periods of low oil, NGL or natural gas prices; our level of success in exploration, development and production activities; risks related to our level of indebtedness, ability to comply with debt covenants and periodic redeterminations of the borrowing base under our credit agreement; impacts to financial statements as a result of impairment write-downs; our ability to successfully complete asset dispositions and the risks related thereto; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices, regulation and other factors; adverse weather conditions that may negatively impact development or production activities; the timing of our exploration and development expenditures; inaccuracies of our reserve estimates or our assumptions underlying them; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of ours; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet the internally funded portion of our capital expenditures budget; our ability to obtain external capital to finance exploration and development operations; federal and state initiatives relating to the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and air emissions; unforeseen underperformance of or liabilities associated with acquired properties; the impacts of hedging on our results of operations; failure of our properties to yield oil or gas in commercially viable quantities; availability of, and risks associated with, transport of oil and gas; our ability to drill producing wells on undeveloped acreage prior to its lease expiration; shortages of or delays in obtaining qualified personnel or equipment, including drilling rigs and completion services; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from our oil and gas operations; our inability to access oil and gas markets due to market conditions or operational impediments; the impact and costs of compliance with laws and regulations governing our oil and gas operations; our ability to replace our oil and natural gas reserves; any loss of our senior management or technical personnel; competition in the oil and gas industry; the potential impact of changes in laws, including tax reform, that could have a negative effect on the oil and gas industry; cyber security attacks or failures of our telecommunication systems; and other risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. We assume no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update the forward-looking statements in this news release.

 

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