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): August 3, 2018

 

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

STATE OF NEVADA   001-03262   94-1667468

(State or other jurisdiction

incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

5300 Town and Country Boulevard

Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

(Address of principal executive offices)

(972) 668-8800

(Registrant’s Telephone No.)

 

 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

Indenture

On August 3, 2018, Comstock Escrow Corporation (the “Escrow Issuer”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Comstock Resources, Inc. (the “Company”), completed the issuance and sale of $850.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated August 3, 2018 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Escrow Issuer, as issuer, and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Escrow Issuer, which was created solely to issue the Notes, has deposited the gross proceeds of the offering into a segregated escrow account until the date that certain escrow release conditions are satisfied. Prior to the satisfaction of the release conditions, the Notes will be secured by a first-priority security interest in the escrow account and all deposits and investment property therein. At the time of the release of the proceeds from escrow, the Escrow Issuer will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger (the “Merger”). The Company will assume by operation of law all of the Escrow Issuer’s obligations (including its obligations under the Indenture), and each of the subsidiaries of the Company will become guarantors under the Notes (the “Guarantors”). As used herein, the term “Issuer” refers to the Escrow Issuer prior to the occurrence of the Merger and the Company following the occurrence of the Merger.

Issuance of the Notes

The Notes were issued in a private offering that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A and to persons outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes were issued at 95.988% of par.

Escrow Conditions

The escrow release conditions include, among other things, (a) the closing of the contribution of certain oil and gas assets (the “Contribution Transaction”) by Arkoma Drilling, L.P. and Williston Drilling, L.P. (together, the “Jones Partnerships”), entities owned by Jerry Jones and his family, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement entered into on May 9, 2018 between the Company and the Jones Partnerships, (b) the entry of the Company into a new bank credit agreement and consummation of initial borrowings thereunder (the “New Credit Facility”), and (c) the repurchase and/or redemption of all of the Company’s outstanding (1) 10% Senior Secured Toggle Notes due 2020, (2) 7 3/4% Convertible Secured PIK Notes due 2019, (3) 9 1/2% Convertible Secured PIK Notes due 2020, (4) 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2020, (5) 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2019 and (6) 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2020 (collectively, the “Existing Notes”). The issuance of the Company’s common stock in connection with the Contribution Transaction is being submitted to the Company’s stockholders for approval at its upcoming annual meeting to be held on August 10, 2018.


If the escrow release conditions are not satisfied on or prior to October 31, 2018, the Notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption. The special mandatory redemption price will be equal to 100% of the initial issue price of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, from the issue date of the Notes, up to, but not including, the date of such special mandatory redemption.

Use of Proceeds

The Escrow Issuer will use the net proceeds of the offering, together with borrowings under the New Credit Facility and cash on hand, to repurchase and/or redeem the Existing Notes.

Ranking

The Notes are the Issuer’s senior obligations, and rank equal in right of payment with all of the Issuer’s existing and future senior indebtedness and rank senior in right of payment to all of the Issuer’s future subordinated indebtedness. Upon satisfaction of the escrow release conditions, the Notes will be effectively junior to the Issuer’s secured indebtedness.

Maturity and Interest

The Notes will mature on August 15, 2026. Interest on the Notes accrues at a rate of 9.75% per annum and is payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2019. The Issuer is obligated to make each interest payment to the holders of record of the Notes on the immediately preceding February 1 and August 1.

Optional Redemption

The Issuer has the option to redeem all or a portion of the Notes at any time prior to August 1, 2021 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date plus a “make-whole” premium. At any time on or after August 1, 2021, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture. At any time before August 1, 2021, the Issuer may also redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price of 109.750% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, with the proceeds of certain equity offerings.

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of the Notes may require the Issuer to repurchase all or a portion of the Notes in cash at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of repurchase.


Covenants

The Indenture contains covenants that limit, among other things, the Issuer’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ ability to (1) incur or guarantee additional debt or issue disqualified capital stock, (2) pay dividends or make other distributions on capital stock, (3) repurchase or redeem capital stock, (4) prepay, redeem or repurchase subordinated debt, (5) make certain investments, (6) create liens, (7) enter into transactions with affiliates, (8) sell assets, (9) issue or sell preferred stock of certain subsidiaries, and (10) engage in mergers or consolidations. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.

The foregoing description of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture, which is filed with this Current Report as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

On August 3, 2018, in connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Escrow Issuer entered into a Registration Rights Agreement between the Escrow Issuer and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), as representative of the several initial purchasers of the Notes. Following the Merger, the Company and the Guarantors shall execute joinders to the Registration Rights Agreement. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall cause to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement with respect to a registered exchange offer to exchange the Notes for new notes with terms substantially identical in all material respects with the Notes. The Issuer and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such exchange offer registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act. In addition, the Issuer and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the exchange offer to be consummated not later than 300 days after August 3, 2018. Under some circumstances, in lieu of, or in addition to, a registered exchange offer, the Issuer and the Guarantors have agreed to file a shelf registration statement with respect to the Notes. The Issuer and the Guarantors are required to pay additional interest if they fail to comply with their obligations to register the Notes under the Registration Rights Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed with this Current Report as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03

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

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.



SIGNATURES

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

 

      COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
Dated: August 6, 2018     By:  

/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS

      Roland O. Burns
      President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT 4.1

COMSTOCK ESCROW CORPORATION,

AND

EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

 

 

9.75% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 3, 2018

 

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,

as Trustee


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01.

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.02.

  Other Definitions      24  

Section 1.03.

  Rules of Construction      25  

Section 1.04.

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      25  
ARTICLE 2.   
THE NOTES   

Section 2.01.

  Form and Dating      26  

Section 2.02.

  Execution and Authentication      26  

Section 2.03.

  Registrar and Paying Agent      27  

Section 2.04.

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      27  

Section 2.05.

  Holder Lists      27  

Section 2.06.

  Transfer and Exchange      28  

Section 2.07.

  Replacement Notes      28  

Section 2.08.

  Outstanding Notes      29  

Section 2.09.

  Treasury Notes      29  

Section 2.10.

  Temporary Notes      29  

Section 2.11.

  Cancellation      29  

Section 2.12.

  Defaulted Interest      29  

Section 2.13.

  CUSIP and ISIN Numbers      30  

Section 2.14.

  Issuance of Additional Notes      30  
ARTICLE 3.   
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT   

Section 3.01.

  Notices to Trustee      30  

Section 3.02.

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      31  

Section 3.03.

  Notice of Redemption      31  

Section 3.04.

  Effect of Notice of Redemption      32  

Section 3.05.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      32  

Section 3.06.

  Notes Redeemed in Part      32  

Section 3.07.

  Optional Redemption      33  

Section 3.08.

  Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      33  

Section 3.09.

  No Mandatory Sinking Fund      34  

Section 3.10.

  Special Mandatory Redemption      35  
ARTICLE 4.   
COVENANTS   

Section 4.01.

  Payment of Notes      35  

Section 4.02.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      35  

Section 4.03.

  Reports      36  

 

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         Page  

Section 4.04.

  Certificates and Other Information      36  

Section 4.05.

  Taxes      37  

Section 4.06.

  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      37  

Section 4.07.

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      37  

Section 4.08.

  Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      40  

Section 4.09.

  Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock      41  

Section 4.10.

  Limitation on Asset Sales      44  

Section 4.11.

  Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates      45  

Section 4.12.

  Limitation on Liens      47  

Section 4.13.

  Future Subsidiary Guarantees      47  

Section 4.14.

  Existence      47  

Section 4.15.

  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      47  

Section 4.16.

  Future Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      49  

Section 4.17.

  Suspended Covenants      50  

Section 4.18.

  Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries      51  

Section 4.19.

  Escrow Release      51  

Section 4.20.

  Activities Prior to the Release      52  
ARTICLE 5.   
SUCCESSORS   

Section 5.01.

  Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets      52  

Section 5.02.

  Successor Substituted      54  
ARTICLE 6.   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

Section 6.01.

  Events of Default      54  

Section 6.02.

  Acceleration      56  

Section 6.03.

  Other Remedies      57  

Section 6.04.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      57  

Section 6.05.

  Control by Majority      57  

Section 6.06.

  Limitation on Suits      57  

Section 6.07.

  Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment      58  

Section 6.08.

  Collection Suit by Trustee      58  

Section 6.09.

  Trustee is Authorized to File Proofs of Claim      58  

Section 6.10.

  Priorities      58  

Section 6.11.

  Undertaking for Costs      59  
ARTICLE 7.   
TRUSTEE   

Section 7.01.

  Duties of Trustee      59  

Section 7.02.

  Rights of Trustee      60  

Section 7.03.

  Individual Rights of Trustee      60  

Section 7.04.

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      61  

Section 7.05.

  Notice of Defaults      61  

Section 7.06.

  Compensation and Indemnity      61  

Section 7.07.

  Replacement of Trustee      62  

Section 7.08.

  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      62  

Section 7.09.

  Eligibility; Disqualification      63  

 

-ii-


         Page  

Section 7.10.

  Reports by Trustee to Holders      63  

Section 7.11.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company      63  

Section 7.12.

  Escrow Authorization      63  
ARTICLE 8.   
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   

Section 8.01.

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      64  

Section 8.02.

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      64  

Section 8.03.

  Covenant Defeasance      64  

Section 8.04.

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      65  

Section 8.05.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      65  

Section 8.06.

  Repayment to the Company      66  

Section 8.07.

  Reinstatement      66  

Section 8.08.

  Discharge      66  
ARTICLE 9.   
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER   

Section 9.01.

  Without Consent of Holders of Notes      67  

Section 9.02.

  With Consent of Holders of Notes      68  

Section 9.03.

  Consents in Connection with Purchase, Tender or Exchange      69  

Section 9.04.

  Revocation and Effect of Consents      69  

Section 9.05.

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      70  

Section 9.06.

  Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.      70  

Section 9.07.

  Acts of Holders      70  

Section 9.08.

  Compliance with the Trust Indenture Act      71  
ARTICLE 10.   
GUARANTEES OF NOTES   

Section 10.01.

  Subsidiary Guarantees of Notes      71  

Section 10.02.

  Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees      72  

Section 10.03.

  Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability      73  

Section 10.04.

  “Trustee” to Include Paying Agent      73  

Section 10.05.

  Execution and Delivery of Guaranty      73  

Section 10.06.

  Subrogation      73  
ARTICLE 11.   
[RESERVED]   
ARTICLE 12.   
MISCELLANEOUS   

Section 12.01.

  Notices      74  

Section 12.02.

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      75  

Section 12.03.

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      75  

Section 12.04.

  Rules by Trustee and Agents      76  

Section 12.05.

  Trust Indenture Act Controls      76  

 

-iii-


         Page  

Section 12.06.

  Communication by Holders with Other Holders      76  

Section 12.07.

  No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      76  

Section 12.08.

  Governing Law      76  

Section 12.09.

  Waiver of Jury Trial      76  

Section 12.10.

  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      76  

Section 12.11.

  Indenture Controls      76  

Section 12.12.

  Successors      77  

Section 12.13.

  Severability      77  

Section 12.14.

  Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      77  

Section 12.15.

  Counterparts      77  

Section 12.16.

  Language of Notices, Etc.      77  

Section 12.17.

  U.S.A. PATRIOT Act      77  

Section 12.18.

  Force Majeure      77  

Section 12.19.

  Foreign Sanction Regulations      78  

 

EXHIBIT 2

 

Form of Certificate of Transfer

 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

EXHIBIT 3

 

Form of Certificate of Exchange

APPENDIX

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT 1

  

Form of Note

EXHIBIT 2

  

Form of Certificate of Transfer

EXHIBIT 3

  

Form of Certificate of Exchange

EXHIBIT 4

  

Form of Escrow Release Date Supplemental Indenture

EXHIBIT 5

  

Form of Subsidiary Guarantor Supplemental Indenture

 

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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA
Section

   Indenture
Section

310 (a)(1)

   7.09

(a)(2)

   7.09

(a)(3)

   7.09

(a)(4)

   7.09

(a)(5)

   7.09

(b)

   7.07; 7.09

(c)

   N.A.

311 (a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

312 (a)

   2.05

(b)

   12.06

(c)

   12.06

313 (a)

   7.10

(b)(1)

   7.10

(b)(2)

   7.10

(c)

   7.10, 12.01

(d)

   7.10

314 (a)

   4.03; 4.04

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   12.02

(c)(2)

   12.02

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   12.03

(f)

   N/A

315 (a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.01

(e)

   6.11

316 (a) (last sentence)

   2.09

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

317 (a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.04

318 (a)

   12.05

N.A. means Not Applicable.

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

 

 

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This INDENTURE, dated as of August 3, 2018 is among the Company (as defined below), each SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR from time to time party hereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as Trustee.

The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (i) the Company’s 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026 issued on the Issue Date (the “ Initial Notes ”), (ii) any Additional Notes (as defined herein) issued from time to time and (iii) any Exchange Notes (as defined herein) issued from time to time in exchange for the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes (together with the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, the “ Notes ”):

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01. Definitions .

Acquired Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of a Person (1) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) assumed in connection with acquisitions of properties or assets from such Person (other than any Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition). Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to be incurred on the date the acquired Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of the related acquisition of properties or assets from such Person.

Additional Assets ” means:

(1) any assets or property (other than cash, Cash Equivalents or securities) used in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto;

(2) Investments in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto (including the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of such Person) as a result of which such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(4) capital expenditures by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Oil and Gas Business.

Additional Interest ” means (i) all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the Initial Notes and (ii) any additional interest owing in connection with any registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of Additional Notes.

Additional Notes ” means Notes (other than the Initial Notes or Exchange Notes) issued pursuant to Article  2 hereof and otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

(1) the sum of:

(a) discounted future net revenues from Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines before any state, federal or foreign income taxes, as estimated by the Company or independent petroleum engineers in one or more reserve reports prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available (or, if such date of determination is within 45 days after the end of such most recently completed fiscal year and no reserve report as


of the end of such fiscal year has at the time been prepared, the Company’s second preceding fiscal year) or, at the Company’s option, the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available, in each case, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

(i) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired since such year-end (including through any contribution, including the Contribution), which reserves were not reflected in such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and

(ii) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to upward revisions of estimates of Proved Reserves since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities, in each case calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report),

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

(iii) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries produced or disposed of since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and

(iv) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report attributable to downward revisions of estimates of Proved Reserves since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report);

provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers;

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

(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 (including, without duplication, Investments in unconsolidated Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements, minus

(2) the sum of:

(a) Minority Interests;

(b) any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited financial statements;

 

-2-


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

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

Adjusted Net Assets ” of a Subsidiary Guarantor at any date shall mean the amount by which the fair value of the properties and assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under its Subsidiary Guarantee, of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date.

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

Agents ” means, collectively, the Trustee, the Registrar and the Paying Agent.

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

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

(2) the excess (to the extent positive) of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at August 15, 2021 (such redemption price (expressed in percentage of principal amount) being set forth in Section  3.07 ), plus (ii) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note to and excluding such date set forth in subclause (i) (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate at such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the outstanding principal amount of such Note on such redemption date,

in each case, as calculated by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate; provided , however , that such calculation shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.

Asset Sale ” means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by means of a Production Payment, net profits interest, overriding royalty interest, sale and leaseback transaction, merger or consolidation) (collectively, for purposes of this definition, a “transfer”), directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of (1) any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, (2) all or substantially all of the properties and assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (3) any other properties or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

 

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(a) (i) a transfer of cash, Cash Equivalents, surplus or obsolete equipment or (ii) a transfer of hydrocarbons or other mineral products, inventory, or any other property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) any lease, abandonment, disposition, relinquishment or farm-out of any oil and gas properties in the ordinary course of business;

(c) any transfer of properties or assets (including Capital Stock) that is governed by, and made in accordance with, Section  5.01 ;

(d) any transfer of properties or assets to an Unrestricted Subsidiary, if permitted under Section  4.07 ;

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

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

(g) a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section  4.07 ;

(h) any abandonment, farm-out, lease and sub-lease of developed and/or undeveloped properties made or entered into in the ordinary course of business, but excluding any disposition as a result of the creation of a Production Payment;

(i) the creation or perfection of a Lien or disposition of any asset subject to such Lien in connection with enforcement thereof;

(j) any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of properties or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business for other properties or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business owned or held by another Person (including Capital Stock of a Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary), including any cash or Cash Equivalents necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value, provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (including any cash or Cash Equivalents to be delivered by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and provided , further , that any cash received in the transaction must be applied in accordance with Section  4.10 as if such transaction were an Asset Sale;

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

(l) any assignment of an overriding royalty or net profits interest to an employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with the generation of prospects or the development of oil and natural gas projects;

(m) the sale or other disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of oil and gas properties, provided at the time of such sale or other disposition such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves;

(n) any Production Payment, provided that any such Production Payment shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the acquisition or financing of, and within 180 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

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(o) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles to the extent that such license does not prohibit the licensor from using the intellectual property and licenses, leases or subleases of other property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

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

(q) dispositions of joint venture interests required by the terms of the documents governing such joint venture; and

(r) any transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of properties or assets (including Capital Stock) having a Fair Market Value of less than $25,000,000.

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

Average Life ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, as at any date of determination, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of (a) the number of years (and any portion thereof) from the date of determination to the date or dates of each successive scheduled principal payment (including, without limitation, any sinking fund or mandatory redemption payment requirements) of such Indebtedness multiplied by (b) the amount of each such principal payment by (2) the sum of all such principal payments.

Bank Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement to be dated as of the Escrow Release Date among CRI, as borrower, the lenders party thereto from time to time, Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent, and together with all related documents executed or delivered pursuant thereto at any time (including, without limitation, all mortgages, deeds of trust, guarantees, security agreements and all other collateral and security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement or agreements extending the maturity of, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including into two or more separate credit facilities, and including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder provided that such increase in borrowings is within the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” or is otherwise permitted under Section  4.09 ) or adding Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and all or any portion of the Indebtedness and other Obligations under such agreement or agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements, and whether by the same or any other agent(s), lender(s) or group(s) of lenders.

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

Board of Directors ” means:

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

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

 

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(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

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

Borrowing Base ” means the “Borrowing Base” (or comparable term) as defined in and as determined from time to time pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement; provided that the Borrowing Base under the Bank Credit Agreement is determined on a basis substantially consistent with customary terms for oil and gas secured reserve based loan transactions and has a lender group that includes one or more commercial financial institutions which engage in oil and gas reserve based lending in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Dallas, Texas are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

Capital Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents in the equity interests (however designated) in such Person, and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into an equity interest), warrants or options exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into such an equity interest in such Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means any obligation to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease obligation under GAAP, and, for the purpose of this Indenture, the amount of such obligation at any date shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any lease (whether entered into before or after the Issue Date) that would have been classified as an operating lease pursuant to GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date will be deemed not to represent a Capitalized Lease Obligation.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) any evidence of Indebtedness with a maturity of 180 days or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof);

(2) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit or acceptances with a maturity of 180 days or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(3) commercial paper with a maturity of 180 days or less issued by a corporation that is not an Affiliate of the Company and is organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by S&P or at least P-1 by Moody’s;

(4) 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 commercial bank meeting the specifications of clause (2) above;

(5) overnight bank deposits and bankers acceptances at any commercial bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (2) above;

(6) deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank not meeting the qualifications specified in clause (2) above but which is a lending bank under the Bank Credit Agreement; provided all such deposits do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time;

(7) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit with any commercial bank organized in the United States not meeting the qualifications specified in clause (2) above; provided that such deposits and certificates support bond, letter of credit and other similar types of obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(8) investments in money market or other mutual funds substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (5) above.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any event or series of events by which:

(1) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total Voting Stock of the Company;

(2) the Company, either individually or in conjunction with one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of, or the Restricted Subsidiaries sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, other than by way of a merger or consolidation, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and such Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (either in one transaction or a series of related transactions), including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries, to any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or a Permitted Holder); or

(3) the Company is liquidated or dissolved.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contribution and the other Transactions shall not constitute a Change of Control. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (1) above if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) 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 (B) immediately following that transaction, the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction (or another holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) are the beneficial owners, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Shares of such holding company.

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.

Common Stock ” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that does not rank prior, as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

Company ” means (i) prior to the Escrow Release Date, the Escrow Issuer and (ii) on and following the Escrow Release Date, CRI, assuming consummation of the Transactions.

Consolidated Exploration Expenses ” means, for any period, exploration expenses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, for any period, the ratio on a pro forma basis of (1) the sum of Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Income Tax Expense and Consolidated Non-cash Charges each to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, in each case, for such period, of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all determined in accordance with GAAP, decreased (to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income) by the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (b) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar- Denominated Production Payments, to (2) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period ; provided that (i) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that (A) the Indebtedness to be incurred (and all other Indebtedness incurred after the first day of such period of four full fiscal quarters referred to in Section  4.09 through and including the date of determination), and (if applicable) the application of the net proceeds therefrom (and from any other such Indebtedness), including to

 

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refinance other Indebtedness, had been incurred on the first day of such four-quarter period and, in the case of Acquired Indebtedness, on the assumption that the related transaction (whether by means of purchase, merger or otherwise) also had occurred on such date with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation and (B) any acquisition or disposition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any properties or assets outside the ordinary course of business, or any repayment of any principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, in either case since the first day of such period of four full fiscal quarters through and including the date of determination, had been consummated on such first day of such four-quarter period, (ii) in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness required to be computed on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section  4.09 and (A) bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on the date of computation had been the applicable rate for the entire period and (B) which was not outstanding during the period for which the computation is being made but which bears, at the option of the Company, a fixed or floating rate of interest, shall be computed by applying, at the option of the Company, either the fixed or floating rate, (iii) in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility required to be computed on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section  4.09 shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period, provided that such average daily balance shall be reduced by the amount of any repayment of Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility during the applicable period, which repayment permanently reduced the commitments or amounts available to be reborrowed under such facility, (iv) notwithstanding clauses (ii) and (iii) of this proviso, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Interest Rate Protection Obligations, shall be deemed to have accrued at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements, (v) in making such calculation, Consolidated Interest Expense shall exclude interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments, and (vi) if after the first day of the period referred to in clause (1) of this definition the Company has permanently retired any Indebtedness out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the issuance and sale of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company within 30 days of such issuance and sale, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such Indebtedness had been retired on the first day of such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (including pro forma expense and cost reductions to the extent calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act).

Consolidated Income Tax Expense ” means, for any period, the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes (including state franchise taxes accounted for as income taxes in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any period, without duplication, the sum of (1) the interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation, (a) any amortization of debt discount, (b) the net cost under Interest Rate Protection Obligations (including any amortization of discounts), (c) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation constituting Indebtedness, (d) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and (e) all accrued interest, in each case to the extent attributable to such period, (2) to the extent any Indebtedness of any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of interest paid (to the extent not accrued in a prior period) or accrued by such other Person during such period attributable to any such Indebtedness, in each case to the extent attributable to that period, (3) the aggregate amount of the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid (to the extent not accrued in a prior period), accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (4) the aggregate amount of dividends paid (to the extent such dividends are not accrued in a prior period and excluding dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock) or accrued on Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such Disqualified Capital Stock is owned by Persons other than the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, less, to the extent included in any of clauses (1) through (4), amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.

 

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Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted by excluding:

(1) net after-tax extraordinary gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto);

(2) net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to Asset Sales;

(3) the net income (or net loss) of any Person (other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash by such other Person during such period (regardless of whether such cash dividends or distributions are attributable to net income (or net loss) of such Person during such period or during any prior period);

(4) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary is not at the date of determination permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

(5) dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock;

(6) income resulting from transfers of assets received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(7) Consolidated Exploration Expenses and any write-downs or impairments of non-current assets; and

(8) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles.

Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, depletion, amortization and exploration expense and other non-cash expenses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding any such non-cash charge for which an accrual of or reserve for cash charges for any future period is required).

Contribution ” means the contribution by Arkoma Drilling, L.P. and Williston Drilling, L.P. of certain assets to CRI or one of its subsidiaries pursuant to the Contribution Agreement in exchange for Common Stock of CRI representing a controlling stake in CRI.

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of May 9, 2018 among Arkoma Drilling, L.P., Williston Drilling, L.P. and CRI, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms or in a manner not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes as determined in good faith by the Company.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office is, at the date of this Indenture, located at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219, Attention: Corporate Trust Office.

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, one or more credit facilities, debt facilities, indentures or commercial paper facilities (including, without limitation, the Bank Credit Agreement), in each case with banks or other financial institutions or lenders or investors, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, private placements, debt securities, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit or letter of credit guarantees, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

 

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CRI ” means Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation.

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Non-Recourse Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, exclusions from the exculpation provisions with respect to such Non-Recourse Indebtedness for the voluntary bankruptcy of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, fraud, misapplication of cash, environmental claims, waste, willful destruction and other circumstances customarily excluded by lenders from exculpation provisions or included in separate indemnification agreements in non-recourse financings.

Default ” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

Disinterested Director ” means, with respect to any transaction or series of transactions in respect of which the Board of Directors of the Company is required to deliver a resolution of the Board of Directors under this Indenture, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest (other than an interest arising solely from the beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Company) in or with respect to such transaction or series of transactions.

Disqualified Capital Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, either by its terms, by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or otherwise, is, or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed or repurchased prior to the date that is 91 days after the final Stated Maturity of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof at any time prior to the date that is 91 days after the final Stated Maturity of the Notes, or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to the date that is 91 days after the final Stated Maturity of the Notes. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that (i) the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) pursuant to such provision prior to compliance by the Company with Sections 4.10 and 4.15 and (ii) 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 . For purposes of Section  4.09, Disqualified Capital Stock shall be valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price plus accrued and unpaid dividends. For such purposes, the “maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price” of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed redemption or repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were redeemed or repurchased on the date of determination, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Capital Stock ; provided that if such Disqualified Capital Stock is not at the date of determination permitted or required to be redeemed or repurchased, the “maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price” shall be the book value of such Disqualified Capital Stock.

Dollar-Denominated Production Payments ” means production payment obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary 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 that is formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Drilling Expense Commitments ” means with respect to any Asset Sale of properties used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries where the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary retains an interest in such property, the amount of the 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.

 

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

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after the date of this Indenture of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company or any contribution to the capital of the Company in respect of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company, other than issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company.

Escrow Account ” means a segregated account under the sole control of the Escrow Agent that includes only cash and U.S. Government Obligations, free from all Liens other than the Lien in favor of the Trustee for itself and the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and any Lien in favor of the Escrow Agent to secure obligations owed to the Escrow Agent in connection with the Escrow Account or the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Agent ” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, in its capacity as escrow agent as set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Agreement ” means that certain Escrow Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Escrow Issuer, CRI, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent, relating to the Initial Notes, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Escrow Issuer ” means Comstock Escrow Corporation, a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of CRI.

Escrow Release ” means the release of all of the Escrowed Property from the Escrow Account and of the Trustee’s Lien thereon and security interest therein pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Release Date ” means the date on which the Escrow Release occurs.

Escrow Release Date Supplemental Indenture ” means the supplemental indenture to this Indenture, to be dated as of the Escrow Release Date, by and among CRI, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, substantially in the form of Exhibit 4 .

Escrow Release Officers’ Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

Escrowed Property ” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

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

Exchange Notes ” means the Notes of the Company issued pursuant to this Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to or not in excess of, the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes, if applicable, in compliance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchange Offer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchanged Properties ” means properties or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in trade or as a portion of the total consideration for other such properties or assets.

Existing Notes ” means CRI’s (i) 10% Senior Secured Toggle Notes due 2020, (ii) 7  3 4 % Convertible Secured PIK Notes due 2019, (iii) 9  1 2 % Convertible Secured PIK Notes due 2020, (iv) 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2020, (v) 7  3 4 % Senior Notes due 2019 and (vi) 9  1 2 % Senior Notes due 2020.

 

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Existing Revolving Credit Facility ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated March 4, 2015 among CRI, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent and issuing bank, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Fair Market Value ” means with respect to any asset or property, the sale value that would be obtained in an arm’s-length free market transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value of an asset or property equal to or in excess of $25,000,000 shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors delivered to the Trustee, and any lesser Fair Market Value may be determined by an officer of the Company acting in good faith.

Financial Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or treasurer of such Person.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP.

guarantee ” means, as applied to any obligation, (1) a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such obligation and (2) an agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, the practical effect of which is to assure in any way the payment or performance (or payment of damages in the event of non-performance) of all or any part of such obligation, including, without limiting the foregoing, the payment of amounts drawn down under letters of credit. When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a corresponding meaning.

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

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

(1) all liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise, for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding any trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities incurred and reserves established in the ordinary course of business) and all liabilities of such Person incurred in connection with any agreement to purchase, redeem, exchange, convert or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such Capital Stock, outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter, if, and to the extent, any of the foregoing would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or other similar instruments, if, and to the extent, any of the foregoing would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(3) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even if the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), but excluding trade accounts payable arising and reserves established in the ordinary course of business;

(4) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

(5) the Attributable Indebtedness (in excess of any related Capitalized Lease Obligations) related to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction of such Person;

(6) all Indebtedness referred to in the preceding clauses of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness (the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or the amount of the obligation so secured);

 

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(7) all guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness referred to in this definition (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guaranties 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);

(8) all obligations of such Person under or in respect of currency exchange contracts, oil and natural gas price hedging arrangements and Interest Rate Protection Obligations; and

(9) all Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person;

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall not include:

(a) asset-retirement obligations or obligations in respect of reclamation and workers’ compensation (including pensions and retiree medical care) that are not overdue by more than 90 days;

(b) except as provided in clause (7) above, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments;

(c) any obligation of a Person in respect of a farm-in agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or natural gas property;

(d) any repayment or reimbursement obligation of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Customary Recourse Exceptions, unless and until an event or circumstance occurs that triggers the Person’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s direct repayment or reimbursement obligation (as opposed to contingent or performance obligations) to the lender or other Person to whom such obligation is actually owed, in which case the amount of such direct payment or reimbursement obligation shall constitute Indebtedness; and

(e) indebtedness, the proceeds of which are funded into an escrow or other trust arrangement pending the satisfaction of one or more conditions, unless and until such proceeds are released to or on behalf of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness that has been defeased or discharged in accordance with GAAP or defeased or discharged pursuant to the irrevocable deposit of cash, U.S. government obligations and Cash Equivalents (sufficient to satisfy all obligations relating thereto at maturity or redemption, as applicable) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, in accordance with the terms of the instruments governing such indebtedness.

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

Initial Notes ” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

Initial Subsidiary Guarantors ” means the Subsidiaries of CRI expected to be Subsidiary Guarantors as of the Escrow Release Date, consisting of (1) Comstock Oil & Gas, LP, (2) Comstock Oil & Gas—Louisiana, LLC, (3) Comstock Oil & Gas GP, LLC, (4) Comstock Oil & Gas Investments, LLC, (5) Comstock Oil & Gas Holdings, Inc..

 

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Interest Rate Protection Obligations ” means the obligations of any Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against or manage such Person’s and any of its Subsidiaries exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.

Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect advance, loan, guarantee of Indebtedness or other extension of credit or capital contribution by such Person to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property or assets to others or any payment for property, assets or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities (including derivatives) or evidences of Indebtedness issued by, any other Person. In addition, the Fair Market Value of the net assets of any Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an “Investment” made by the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at such time. “Investments” shall exclude (1) extensions of trade credit or other advances to customers on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices or otherwise in the ordinary course of business, (2) Interest Rate Protection Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business or as required by any Permitted Indebtedness or any Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section  4.09 , but only to the extent that the stated aggregate notional amounts of such Interest Rate Protection Obligations do not exceed 105% of the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness to which such Interest Rate Protection Obligations relate and (3) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to 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 equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of. The amount of an Investment will be the original cost of such Investment reduced by any subsequent dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date ” means August 3, 2018, the date of original issuance of the Initial Notes.

Lien ” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or other), security interest, hypothecation, assignment for security, claim or similar type of encumbrance (including, without limitation, any agreement to give or grant any lease, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) upon or with respect to any property of any kind. A Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property which such Person has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement.

Liquid Securities ” means any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an Asset Sale that are converted into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the date of receipt of such securities, notes or other obligations. If such securities are not sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days of receipt thereof, for purposes of determining whether the transaction pursuant to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary received the securities was in compliance with Section  4.10 , such securities shall be deemed not to have been Liquid Securities at any time.

Minority Interest ” means the percentage interest represented by any class of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

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

Net Available Cash ” from an Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction means cash proceeds received therefrom (including (1) any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, and (2) the Fair Market Value of Liquid Securities and Cash Equivalents, but excluding (a) any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the assets or property that is the subject of such Asset

 

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Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction and (b) except to the extent subsequently converted to cash, Cash Equivalents or Liquid Securities within 240 days after such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, consideration constituting Exchanged Properties or consideration other than as identified in the immediately preceding clauses (1) and (2)), in each case net of (i) all legal, title and recording expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP as a consequence of such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, (ii) all payments made on any Indebtedness (but specifically excluding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries assumed in connection with or in anticipation of such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction) which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, provided that such payments are made in a manner that results in the permanent reduction in the balance of such Indebtedness and, if applicable, a permanent reduction in any outstanding commitment for future incurrences of Indebtedness thereunder, (iii) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale or Sale/ Leaseback Transaction and (iv) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale or Sale/ Leaseback Transaction and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale or Sale/ Leaseback Transaction ; provided that if any consideration for an Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction (which would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash) is required to be held in escrow pending determination of whether a purchase price adjustment will be made, such consideration (or any portion thereof) shall become Net Available Cash only at such time as it is released to such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow.

Net Cash Proceeds ” with respect to any issuance or sale of Qualified Capital Stock or other securities, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

Net Working Capital ” means (1) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, less (2) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness, in each case as set forth in consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) provides credit support, including any undertaking, agreement or instrument which would constitute Indebtedness, or (b) is directly or indirectly liable for such Indebtedness, in each case except for Customary Recourse Exceptions, and (ii) no default with respect to such Indebtedness would permit (after notice or passage of time or both), according to the terms thereof, any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default on such Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity.

Note Register ” means the register maintained by or for the Company in which the Company shall provide for the registration of the Notes and the transfer of the Notes.

Notes ” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

Notes Obligations ” means all Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees in respect thereof, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Exchange Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees in respect thereof.

Obligations ” means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, payments with respect to any letters of credit, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Offering Memorandum ” means the Offering Memorandum of the Escrow Issuer dated July 20, 2018 relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

 

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

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of any Person by two Officers, one of whom must be a Financial Officer of such Person.

Oil and Gas Business ” means (1) the acquisition, exploration, development, operation and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other hydrocarbon properties, (2) the gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties (including water), (3) any business relating to or arising from exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing, storage, refining, transportation or marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith, and (4) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (3) of this definition.

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that meets the requirements of Section  12.03 . The counsel may be an employee of, or counsel to, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Outside Date ” means October 31, 2018.

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness was Indebtedness:

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

(2) of a Person that was merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was not incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated and amalgamated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto,

(a) the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section  4.09(a) , or

(b) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be not less than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

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) ownership of oil, natural gas, other related hydrocarbon, water and mineral properties or any interest therein or gathering, transportation, processing, treating, storage, disposal 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, disposal or exchange of oil and natural gas and related hydrocarbons, water and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), limited liability company agreements 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, excluding, however, Investments in corporations and publicly-traded limited partnerships.

 

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Permitted Holders ” means, collectively, (1) Arkoma Drilling, L.P., Williston Drilling, L.P. and each of their respective Affiliates (but not, however, any operating company in the Oil and Gas Business thereof), (2) Jerral W. Jones, (3) any family member, heir or estate of the foregoing, (4) any trust directly or indirectly controlled by or for the benefit of any of the foregoing, and (5) any other Persons directly or indirectly controlled by any of the foregoing (but not, however, any operating company in the Oil and Gas Business thereof).

Permitted Investments ” means any of the following:

(1) Investments in Cash Equivalents;

(2) Investments in property, plant and equipment used in the ordinary course of business;

(3) Investments in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(4) Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in another Person, if (a) as a result of such Investment (i) such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) such other Person is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business;

(5) Permitted Business Investments;

(6) entry into any hedging arrangements in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of protecting the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s production, purchases and resales against fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices;

(7) entry into any currency exchange contract in the ordinary course of business;

(8) Investments in stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or upon the foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case as to debt owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that arose in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary;

(9) guarantees of Indebtedness, which guarantees are permitted under Section  4.09 ;

(10) Investments in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and worker’s compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties and endorsements for collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business;

(11) advances, deposits and prepayments for purchases of any assets where the consummation itself would not constitute an Investment;

(12) any Investment existing on the Issue Date and any Investment that replaces, refinances or refunds an existing Investment; provided that the new Investment is in an amount that does not exceed the amount replaced, refinanced or refunded, and is made in the same Person as the Investment replaced, refinanced or refunded;

(13) Investments arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn-outs or similar obligations, in each case incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition or acquisition of any business, assets or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture;

 

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(14) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding $15,000,000; and

(15) other Investments, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Permitted Liens ” means the following types of Liens:

(1) Liens on assets of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Credit Facilities that were incurred pursuant to clause (1)  of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”;

(2) Liens existing as of the Escrow Release Date (other than Liens referred to in the foregoing clause (1) );

(3) Liens securing the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(4) Liens in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(5) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges or claims either (a) not delinquent or (b) contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its books such reserves as may be required pursuant to GAAP;

(6) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not delinquent or being contested in good faith, if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

(7) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the payment or performance of tenders, statutory or regulatory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, government contracts and leases, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money but including lessee or operator obligations under statutes, governmental regulations or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals on state, Federal or foreign lands or waters);

(8) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceeding may be initiated shall not have expired;

(9) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(10) any interest or title of a lessor under any capitalized lease or operating lease;

(11) (x) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (5)  of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” and (y) other purchase money Liens so long as the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the property or assets so acquired; provided that, in each case, (a) the related Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings

 

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or purchase money obligations shall not be secured by any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets so acquired, leased, constructed, installed, repaired, replaced or improved and any proceeds therefrom and (b) the Liens securing such Indebtedness shall be created within 90 days of such acquisition, lease, construction, installation, repair, replacement or improvement;

(12) Liens securing obligations under hedging agreements that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of protecting its production, purchases and resales against fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices;

(13) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(14) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other property or assets relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

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

(16) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off;

(17) Liens securing Interest Rate Protection Obligations which Interest Rate Protection Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is secured by Liens otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(18) Liens (other than Liens securing Indebtedness) on, or related to, properties or assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business for the exploration, drilling, development or operation thereof;

(19) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities which arise by operation of law;

(20) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

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

(22) Liens constituting survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements, or reservations of, or rights to others for, rights-of-way, zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties, and minor defects of title which, in the case of any of the foregoing, were not incurred or created to secure the payment of borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property, assets or services, and in the aggregate do not materially adversely affect the value of properties and assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or materially impair the use of such properties and assets for the purposes for which such properties and assets are held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries;

(23) Liens securing Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided that the related Non-Recourse Indebtedness shall not be secured by any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property and assets acquired (including, without limitation, those acquired indirectly through the acquisition of stock or other ownership interests) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with the proceeds of such Non-Recourse Indebtedness;

 

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(24) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and Liens on property or assets of a Subsidiary existing at the time it became a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of the acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than the acquired property;

(25) Liens on cash, Cash Equivalents or other property deposited in trust arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or contained in an escrow account subject to customary escrow arrangements;

(26) additional 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 any one time outstanding the greater of (a) $50,000,000 or (b) 4% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;

(27) Liens on Escrowed Property in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or in favor of the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement; and

(28) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refinance, refund, replace, amend, defease or discharge, as a whole or in part, Indebtedness that was previously so secured (other than any Indebtedness previously so secured pursuant to clause (1)  or (26) above); provided that (a) the new Liens shall be limited to all or part of the same property and 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 and (b) the new Liens have no greater priority relative to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.

Notwithstanding anything in clauses (1)  through (28) of this definition, the term “Permitted Liens” does not include any Liens resulting from the creation, incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee of any Production Payments other than Production Payments that are created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 30 days after, the acquisition of the properties or assets that are subject thereto.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, refinance, refund or repurchase (including, without limitation, pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer) outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary ; provided that (1) if the Indebtedness (including the Notes) being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased is pari passu with or subordinated in right of payment to either the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, then such Indebtedness is pari passu with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, (2) such Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity for its final scheduled principal payment that is no earlier than the Stated Maturity for the final scheduled principal payment of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, (3) if the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor is the issuer of, or otherwise an obligor in respect of, the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is not incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor and (4) such Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased ; provided , further , that such Indebtedness is in an aggregate principal amount (or, if such Indebtedness is issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, the aggregate amount of gross proceeds therefrom is) not in excess of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased (or if the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased was issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, then not in excess of the amount of liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP) plus the amount of any premium required to be paid in connection with such renewal, extension or refinancing, refunding or repurchase pursuant to the terms of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased or the amount of any premium reasonably determined by the Company as necessary to accomplish such renewal, extension, refinancing, refunding or repurchase, plus the amount of reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith.

 

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

Preferred Stock ,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of such Person of any class or classes (however designated) that ranks prior, as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

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

Proved Reserves ” means crude oil and natural gas reserves (including natural gas liquids) constituting ‘‘proved oil and gas reserves’’ as defined in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.

Purchase Agreement ” means the purchase agreement in respect of the Initial Notes, dated as of July 20, 2018, by and among the Escrow Issuer, CRI, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the Initial Purchasers.

Qualified Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Capital Stock.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means (a) with respect to the Initial Notes, the registration rights agreement dated the Issue Date, by and between the Escrow Issuer and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the Initial Purchasers, as supplemented by a joinder to the registration rights agreement to be dated as of the Escrow Release Date among CRI and the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors, and (b) 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, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related purchase agreement.

Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Investment ” means (without duplication) (1) the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in the manner described in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and (2) any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company, whether existing on or after the Escrow Release Date, unless such Subsidiary of the Company is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

RP Start Date ” means the first day of the fiscal quarter during which the Escrow Release Date occurs.

S&P ” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any principal property, whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to such Person.

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

 

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Senior Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereinafter incurred), unless such Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness.

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

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

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity (other than a partnership) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of its Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(2) any partnership of which (a) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof), whether in the form of general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, or (b) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Subsidiary Guarantee ” means any guarantee of the Notes by any Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Sections 10.01 and 4.13 .

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means (1) the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors, (2) each of CRI’s other Restricted Subsidiaries, if any, executing a supplemental indenture in which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms of this Indenture and (3) any Person that becomes a successor guarantor of the Notes in compliance with Sections 4.13 and 10.01 .

Transactions ” has the meaning provided in the Offering Memorandum.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published or the relevant information does not appear thereon, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to August 15, 2021; provided , however , that if the period from the redemption date to August 15, 2021 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 August 15, 2021 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. The Company shall (1) calculate the Treasury Rate as of the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (2) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation in reasonable detail.

 

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

Trustee ” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” means each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination will be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company as provided below and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated) ; provided that the Subsidiary to be so designated and each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary:

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

(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary 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 the Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to guaranty any Indebtedness of such Person, (b) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (c) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results, in each case, other than Customary Recourse Exceptions; and

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

Volumetric Production Payments ” means production payment obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of Capital Stock has voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person ; provided that with respect to a limited partnership or other entity which does not have a Board of Directors, Voting Stock means the managing membership interest or the Capital Stock of the general partner of such limited partnership or other business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of such Person, as applicable.

 

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Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent (1) all of the Capital Stock or other ownership interests in such Restricted Subsidiary, other than directors’ qualifying shares mandated by applicable law, is owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (2) such Restricted Subsidiary does substantially all of its business in one or more foreign jurisdictions and is required by the applicable laws and regulations of any such foreign jurisdiction to be partially owned by the government of such foreign jurisdiction or individual or corporate citizens of such foreign jurisdiction in order for such Restricted Subsidiary to transact business in such foreign jurisdiction; provided that the Company, directly or indirectly, owns the remaining Capital Stock or ownership interest in such Restricted Subsidiary and, by contract or otherwise, controls the management and business of such Restricted Subsidiary and derives the economic benefits of ownership of such Restricted Subsidiary to substantially the same extent as if such Restricted Subsidiary were a wholly owned Subsidiary.

Section 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Act”

   9.07

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Alternate Offer”

   4.15

“Agent Members”

   Appendix

“Appendix”

   2.01

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.10

“Asset Sale Offer Amount”

   3.08

“Asset Sale Offer Notice”

   3.08

“Asset Sale Offer Period”

   3.08

“Assumption”

   4.19(b)

“Authentication Order”

   2.02(d)

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.15

“Change of Control Purchase Date”

   4.15

“Change of Control Purchase Price”

   4.15

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“Covenant Suspension Period”

   4.17

“Definitive Note”

   Appendix

“Depository”

   Appendix

“Discharge”

   8.08

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Global Note”

   Appendix

“incorporated provision”

   12.05

“incur”

   4.09

“Initial Purchasers”

   Appendix

“Investment Grade Ratings”

   4.17

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Permitted Consideration”

   4.10

“Permitted Indebtedness”

   4.09

“Purchase Date”

   3.08

“Register”

   2.03

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Notes Legend”

   Appendix

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

“Special Mandatory Redemption”

   3.10

“Special Mandatory Redemption Date”

   3.10

“Special Mandatory Redemption Event”

   3.10

“Special Mandatory Redemption Price”

   3.10

“Successor Guarantor”

   5.01

“Surviving Entity”

   5.01

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.17

“Transfer Restricted Notes”

   Appendix

 

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Section 1.03. Rules of Construction .

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(5) the meanings of the words “will” and “shall” are the same when used to express an obligation;

(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;

(7) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture;

(8) “including” means “including, without limitation”;

(9) references herein to Articles, Sections and Exhibits are to be construed as references to articles of sections of, and exhibits to, this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires;

(10) “$” and “U.S. dollars” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; and

(11) whenever in this Indenture or the Notes there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof.

Section 1.04. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

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

(1) “ indenture notes ” means the Notes;

(2) “ indenture note holder ” means a Holder;

(3) “ indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture;

 

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

(5) “ obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Notes.

All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by a rule of the Commission and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.

ARTICLE 2.

THE NOTES

Section 2.01. Form and Dating .

(a) Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the “ Appendix ”), which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 , which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have other notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix are part of the terms of this Indenture. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication .

(a) At least one Officer of the Company shall sign the Notes on behalf of the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

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

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

(d) The Trustee shall authenticate (i) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $850,000,000 and (ii) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein, in each case, upon a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate (an “ Authentication Order ”). Upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate for original issue Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $850,000,000 plus any increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes as a result of any Additional Notes issued; provided that such Exchange Notes shall be issuable only upon the valid surrender for cancellation of Initial Notes and any Additional Notes of a like aggregate principal amount in accordance with an Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of such Exchange Notes and certifying that all conditions precedent to the issuance of such Exchange Notes are complied with. In each case, the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the Company that it may reasonably require in connection with such authentication of Notes. Each Authentication Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or Exchange Notes and whether the Notes are to be issued as Definitive Notes or Global Notes or such other information as the Trustee may reasonably request. With

 

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respect to authentication pursuant to clause (ii) of the first sentence of this paragraph, such Authentication Order from the Company shall be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel of the Company in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that the issuance of the Additional Notes does not give rise to an Event of Default, complies with this Indenture and has been duly authorized by the Company.

(e) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent .

(a) The Company shall at all times maintain an office or agency in the United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “ Registrar ”) and an office or agency in New York, New York where Notes may be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “ Register ”). The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

(b) The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Company may change the Registrars and the Paying Agents without prior notice to the Holders.

Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each date on which any principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and interest when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, the Notes and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee, and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section  6.01(a) or (b) , upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent and, in each case, to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section  2.04 , the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05. Holder Lists .

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee in writing, at least 5 Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders and the Company shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange .

The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with the Appendix. When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements (including, among other things, the furnishing of appropriate endorsements and transfer documents) therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no exchange of Initial Notes for Exchange Notes shall occur until an Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission, the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate confirming that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission and the Initial Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee.

The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section  2.06 (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section  3.06 , 4.10 , 4.15 or 9.05 ).

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

Any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

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

None of the Trustee, Registrar or Paying Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.

Section 2.07. Replacement Notes .

(a) If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall, upon its receipt of an Authentication Order from the Company, authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Registrar or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Registrar, the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

(b) Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.

 

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Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes .

(a) The 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  2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section  2.09 , a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section  2.07 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section  2.07 .

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

Section 2.09. Treasury Notes .

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee actually knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

Section 2.10. Temporary Notes .

In the event that definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture (including the Appendix), until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall, upon its receipt of an Authentication Order from the Company, authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits under this Indenture.

Section 2.11. Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement, payment or cancellation. If the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor acquires any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section  2.11 . Upon written request, the Trustee will deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company unless the Company directs the Trustee in writing to deliver canceled Notes to the Company instead. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest .

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Company shall pay defaulted interest at the rate specified in Section  4.01(b) (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record

 

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date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date (which special record date shall not be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date) to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly send to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

Section 2.13. CUSIP and ISIN 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 that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of 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. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any changes in “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.

Section 2.14. Issuance of Additional Notes .

The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture that shall have identical terms and conditions as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price, the first interest payment date applicable thereto and the amount of interest payable on the first interest payment date applicable thereto (and, if such Additional Notes shall be issued without registration under the Securities Act, other than with respect to transfer restrictions); provided that such issuance is not prohibited by Section  4.09 . The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions, Change of Control Offers and Asset Sale Offers; provided that Additional Notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP or ISIN, as applicable, as the Notes issued on the Issue Date unless such Additional Notes are fungible with the Notes issued on the Issue Date for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For the purposes of this Indenture, except for Section  4.09 , references to the Notes include Additional Notes, if any.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of its Board of Directors and in an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) the issue price, the applicable issue date, the CUSIP number of such Additional Notes, the first interest payment date and the amount of interest payable on such first interest payment date applicable thereto and the date from which interest shall accrue; and

(3) whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Notes.

ARTICLE 3.

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee .

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section  3.07 , it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least two (2) Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section  3.03 , an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section  3.07 pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price or the method by which it will be determined, and (v) whether the Company requests that the Trustee give notice of such redemption.

 

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Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed .

(a) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or, in the case of Global Notes, by such other method in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. In the event of partial redemption other than on a pro rata basis, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, not less than two (2) Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) prior to the giving of notice of the redemption pursuant to Section  3.03 , by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption .

(a) At least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date (except that redemption notices may be delivered or mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge), the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, by first class mail a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed (with a copy to the Trustee) at its registered address (or to the extent permitted or required by applicable Depository procedures or regulations with respect to Notes in global form, sent electronically).

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

(1) the redemption date;

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

(3) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of such Note that is to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note will be issued in the name of the applicable Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

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

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption shall cease to accrue on and after the redemption date and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

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

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

(9) a description of any conditions to the Company’s obligations to complete the redemption.

 

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Any redemption and notice thereof may, in the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including completion of an Equity Offering or other corporate transaction. In addition, if such redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date or by the redemption date as so delayed, or such notice or offer may be rescinded at any time in the Company’s discretion if the Company reasonably believes that any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied or waived.

(c) If any of the Notes to be redeemed 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 Depository applicable to redemption.

(d) At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of optional redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section  3.01 , an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section  3.03(b) .

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption .

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section  3.03 , Notes (or portions thereof) called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the applicable redemption date at the applicable redemption price, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions to the redemption specified in the notice of redemption. If delivered in the manner provided for in Section  3.03 , the notice of redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price .

(a) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section  2.04 ) money sufficient in same day funds to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed.

(b) If the Company complies with the provisions of Section  3.05(a) , on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the redemption price upon presentation and surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon presentation and surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section  4.01 .

Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part .

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue in the name of the applicable Holder and the Trustee shall, upon its receipt of an Authentication Order from the Company, authenticate for such Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

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Section 3.07. Optional Redemption .

(a) The Notes are not subject to optional redemption except as provided in this Section  3.07 .

(b) On or after August 15, 2021, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 or more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, 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 date of redemption), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Redemption Price  

2021

     107.313

2022

     104.875

2023

     102.438

2024 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Prior to August 15, 2021, the Company may, at any time or from time to time, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes), upon not less than 15 or more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price of 109.750% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, 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 date of redemption), in an amount not greater than the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and that such redemption occurs within 180 days following the closing of any such Equity Offering.

(d) In addition, prior to August 15, 2021, the Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 or more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption 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 date of redemption).

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this Section  3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 .

Section 3.08. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

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

(b) Within 30 days after the 365th day following the date of an Asset Sale, the Company shall, if it is obligated to make an Asset Sale Offer pursuant to Section  4.10 , deliver a written Asset Sale Offer notice, by first-class mail, to the Holders of the Notes (or to the extent permitted or required by applicable Depository procedures or regulations with respect to Notes in global form, sent electronically), with a copy to the Trustee (the “ Asset Sale Offer Notice ”), accompanied by such information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Company believes will enable such Holders of the Notes to make an informed decision with respect to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer Notice will state, among other things:

(1) that the Company is offering to purchase Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) that any Note (or any portion thereof) accepted for payment (and duly paid on the Purchase Date) pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Purchase Date;

 

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(3) that any Notes (or portions thereof) not validly tendered will continue to accrue interest;

(4) the purchase price and purchase date, which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, no less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date the Asset Sale Offer Notice is mailed (the “ Purchase Date ”);

(5) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased;

(6) a description of the procedure which Holders of Notes must follow in order to tender their Notes and the procedures that Holders of Notes must follow in order to withdraw an election to tender their Notes for payment; and

(7) all other instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

(c) Not later than the date upon which the Asset Sale Offer Notice is delivered to the Trustee as provided in clause (b) of this Section  3.08 , the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (1) the amount of the Asset Sale Offer (the “ Asset Sale Offer Amount ”), (2) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (3) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section  4.10(a) . On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) in cash an amount equal to the Asset Sale Offer Amount to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section  3.08 . Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “ Asset Sale Offer Period ”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof which have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall, on the Purchase Date, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase price of the Notes delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the Asset Sale Offer Amount, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Asset Sale Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section  3.08 .

(d) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company or its agent at the address specified in the Asset Sale Offer Notice at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives, not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes which were delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased. If at the expiration of the Asset Sale Offer Period the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Asset Sale Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased). Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(e) At the time the Company delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of Section  4.10 . A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee or the Paying Agent mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

Section 3.09. No Mandatory Sinking Fund .

Except as set forth under Sections 3.10 , 4.10 and 4.15 , 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. The Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

 

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Section 3.10. Special Mandatory Redemption .

In the event that (a) the Escrow Agent and the Trustee shall not have received the Escrow Release Officers’ Certificate on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Outside Date or (b) the Escrow Issuer shall notify the Escrow Agent and the Trustee in writing that the Escrow Issuer has determined that the Escrow Release Date will not occur on or prior to the Outside Date and/or that the Contribution Agreement has been terminated (each such event described in clauses (a) and (b) above being a “ Special Mandatory Redemption Event ”), the Escrow Issuer will redeem all of the Notes (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) at a price (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”) equal to 100.0% of the issue price of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, from the Issue Date to, but not including, the date of such redemption (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Date ”), which shall be the third Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event. Within one Business Day of the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Event, the Escrow Agent shall liquidate all Escrowed Property and, on or prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, release the Escrowed Property to the Trustee. On the Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event, the Escrow Issuer (or the Trustee upon the written request of and at the expense of the Escrow Issuer) shall deliver a notice of redemption in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository to each Holder of Notes that the entire principal amount outstanding of the Notes shall be redeemed at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

Upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price in respect of the Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Trustee on or before such date, the Notes will cease to bear interest and all rights under the Notes shall terminate. The Trustee will release to (or at the direction of) the Escrow Issuer any Escrowed Property remaining after a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes and payment of fees and expenses. The Escrow Issuer will not be required to effect a Special Mandatory Redemption following the Escrow Release.

ARTICLE 4.

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Payment of Notes .

(a) The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, interest, premium, if any, on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, interest and premium, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, then due. The Company shall pay Additional Interest, if any, on the dates of its choosing in the amounts and in the manner set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and in the Notes. All payments made by the Company under or with respect to the Notes will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any taxes, unless the withholding or deduction of such taxes is then required by law.

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

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

(a) The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, an affiliate of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent) in New York, New York where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and shall maintain an office or agency in the United States (which may be an office of the Trustee, an affiliate of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange 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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(b) The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations ; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in New York, New York for such purposes. 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.

(c) The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section  2.03(a) .

Section 4.03. Reports .

(a) Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations applicable, if the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to a U.S. corporation that is an accelerated filer or if the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to a U.S. corporation that is a non-accelerated filer:

(1) all quarterly and annual financial information 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 section on “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 public accountants; 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.

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

(c) The availability of the foregoing materials on the Commission’s website or on CRI’s website shall be deemed to satisfy the delivery obligations under clauses (a)  and (b) of this Section  4.03 .

(d) In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations in this Section  4.03 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such parent company for so long as such parent company is a guarantor of the Notes; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

Section 4.04. Certificates and Other Information .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and the 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 applicable

 

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to the Company and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions thereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default 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). In addition, so long as any Notes are outstanding, if any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Company shall within ten (10) days of the occurrence thereof deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default and what action the Company is taking or proposed to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act. Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes and any Default or Event of Default information contained in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section  4.04 , the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Company’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

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 the Subsidiary 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; and each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07. Limitation on Restricted Payments .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend on, or make any other distribution to holders of, any shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase Qualified Capital Stock of the Company);

(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent or Subsidiary thereof (other than any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock (other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and other than the purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement of any Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company);

(iii) make any principal payment on or repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled principal payment, scheduled sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except in any case out of the net cash proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and except a payment of interest or principal at or within one year of the Stated Maturity thereof; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment;

(such payments or other actions described in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless at the time of and after giving effect to the proposed Restricted Payment:

 

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(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(2) the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness in accordance with the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section  4.09(a) ; and

(3) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments declared or made after RP Start Date shall not exceed the sum (without duplication) of the following:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company accrued on a cumulative basis during the period beginning on the RP Start Date and ending on the last day of the Company’s last fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such proposed Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income is a loss, minus 100% of such loss); plus

(B) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of assets and property other than cash (other than pursuant to the Contribution), received after the RP Start Date by the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or any options, warrants or rights to purchase such shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company; plus

(C) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of assets and property other than cash received after the RP Start Date by the Company (other than from any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company; plus

(D) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received after the RP Start Date by the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) of Indebtedness or shares of Disqualified Capital Stock that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, together with the aggregate cash received by the Company at the time of such conversion or exchange; plus

(E) to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, the net reduction in Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets, in each case to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the RP Start Date from any Unrestricted Subsidiary or from the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”), not to exceed in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary the total amount of Investments (other than Permitted Investments) in such Unrestricted Subsidiary made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary after the RP Start Date.

(b) Section 4.07(a) will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration or giving of redemption notice, as the case may be, thereof, if at said date of declaration or notice such payment would have complied with Section  4.07(a) (and such payment shall be deemed to have been paid on the date of payment for purposes of any calculation required by Section  4.07(a) );

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

(3) any Restricted Payment made 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 Capital Stock), with any such payment being deemed to be “substantially concurrent” if made within 180 days of the sale of the Equity Interests in question; provided that the amount of any such Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from Section  4.07(a)(3)(B) ;

 

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(4) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with the Net Cash Proceeds from an incurrence of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section  4.09 ;

(5) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any employees, former employees, directors or former directors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or heirs, estates or other permitted transferees of such employees or directors) pursuant to any agreements (including employment agreements), management equity subscription agreements or stock option agreements or plans (or amendments thereto), approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the right to purchase or sell shares of Capital Stock; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $20,000,000 in any calendar year;

(6) loans made to officers, directors or employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed $5,000,000 outstanding at any one time;

(7) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock or other equity options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock or other equity options and any repurchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests is made in lieu of or to satisfy withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of stock options, warrants, incentives or other rights to acquire Equity Interests;

(8) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale and within 60 days after the completion of the offer to repurchase the Notes under Sections 4.15 or 4.10 (including the purchase of all Notes tendered and required to be purchased), any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or other retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness required under the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale at a purchase or redemption price not to exceed 101% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any; provided that, in the notice to Holders relating to a Change of Control or Asset Sale hereunder, the Company shall describe this clause (8);

(9) the purchase by the Company of fractional shares arising out of stock dividends, splits or business combinations or conversion of convertible or exchangeable securities of debt or equity issued by the Company;

(10) payments to dissenting stockholders (x) pursuant to applicable law or (y) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture;

(11) dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company or preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary if such dividends are included in the calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense; or

(12) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000.

(c) The actions described in Section  4.07(b)(1) shall be a Restricted Payment that shall be permitted to be made in accordance with Section  4.07(b) , but shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be available for Restricted Payments under Section  4.07(a)(3) ( provided that any dividend paid pursuant to Section  4.07(b)(1) shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be available under Section  4.07(a)(3) when declared, but not also when subsequently paid pursuant to Section  4.07(b)(1) ).

(d) 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. For purposes of determining compliance

 

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with this Section  4.07 , if a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described in Section  4.07(b)(1) through (12)  or pursuant to Section  4.07(a) , the Company, in its sole discretion, may order and classify, and subsequently reorder and reclassify, such Restricted Payment in any manner in compliance with this Section  4.07 .

Section 4.08. Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or suffer to exist or allow to become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) to pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock, or make payments on any Indebtedness owed, to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the priority that any series of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary has in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions before dividends or liquidating distributions are paid in respect of common stock of such Restricted Subsidiary shall not constitute a restriction on the ability to make dividends or distributions on Capital Stock for purposes of this Section  4.08 ;

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

(3) to transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary

(b) However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements existing on the Issue Date, including the Bank Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

(2) any instrument governing Indebtedness of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any other Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition;

(3) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary (limited to restrictions on distributions of such assets in the case of assets (other than Capital Stock) being sold) pending such sale or other disposition;

(4) any amendment, restatement, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness referred to in Section  4.08(b)(1) or (2) , provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained in the agreements governing the foregoing are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing such Indebtedness as in effect prior to such amendment, restatement, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing as determined in good faith by the Company;

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

(6) cash or other deposits, or net worth requirements or similar requirements, imposed by suppliers, or other deposits by parties under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business of the types described in the definition of “Permitted Business Investments”;

 

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(7) any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

(8) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property or transfer of Capital Stock in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements, and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors or any of its officers, which limitation is applicable only to the assets, property or Capital Stock that are the subject of such agreements;

(9) any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture or if such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary than those in effect on the Issue Date with respect to that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Issue Date or those contained in this Indenture or the Bank Credit Agreement, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an Officer of the Company;

(10) encumbrances or restrictions applicable only to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary;

(11) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or customary restrictions in licenses relating to the property covered thereby and entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(12) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to or by reason of an agreement that the Unrestricted Subsidiary is a party to or entered into before the date on which such Unrestricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such agreement was not entered into in anticipation of the Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and any such encumbrance or restriction does not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property of such Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(13) with respect to Section  4.08(a)(3) , any of the following encumbrances or restrictions:

(i) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business or otherwise permitted under this Indenture that impose restrictions on the property so acquired;

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

(iii) agreements governing hedging obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.09. Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or in any manner become directly or indirectly liable for the payment of (collectively, “ incur ” and “ incurrence ,” “ incurred ” and “ incurring ” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing) any Indebtedness (including any Acquired Indebtedness), and the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Capital Stock (except for the issuance by the Company of Disqualified Capital Stock (x) which is redeemable at the Company’s option in cash or Qualified Capital Stock and (y) the dividends on which are payable at the Company’s option in cash or Qualified Capital Stock); provided that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Subsidiary Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including any Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Capital Stock if (i) at the time of such event and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the four full quarters immediately preceding such event, taken as one period, would have been equal to or greater than 2.25 to 1.00 and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Capital Stock is issued or would occur as a consequence of the incurrence of the additional Indebtedness or the issuance of the Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

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(b) The restrictions in Section  4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Indebtedness ”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor of 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 potential liability of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors thereunder) not to exceed the greatest of (i) $700,000,000, (ii) the sum of (x) $150,000,000 plus (y) 30% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets and (iii) the Borrowing Base as in effect as of the date of such incurrence; provided that any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1)  must be secured on a basis that is or would be pari passu with the Bank Credit Agreement as in effect on the Escrow Release Date;

(2) Indebtedness under the Notes issued on the Issue Date (including the related Subsidiary Guarantees) and any Exchange Notes in respect thereof (including any related Subsidiary Guarantees thereof);

(3) Indebtedness outstanding or in effect on the Escrow Release Date (and not repaid or defeased with the proceeds of the offering of the Notes issued on the Issue Date or borrowings under the Bank Credit Agreement borrowed on the Escrow Release Date), other than Indebtedness described in Section  4.09(b)(1) or (2) ;

(4) (i) obligations pursuant to Interest Rate Protection Obligations, but only to the extent such obligations do not exceed 105% of the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness covered by such Interest Rate Protection Obligations; (ii) obligations under currency exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) hedging arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of protecting production, purchases and resales against fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices, and any guarantee of any of the foregoing;

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, to finance the acquisition, lease, construction, installation, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets) used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) 3.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such incurrence (taken together with any outstanding Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred with respect to Indebtedness incurred under 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor another Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(B) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary 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) ;

 

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(7) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge, in whole or in part, any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clause (2) , (3) , (5) , (13) or (15)  of this Section  4.09(b) or this clause (7) ;

(8) Non-Recourse Indebtedness;

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

(10) Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance or surety bonds issued for the account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including guaranties and letters of credit supporting such bid, performance or surety obligations (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

(11) any obligation arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, guarantee, adjustment of purchase price, holdback, contingency payment obligation based on the performance of the acquired or disposed asset or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, asset or Capital Stock;

(12) any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided , however , that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;

(13) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(14) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (14) , when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (14) , does not exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 3.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such incurrence or issuance; and

(15) any additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount, not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) 3.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such incurrence or issuance (taken together with any outstanding Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred with respect to Indebtedness incurred under this clause (15) ).

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section  4.09 , in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in Section  4.09(b)(1) through (15)  or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section  4.09(a) , the Company may, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section  4.09 and such item of Indebtedness will be treated as having been incurred pursuant to only one of such clauses of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” or Section  4.09(a) and an item of Indebtedness may be divided and classified in more than one of the types of Indebtedness permitted hereunder; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding on the Escrow Release Date under the Bank Credit Agreement shall be deemed incurred under Section  4.09(b)(1) and not under Section  4.09(a) or Section  4.09(b)(3) .

(d) 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, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Capital Stock will

 

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not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock for purposes of this covenant. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (ii) the principal amount or liquidation preference thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness being refinanced and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith).

(f) 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 covenant shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Section 4.10. Limitation on Asset Sales .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets and property subject to such Asset Sale and (ii) at least 75% of the consideration paid to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents, Liquid Securities, Exchanged Properties, Drilling Expense Commitments or the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company (other than liabilities of the Company that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) or liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor that made such Asset Sale (other than liabilities of a Subsidiary Guarantor that are by their terms subordinated to such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee), in each case as a result of which the Company and its remaining Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such liabilities, or any combination of the foregoing (“ Permitted Consideration ”); provided that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to receive assets and property other than Permitted Consideration, so long as the aggregate Fair Market Value of all such assets and property other than Permitted Consideration received from Asset Sales since the Escrow Release Date and held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at any one time shall not exceed 10% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

(b) The Net Available Cash from Asset Sales by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), to:

(1) to repay, prepay, purchase, redeem, acquire or otherwise reduce (i) Indebtedness under the Bank Credit Agreement, (ii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, (iii) Obligations under the Notes or (iv) other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary ( provided that if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under unsecured Senior Indebtedness under this subclause (iv) , the Company will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations as provided under Section  3.07 through open-market purchases ( provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof or, in the event that the Notes were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section  3.10 for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event that the Notes were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the pro rata principal amount of Notes), in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or

 

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(2) reinvest in Additional Assets (including by means of an Investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary).

(c) Any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with Section  4.10(b) within 365 days from the date of such Asset Sale shall constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25,000,000, the Company will be required to make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes in accordance with Section  3.08 and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes 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. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Purchase 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 Purchase Date), and will be payable in cash. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of available Excess Proceeds allocated for repurchases of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer, then such Excess Proceeds will be allocated pro rata according to the principal amount of the Notes tendered and the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased in accordance with this Indenture. To the extent that any portion of the amount of Excess Proceeds remains after compliance with the second sentence of this clause (c)  and provided that all Holders of Notes have been given the opportunity to tender their Notes for purchase as described in Section  3.08 , the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use such remaining amount for purposes permitted by this Indenture and the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.

(d) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the purchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions relating to the Asset Sale Offer, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section  4.10 by virtue thereof.

Section 4.11. Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into or suffer to exist any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of assets or property or the rendering of any services) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration to or from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $10,000,000, unless:

(1) such transaction or series of related transactions is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would be available in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with unrelated third parties or, if in the good faith judgment of the Company, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(I) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $15,000,000 but no greater than $25,000,000, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with this covenant; and

 

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(II) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000,000, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with this Section  4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Company, if any, (or, if there is only one Disinterested Director, such Disinterested Director).

(b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section  4.11(a) :

(1) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 outstanding at any one time;

(2) indemnities of officers, directors, employees and other agents of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted by corporate charter or other organizational document, bylaw or statutory provisions;

(3) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to directors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or any Affiliate;

(4) the Company’s employee compensation and other benefit arrangements;

(5) transactions exclusively between or among the Company and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such Restricted Subsidiaries, provided such transactions are not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

(6) any Restricted Payment permitted to be paid pursuant to Section  4.07 ;

(7) the consummation of the Assumption and the Transactions;

(8) any transactions undertaken pursuant to any contracts in existence on the Issue Date (as in effect on the Issue Date) and any renewals, replacements or modifications of such contracts (pursuant to new transactions or otherwise) on terms no less favorable to the Holders of the Notes than those in effect on the Issue Date;

(9) in the case of contracts for drilling, storing, gathering, processing, treating, transporting or disposing of hydrocarbons or services reasonably related thereto or other operation-type contracts, any such contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business (x) which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management thereof or (y) which are on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties or, if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, that the terms are on the whole not materially less favorable than those that would be reasonably expected to be available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(10) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

(11) any sale or other issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company to, or receipt of a capital contribution from, an Affiliate (or a Person that becomes an Affiliate) of the Company;

 

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(12) any transaction in which the Company or any of 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 meets the requirements of Section  4.11(a)(1) ;

(13) any transaction between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the one hand and any Person deemed to be an Affiliate solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, on the other hand; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, in connection with the approval of the transaction; and

(14) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and otherwise in compliance with this Indenture; provided that such transactions are on terms substantially similar to those obtained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in similar transactions with third parties or, if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar transaction with a third party, that are on the whole not materially less favorable than those that would be reasonably expected to be available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis, as determined in good faith by the Company.

Section 4.12. Limitation on Liens .

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, affirm or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens, to secure (a) any Indebtedness of the Company unless prior to, or contemporaneously therewith, the Notes are equally and ratably secured for so long as such other Indebtedness is so secured, or (b) any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor, unless prior to, or contemporaneously therewith, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor is equally and ratably secured for so long as such other Indebtedness is so secured; provided , however , that if such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the Notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, the Lien securing such Indebtedness will be subordinated and junior to the Lien securing the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, with the same relative priority as such Indebtedness has with respect to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee.

Section 4.13. Future Subsidiary Guarantees .

If any Restricted Subsidiary that is not already a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, including under a Credit Facility, then such Restricted Subsidiary will become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5 and delivering it to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it incurred or guaranteed such Indebtedness; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Subsidiaries of the Company that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Section 4.14. Existence .

Subject to Article 5 , the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control .

(a) From and after the Escrow Release Date, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall be obligated to make an offer to purchase all of the then outstanding Notes (a “ Change of Control Offer ”), and shall purchase, on a Business Day (the “ Change of Control Purchase Date ”) not more than 60 nor less than 30 days following such Change of Control, all of the then outstanding Notes validly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer, at a purchase price (the “ Change of Control Purchase Price ”) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Change of Control Purchase Date (subject to

 

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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 Purchase Date). The Change of Control Offer is required to remain open for at least 20 Business Days and until the close of business on the fifth Business Day prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date.

(b) In order to effect a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall, not later than the 30th day after the occurrence of a Change of Control, deliver to the Trustee and each Holder a notice of the Change of Control Offer, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer, describe the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and state:

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

(2) the Change of Control Purchase Price and the Change of Control Purchase Date, which will be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed;

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

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on and after the Change of Control Purchase Date;

(5) 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 close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the close of business on third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Purchase Date, a 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

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

(c) On or before the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered in the Change of Control Offer and not withdrawn; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

(d) The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes validly tendered in the Change of Control Offer and not withdrawn the Change of Control Purchase Price for such Notes (or if all Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depository), and the Trustee will promptly authenticate

 

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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 that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of a Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Purchase Date.

(e) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times 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 validly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section  3.03 unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price or (3) in connection with any publicly announced Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “ Alternate Offer ”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Purchase Price and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is made.

(g) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer in lieu of the Company as described in this Section  4.15 , purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described in this Section  4.15 , to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Purchase Price or Alternate Offer price, as applicable, plus , to the extent not included in the Change of Control Purchase Price, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

(h) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in the event that a Change of Control occurs and the Company is required to purchase Notes as described in this Section  4.15 . To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section  4.15 , the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Section  4.15 by virtue thereof.

Section 4.16. Future Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if:

(1) the Company would be permitted to make (i) a Permitted Investment or (ii) an Investment pursuant to Section  4.07 , in either case, in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary at the time of such designation;

(2) such Restricted Subsidiary meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(3) the designation would not constitute or cause (with or without the passage of time) a Default or Event of Default and no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation; and

 

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(4) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section  4.07 .

(b) If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section  4.07 or under one or more clauses of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” as determined by the Company.

(c) If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary designated as such would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, then such Subsidiary 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 as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the covenant set forth under Section  4.09 , the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary will be in default of such covenant.

(d) The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if:

(1) the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries could incur the Indebtedness which is deemed to be incurred upon such designation under Section  4.09 , equal to the total Indebtedness of such Subsidiary calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

(2) the designation would not constitute or cause a Default or Event of Default; and

(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions, including the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section  4.09 .

Section 4.17. Suspended Covenants .

(a) During any period following the Escrow Release Date that the Notes have a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P and Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (“ Investment Grade Ratings ”) and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (such period, a “ Covenant Suspension Period ”), upon the delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following Sections of this Indenture (collectively, the “ Suspended Covenants ”):

(i) Section 4.07;

(ii) Section 4.08;

(iii) Section 4.09;

(iv) Section 4.10;

(v) Section 4.11;

(vi) Section 4.18; and

(vii) Section 5.01(a)(3).

 

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(b) In the event that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the preceding paragraph and either S&P or Moody’s subsequently withdraws its rating or downgrades its rating of the Notes below the applicable Investment Grade Rating, or a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, except that no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture or the Notes with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have any liability for, any actions taken or events occurring during the Covenant Suspension Period, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable covenants had remained in effect during such period (or after the reinstatement date based solely on contractual obligations or other events arising during the Covenant Suspension Period). Calculations under Section  4.07 will be made as if Section  4.07 had been in effect since the Escrow Release Date, except that no Default will be deemed to have occurred solely by reason of a Restricted Payment made while Section  4.07 was suspended. Furthermore, (i) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Capital Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Covenant Suspension Period will be deemed to have been incurred or issued pursuant to clause (3)  of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”; provided that any Indebtedness incurred under the Bank Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to clause (1)  of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” and (ii) all Liens incurred during the Covenant Suspension Period will be deemed to have been incurred under clause (2)  of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

(c) In addition, for purposes of Section  4.08 , all contracts entered into during the Covenant Suspension Period that contain any of the restrictions contemplated by Section  4.08 will be deemed to have been existing on the Escrow Release Date.

(d) During any Covenant Suspension Period, the Board of Directors of the Company may not designate any of the Company’s Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this Indenture.

(e) The Company shall give the Trustee written notice of the commencement of any Covenant Suspension Period promptly, and in any event not later than five (5) Business Days, after the commencement thereof. In the absence of such notice, the Trustee shall assume the Suspended Covenants apply and are in full force and effect.

(f) The Company shall give the Trustee written notice of the termination of any Covenant Suspension Period not later than five (5) Business Days after the occurrence thereof. After any such notice of the termination of any Covenant Suspension Period, the Trustee shall assume the Suspended Covenants apply and are in full force and effect.

Section 4.18. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries .

The Company (1) will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue or sell any Preferred Stock to any Person other than the Company or one of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries and (2) will not permit any Person other than the Company or one of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries to own any Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except, in each case, for (a) the Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by a Person at the time such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) a sale of Preferred Stock in connection with the sale of all the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries effected in accordance with Section  4.10 .

Section 4.19. Escrow Release .

(a) The Escrow Issuer shall only be entitled to direct the Escrow Agent to release the Escrowed Property to or at the direction of the Escrow Issuer upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Issuer shall apply the Escrowed Property in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

(b) Prior to or substantially concurrently with the Escrow Release, CRI and each of the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Trustee the Escrow Release Date Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which (x) CRI shall assume the Obligations of the Escrow Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes (the “ As sumption ”) and (y) the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors shall jointly and severally guarantee, on a senior unsecured basis, all of the Company’s Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

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(c) Substantially concurrently with the Escrow Release, the Escrow Issuer shall be merged with and into CRI (with CRI surviving such merger), and CRI shall assume all of the Escrow Issuer’s obligations including those under this Indenture, the Notes, the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

(d) If at any time the Escrow Account contains funds having an aggregate value in excess of the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, such excess cash may be released to or at the direction of Escrow Issuer.

Section 4.20. Activities Prior to the Release .

(a) Prior to the Escrow Release Date or the Special Mandatory Redemption (as the case may be), the primary activities of the Escrow Issuer will be restricted to issuing the Notes, issuing capital stock to, and receiving capital contributions from, a direct parent entity, performing its obligations in respect of the Notes under this Indenture, the Registration Rights and the Escrow Agreement and redeeming the Notes, if applicable, and conducting such other activities as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the activities described above. Prior to the Escrow Release Date, the Escrow Issuer will not own, hold or otherwise have any interest in any assets other than the Escrow Account and cash and Cash Equivalents.

(b) Prior to the Escrow Release Date, the Escrow Issuer shall maintain its corporate existence and shall not engage in any business activity or enter into any transaction or agreement (including, without limitation, making any Restricted Payment, incurring any Indebtedness, incurring any Liens except in favor of the Holders of the Notes, entering into any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets or engaging in any transaction with its Affiliates) except in the ordinary course of the primary activities described above or as necessary or advisable (as determined by the Escrow Issuer) to effectuate the Transactions or the Special Mandatory Redemption.

(c) Prior to the Escrow Release Date, (i) the covenants in Sections 4.07 through 4.13 and 4.15 through 4.18 shall not be effective and (ii) CRI and its Subsidiaries (other than the Escrow Issuer) shall not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Indenture or otherwise obligated under this Indenture.

ARTICLE 5.

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets .

(a) From and after the Escrow Release Date, the Company will not, in any single transaction or series of related transactions, merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any Person or group of Affiliated Persons, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of related transactions if such transaction or series of transactions, in the aggregate, would result in the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any other Person or group of Affiliated Persons, unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

(1) either (i) if the transaction is a merger or consolidation, the Company shall be the surviving Person of such merger or consolidation, or (ii) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which the properties and assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are sold, assigned, conveyed, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of (any such surviving Person or transferee Person being the “ Surviving Entity ”) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall, in either case, expressly assume by a supplemental indenture to this Indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and, in each case, this Indenture shall remain in full force and effect;

 

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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which becomes an obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with or as a result of such transaction as having been incurred at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(3) except in the case of the consolidation or merger of any Restricted Subsidiary with or into the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, either:

(A) immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (assuming that the transaction or transactions occurred on the first day of the period of four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or transactions, with the appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction or transactions being included in such pro forma calculation), the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture) could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section  4.09(a) ; or

(B) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (assuming that the transaction or transactions occurred on the first day of the period of four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or transactions, with the appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction or transactions being included in such pro forma calculation), the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture) will be equal to or greater than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transaction or transactions;

(4) if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture, then each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the Surviving Entity, shall have by supplemental indenture to this Indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes shall apply to the Surviving Entity’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(5) if the Company is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity shall expressly assume, by joinder agreement substantially in the form annexed to the Registration Rights Agreement, all of the obligations of the Company, if applicable, under the Registration Rights Agreement; and

(6) the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture) shall have delivered to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, transfer, lease or other disposition and any supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with the requirements under this Indenture and that the requirements of this paragraph have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section  5.01(a) shall not apply to any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of properties or assets between or among the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor without limitation, except to the extent any such transaction is subject to Section  5.01(a) . Each Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into or sell all or substantially all of its properties and assets to a Person other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor (whether or not affiliated with the Subsidiary Guarantor); provided that (i) if the surviving Person is not the Subsidiary Guarantor, the surviving Person agrees to assume such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee and all its obligations pursuant to this Indenture (except to the extent Section  10.02 would result in the release of such Subsidiary Guarantee) and the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) such transaction does not (x) violate Article 4 or (y) result in a Default or Event of Default immediately thereafter that is continuing.

 

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Section 5.02. Successor Substituted .

Upon any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section  5.01 , in which the Company is not the continuing corporation, the Surviving Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if the Surviving Entity had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in this Section  5.02) , except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes and may be liquidated and dissolved.

ARTICLE 6.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01. Events of Default .

Each of the following is an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Notes, whether such payment is due at Stated Maturity, upon redemption (including a Special Mandatory Redemption), upon repurchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, upon acceleration or otherwise;

(b) default in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Interest (as required by the Registration Rights Agreement) on any of the Notes, when due, and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

(c) default in the performance or breach of the provisions of Article 5 , the failure to make or consummate a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section  4.15 or the failure to make or consummate an Asset Sale Offer in accordance with Sections 3.08 and 4.10 ;

(d) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall fail to comply with Section  4.03 for a period of 120 days after written notice of such failure stating that it is a “notice of default” under this Indenture shall have been given (x) to the Company by the Trustee or (y) to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding;

(e) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in the Notes, any Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture (other than a default specified in clauses (a) , (b) , (c) or (d)  above) for a period of 60 days after written notice of such failure stating that it is a “notice of default” under this Indenture shall have been given (x) to the Company by the Trustee or (y) to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding;

(f) the occurrence and continuation beyond any applicable grace period of any default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Indebtedness of the Company (other than the Notes) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary for money borrowed when due, or any other default resulting in acceleration of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary for money borrowed; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under

 

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which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, shall exceed $50,000,000 and provided , further , that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded by the holders of such Indebtedness, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 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, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

(g) any Subsidiary Guarantee shall for any reason cease to be, or be asserted by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, not to be in full force and effect (except pursuant to the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture);

(h) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary to pay final judgments or orders rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 (net of any amounts covered by insurance with a reputable and creditworthy insurance company that has not disclaimed liability) and either (x) commencement by any creditor of an enforcement proceeding upon such judgment (other than a judgment that is stayed by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise) or (y) the occurrence of a 60-day period during which a stay of such judgment or order, by reason of pending appeal or otherwise, was not in effect;

(i) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises (x) for relief in respect of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (y) adjudging the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing under any such law a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or of a substantial part of its consolidated assets, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(j) the commencement by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect thereof in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of a petition or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it under any such law to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its consolidated assets, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors under any such law, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or taking of corporate action by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action.

 

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Section 6.02. Acceleration .

(a) If an Event of Default (other than as specified in Sections 6.01(i) or (j) ) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, by written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Trustee and the Company, may, and the Trustee upon the request of the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes due and payable immediately, upon which declaration all amounts payable in respect of the Notes shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(i) or (j)  occurs and is continuing, then the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of Notes.

(b) If the Notes are accelerated or otherwise become due prior to their Stated Maturity, the amount of principal of, accrued and unpaid interest and premium on the Notes that becomes due and payable shall equal the redemption price applicable with respect to an optional redemption of the Notes pursuant to Section  3.07 , in effect on the date of such acceleration as if such acceleration were an optional redemption of the Notes accelerated.

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that if the Notes are accelerated or otherwise become due prior to their Stated Maturity, in each case, in respect of any Event of Default (including, but not limited to, upon the occurrence of a bankruptcy or insolvency event (including the acceleration of claims by operation of law)), the premium applicable with respect to an optional redemption of the Notes (including the Applicable Premium) will also be due and payable, in cash, as though the Notes were optionally redeemed and shall constitute part of the Notes Obligations, in view of the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable calculation of each Holder’s lost profits as a result thereof. Any premium payable above shall be presumed to be the liquidated damages sustained by each Holder as the result of the early redemption and the Company agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. The premium shall also be payable in the event the Notes (and/or this Indenture) are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACCELERATION. The Company expressly agrees (to the fullest extent it may lawfully do so) that: (1) the premium is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s-length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (2) the premium shall be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment is made; (3) there has been a course of conduct between Holders and the Company giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the premium; and (4) the Company shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. The Company expressly acknowledges that its agreement to pay the premium (including the Applicable Premium) to Holders as herein described is a material inducement to Holders to purchase the Notes.

(d) After a declaration of acceleration hereunder, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration if (1) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, (B) all overdue interest on all Notes, (C) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Notes which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes, and (D) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest and overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes (without duplication of any amount paid or deposited pursuant to subclause (B)  or (C) ); (2) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (3) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes that has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

 

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Section 6.03. Other Remedies .

(a) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

(b) The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults .

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, the Notes (other than a payment Default or payment Event of Default that resulted from an acceleration that has been rescinded). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05. Control by Majority .

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee hereunder. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in any financial or personal liability. In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification or security (or both) against all loss, liability and expenses caused by the taking or not taking of such action.

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits .

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, when due pursuant to Section  6.07 , no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(ii) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have made a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee, and the Trustee has received (if requested), reasonable security or indemnity (or both) against any loss, liability or expense;

(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after its receipt of the request and the offer of reasonable security or indemnity (or both); and

(v) Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

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

 

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Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the rights of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee .

If an Event of Default specified in Section  6.01(a) or (b)  occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors for the whole amount of principal, interest and premium, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest in each case at the rate specified in the Notes, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09. Trustee is Authorized to File Proofs of Claim .

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section  7.06 . To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section  7.06 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10. Priorities .

(a) If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6 , it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(1) First : to the Trustee and its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section  7.06 , including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and costs and expenses of collection incurred by the Trustee;

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

(3) Third : to the Company or to such other Person as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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(b) The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section  6.10 .

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs .

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

ARTICLE 7.

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee .

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

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

(1) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

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

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section  7.01(b) ;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section  6.05 .

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section  7.01 and the Trust Indenture Act.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes.

 

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(f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability.

(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and in its capacity as Trustee under any other agreement executed in connection with this Indenture to which the Trustee is a party.

Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

(f) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee, and the Trustee has received, reasonable indemnity or security (or both) against any loss, liability or expense.

(g) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee by the Company or any Holder.

(h) The permissive rights of the Trustee to act hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

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

(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and titles of officers authorized at such times to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee .

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.09 and 7.11 .

 

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Section 7.04. Trustee s Disclaimer .

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults .

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, in accordance with Section  7.02(g) , the Trustee shall send to each Holder notice of the Default or Event of Default within 60 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a Default or an Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes, the Trustee may withhold the notice to the Holders of the Notes if the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06. Compensation and Indemnity .

(a) The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation as the Company and the Trustee may agree in writing for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

(b) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall indemnify the Trustee, jointly and severally, against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (including this Section  7.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability, damage, claim or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not relieve the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) The obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Section  7.06 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(d) To secure the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section  7.06 , the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section  6.01(i) or (j)  occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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(f) The immunities, protections and exculpations available to the Trustee under this Indenture shall also be available to each Agent, and the Company’s and each Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Section  7.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee shall extend likewise to each Agent.

Section 7.07. Replacement of Trustee .

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section  7.07 .

(b) The Trustee may resign in writing upon thirty 30 days’ notice at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the consent of the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section  7.09 ;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(3) a receiver, Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

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

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Company, for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section  7.09 , unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall send a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section  7.06 . Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section  7.07 , the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under Section  7.06 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.08. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc .

If the Trustee consolidates with, or merges or converts into, or transfers or sells all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the successor corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall send a notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders.

 

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Section 7.09. Eligibility; Disqualification .

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided , however , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act are met.

Section 7.10. Reports by Trustee to Holders .

Within 60 days after each May 15 following initial issuance, beginning with May 15, 2019, the Trustee shall send to each Holder as provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee also shall comply with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Pursuant to Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act, a copy of each report at the time of its sending to the Holders shall be filed with the Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed if the Notes are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof. All reports pursuant to this Section  7.10 shall be provided in accordance with Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company .

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated.

Section 7.12. Escrow Authorization .

Each Holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, including documents related thereto, as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in writing by the parties thereto, and authorizes and directs the Trustee to enter into the Escrow Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance herewith and therewith. The Escrow Issuer shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Escrow Agreement, to assure and confirm to the Trustee the security interest contemplated by the Escrow Agreement or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes, according to the intent and purpose herein expressed. The Escrow Issuer shall take, or shall cause to be taken, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the Escrow Agreement to create and maintain, as security for the obligations of the Escrow Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes as provided in the Escrow Agreement, valid and enforceable perfected security interests in and Liens on all the Escrowed Property, in favor of the Trustee for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, prior to the rights of third Persons and subject to no other Liens.

 

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ARTICLE 8.

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section  8.02 or 8.03 be applied with respect to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors 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 of the option applicable to this Section  8.02 , subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section  8.04 , the Company shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and each Subsidiary 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 outstanding Notes, and each Subsidiary 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 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below) and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantees 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 payment in respect of, the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due;

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes under Sections 2.03 , 2.04 , 2.06 , 2.07 , 2.10 , 4.02 and the Appendix;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee; and

(d) the Legal Defeasance and Covenant 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 .

Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section  8.01 of the option applicable to this Section  8.03 , the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section  8.04 , be released from their respective obligations under the covenants contained in Article 4 (other than those in Sections 4.01 , 4.02 , 4.04 , 4.05 4.06 , 4.14 , 4.17 , 4.19 and 4.20 ) and in Section  5.01(a)(3) and after the date the conditions set forth in Section  8.04 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 and Subsidiary Guarantees, the Company and any Subsidiary 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 under Section  6.01 , 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 of the option applicable to this Section  8.03 , subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.04 , 6.01(e) and (f)  shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

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Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(a) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes to redemption or maturity;

(b) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred (in the case of Legal Defeasance, such opinion must refer to and be based upon a published ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax laws);

(c) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Sections 6.01(i) and (j)  are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;

(d) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest under this Indenture or the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(e) 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 to which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which it is bound; and

(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Trustee, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent under this Indenture to either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

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

(a) Subject to Section  8.06 , all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section  8.04 or 8.08 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries 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, interest, and premium, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(b) The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section  8.04 or 8.08 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.

 

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(c) Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written request of the Company any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section  8.04 or 8.08 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment banking, appraisal firm or 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(a) ), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, as the case may be.

Section 8.06. Repayment to the Company .

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, or interest, or premium, if any, on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, interest, and premium, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its written request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or U.S. Government Obligations, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the written request and expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times or 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 the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section  8.05 , by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ 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 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section  8.05 ; provided that, if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor makes any payment of principal of, interest, or premium, if any, on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with or held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

Section 8.08. Discharge .

This Indenture and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except as to (x) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section  8.08(a)(2) , 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, (y) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.03 , 2.04 , 2.05 , 2.06 , 2.07 , 2.10 , 4.02 and the Appendix and (z) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and each Agent hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to all the Notes, when:

(a) either:

(i) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money or U.S. Government Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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(ii) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the serving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of the redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of the redemption;

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

ARTICLE 9.

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section  9.02 , without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees in the following circumstances:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

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

(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders in accordance with the terms hereof (including the assumption by CRI of the Notes Obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture and the simultaneous release of the Escrow Issuer from such Notes Obligations);

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder in any material respect;

(5) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum was intended to set forth, verbatim or in substance, a provision of this Indenture or the Notes, as applicable, which intent may be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate to that effect;

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

 

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(7) to secure the Notes;

(8) to add any Subsidiary Guarantor or release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee if such release is in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(9) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes and the Exchange Notes in accordance with this Indenture;

(10) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(11) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided , however , that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes; and

(12) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Notes.

(b) Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section  9.06 , the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any amendment 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 any such amendment or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes .

(a) Except as provided above in Section  9.01 and below in this Section  9.02 , the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees 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 Section  6.04 and 6.07 , any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of 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). However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not:

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

(2) reduce the principal of, or change the fixed maturity of, any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than with respect to (x) minimum notice required for optional redemption or (y) the provisions relating to Sections 4.10 and 4.15 ), including any provision relating to the premium payable upon any such purchase or redemption;

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

(4) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date);

(5) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest, or premium, if any, on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

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

(7) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of, or interest, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;

(8) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section  3.08 , 4.10 or 4.15) ;

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

(10) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions;

(11) release proceeds from the Escrow Account in any manner or at any time other than as set forth in Section  3.10 or Section  4.19 and in the Escrow Agreement; or

(i) make any change to the provisions in this Indenture with respect to the Escrow Issuer’s obligation to redeem the Notes through a Special Mandatory Redemption in a manner that would materially adversely affect the Holders of the Notes.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement (including, without limitation, those relating to the release of the Escrowed Property) may be amended or waived in a manner that would materially adversely affect the Holders of the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Escrow Issuer) without the consent of the Holders of 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

(c) Upon the request of the Company and upon the receipt by the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section  9.06 , the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver, unless such amendment, supplement or waiver 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 amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver.

(d) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section  9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

(e) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section  9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.03. Consents in Connection with Purchase, Tender or Exchange .

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.

Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents .

(a) 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 such 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

 

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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, except as provided in clause (c) of this Section  9.04 , thereafter binds every Holder.

(b) 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 second to 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, supplement 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 clause (c) of this Section  9.04 .

(c) After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (12) of Section  9.02(a) , 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.

Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company, in exchange for all Notes, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc .

The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplemental indenture or grant any waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplemental indenture or waiver does not adversely affect its rights, duties, liabilities or immunities. If any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver does adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee, the Trustee may, but need not, sign such amendment, supplemental indenture or grant such waiver. In executing any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section  7.01 ) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section  12.02 , an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that the execution of such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Section 9.07. Acts of Holders .

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders shall be in writing may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section  7.01 ) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section  9.07 .

(b) Without limiting the generality of this Section  9.07 , unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, (i) a Holder, including the Depository or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Note, may give, make or take, by an agent or agents duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders, and the Depository or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Note may duly appoint in writing as its agent or agents members of, or participants in, the Depository holding interests in such Global Note in the records of the Depository;

 

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and (ii) with respect to any Global Note, any consent or other action given, made or taken by an Agent Member by electronic means in accordance with the “Automated Tender Offer Procedures” system or other customary procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, the Depository shall be deemed to constitute the Act of the Holder of such Global Note, and such Act shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee upon the delivery by the Depository of an “agent’s message” or other notice of such consent or other action having been so given, made or taken in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures of the Depository.

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

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

(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give, make or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so, or duly appoint in writing any Person or Persons as its agent or agents to do so, with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note.

Section 9.08. Compliance with the Trust Indenture Act .

Each amendment to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

ARTICLE 10.

GUARANTEES OF NOTES

Section 10.01. Subsidiary Guarantees of Notes .

(a) Prior to the Escrow Release Date, the Notes will not be guaranteed. From and after the Escrow Release Date, subject to this Article 10 , each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Subsidiary Guarantors and severally, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, on a senior basis to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Company hereunder and thereunder, that:

(1) the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, 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, if any, on, the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture or the Notes will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(2) 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.

(b) Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that this is an absolute, unconditional, present and continuing guarantee of payment and performance (and not a guarantee of collection) and is in no way conditioned upon any attempt to collect from the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other action, occurrence or circumstance whatsoever.

 

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(c) The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the 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 Subsidiary Guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

(d) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, or any Custodian, trustee or other similar official acting in relation to any of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, any amount paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(e) Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 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 (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6 , such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Subsidiary Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section  10.03 so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

Section 10.02. Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees .

(a) The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released:

(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) other than to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, if such transaction as of the time of such disposition does not violate Section  4.10 ; provided that any such release shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under all of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets or other security interests which secure, other Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall also be released upon such sale or other disposition;

(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) other than to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, if such transaction at the time of such disposition does not violate Section  4.10 and the Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction;

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

(4) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor;

(5) if the Company effects a Legal Defeasance in accordance with Section  8.02 or a Covenant Defeasance under Section  8.03 , or if it satisfies and discharges this Indenture in accordance with Section  8.08 ; or

 

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(6) at such time as such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to guarantee any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect and stating that any of the conditions described in clauses (1) through (6) of Section  10.02(a) has occurred, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company at the Company’s expense in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes and for the other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10 .

Section 10.03. Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability .

Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state or foreign law to the extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. The obligations of each Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state or foreign law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under a Subsidiary Guarantee shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor.

Section 10.04. “ Trustee to Include Paying Agent .

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed 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.

Section 10.05. Execution and Delivery of Guaranty .

The execution by each Subsidiary Guarantor of this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture hereto) evidences the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, whether or not the person signing as an Officer of the Subsidiary Guarantor still holds that office at the time of authentication of any Note. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee after authentication constitutes due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each Subsidiary Guarantor.

Section 10.06. Subrogation .

Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by the Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section  10.01 ; provided that no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

 

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ARTICLE 11.

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE 12.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01. Notices .

(a) All notices and other communications by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee to the other parties hereto shall be duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to their respective addresses set forth below:

If to the Company (prior to the Escrow Release Date):

Comstock Escrow Corporation

c/o Comstock Resources, Inc.

Attention: Roland O. Burns, President

5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

Facsimile: (972) 668-8812

If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (from and after the Escrow Release Date):

Comstock Resources, Inc.

Attention: Roland O. Burns, President

5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

Facsimile: (972) 668-8812

If to the Trustee:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

48 Wall Street, 22 nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Legal Department

(b) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given (1) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (2) five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, (3) when receipt is acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile, and (4) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, in each case to the address shown above or to such other address or addresses as the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee, by written notice to the other parties hereto, may designate from time to time.

(c) Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and either (1) mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Note Register, within the time prescribed for the giving of such notice or (2) in the case of Notes held in the form of a Global Note, sent or transmitted to Holders in any manner that is in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Notices to Holders given by

 

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publication or electronic delivery shall be deemed given on the first date on which publication or electronic delivery is made and notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed given five calendar days after mailing. If either the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor mails a notice or communication to any Holder, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

(d) In case by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

(e) Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by any Holder shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

(f) The Trustee shall accept electronic transmissions; provided that (1) the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission, and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information and (2) each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, notices, reports or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 12.02. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee or any other Agent to take any action or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee or such other Agent shall be entitled to receive from the Company:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or such Agent (which shall include the statements set forth in Section  12.03 ) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or such Agent (which shall include the statements set forth in Section  12.03 ) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 12.03. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall comply with the provisions of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall include:

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

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

 

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

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

Section 12.04. Rules by Trustee and Agents .

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.05. Trust Indenture Act Controls .

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the Trust Indenture Act, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

Section 12.06. Communication by Holders with Other Holders .

Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

Section 12.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

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

Section 12.08. Governing Law .

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.09. Waiver of Jury Trial .

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND EACH HOLDER BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES OR ANY TRANSACTION RELATED HERETO OR THERETO TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Section 12.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

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

Section 12.11. Indenture Controls .

If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

 

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Section 12.12. Successors .

All agreements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 12.13. Severability .

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

Section 12.14. Table of Contents, Headings, etc .

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

Section 12.15. Counterparts .

The parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. This 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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or portable document format (.pdf) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signature of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or .pdf shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 12.16. Language of Notices, Etc .

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in writing and in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section 12.17. U.S.A. PATRIOT Act .

The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to Federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003 (Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act), all financial institutions are required to obtain, verify, record and update information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide to the Trustee such information as it may request, from time to time, in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, including, but not limited to, the name, address, tax identification number and other information that will allow it to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship or opening the account and may also ask for formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents to be provided.

Section 12.18. Force Majeure .

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee or such Agent that prevents the Trustee or such Agent from performing such act or fulfilling such duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder (including, but not limited to, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire, facsimile or other wire or communication facility).

 

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Section 12.19. Foreign Sanction Regulations .

The Company agrees to comply in all material respects with applicable foreign sanctions regulations, including, but not limited to, those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, it being understood that this covenant is for the benefit of the Trustee only, no Holder or other Person shall have rights under this covenant as a third party beneficiary, and any breach of this covenant shall not be the basis for a Default or Event of Default under Section  6.01 .

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first set forth above.

 

COMSTOCK ESCROW CORPORATION, as Company
By:  

/s/ Roland O. Burns

  Name: Roland O. Burns
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Paul H. Kim

  Name: Paul H. Kim
  Title:   Assistant General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES, ADDITIONAL NOTES AND EXCHANGE NOTES

1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions .

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

Broker-Dealer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme .

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Initial Note, Additional Note or Exchange Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

Depository ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depository institution hereinafter appointed by the Company.

Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

Global Notes Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(g)(ii) of this Appendix.

Initial Purchasers ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, BMO Capital Markets Corp., Capital One Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Natixis Securities Americas LLC, Regions Securities LLC, The Huntington Investment Company, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc., CIBC World Markets Corp., CIT Capital Securities LLC, Comerica Securities, Inc. and Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

Letter of Transmittal ” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

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

Regulation S ” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Notes ” means all Initial Notes offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

Restricted Notes Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(g)(i) of this Appendix.

Restricted Period ” means with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Notes are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Additional Notes that are Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.

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

Rule 144A Notes ” means all Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

App. A-1


Temporary Regulation S Global Notes Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(g)(iii) of this Appendix.

Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes ” means Definitive Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Transfer Restricted Global Notes ” means Global Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend; provided that in no case shall an Exchange Note issued in accordance with the Indenture and the terms of any Registration Rights Agreement be a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

Transfer Restricted Notes ” means the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and Transfer Restricted Global Notes.

Unrestricted Definitive Notes ” means Definitive Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

Unrestricted Global Notes ” means Global Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

1.2 Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in Section

“Agent Members”

   2.1(b)(i)

“Global Note”

   2.1(b)(i)

“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(b)(i)

“Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(b)(i)

“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(b)(i)

“Rule 144A Global Note”

   2.1(b)(i)

2. The Notes .

2.1 Form and Dating .

(a) The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be (i) offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Company from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Global Notes .

(i) Except as provided in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix, Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”). The Rule 144A Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (y) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (z) bear the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend.

Regulation S Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”). The Temporary Regulation S Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (y) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (z) bear the Global Notes Legend, the Restricted Notes Legend and the Temporary Regulation S Global Notes Legend.

 

App. A-2


Beneficial ownership interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall not be exchangeable for interests in the Rule 144A Global Note, a permanent Global Note (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note” and, together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) or any other Note without a Restricted Notes Legend until the expiration of the Restricted Period. Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Permanent Regulation S Global Note upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act and otherwise pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depository. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Permanent Regulation S Global Note, the Trustee shall cancel the Temporary Regulation S Global Note.

The Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.” The Global Notes shall bear the Global Note Legend. The Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Notes Legend. 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 Depository or its nominee and on the schedules thereto as hereinafter provided.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository (the “Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Notes.

The Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the sole owner of the Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository, or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Note.

(ii) Transfers of Global Notes shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Notes only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, and the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Appendix. In addition, a Global Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes if (x) the Depository (1) notifies the Company at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note and the Company thereupon fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Company thereupon fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, (y) the Company, at its option but subject to the Depository’s requirements, notifies the Trustee in writing that the Company elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes or (z) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note and a request has been made for such exchange; provided that in no event shall the Temporary Regulation S Global Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act as confirmed in an Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee. In all cases, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested in writing by or on behalf of the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures.

(iii) In connection with the transfer of a Global Note as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subclause (ii) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with its customary procedures, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

 

App. A-3


(iv) Any Transfer Restricted Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Appendix shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2 of this Appendix, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2 of this Appendix.

(vi) The Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.

2.2 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b) of this Appendix. Global Notes will not be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii) of this Appendix. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 of the Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b), (c), (f) or (i) of this Appendix.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. Beneficial interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for beneficial interests in Global Notes. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Transfer Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Notes Legend; provided , however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). A beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.2(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any Global Note that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i) of this Appendix, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.2(f) of this Appendix, the requirements of this Section 2.26(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global

 

App. A-4


Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in the Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.2(i) of this Appendix.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Transfer Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) of this Appendix and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) of this Appendix and

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in connection with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof,

and, in each such case of this subparagraph (D), if the Company or the Registrar so request or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

App. A-5


If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Company in the form of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred or exchanged pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

(v) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note . Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes . A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii) of this Appendix. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii) of this Appendix.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) below, as applicable:

(i) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes . If any holder of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

(B) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a non-U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; or

(E) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof,

the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.

 

App. A-6


(ii) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A holder of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof,

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Company or the Registrar so request or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Company in the form of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).

 

App. A-7


(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes . An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . Upon request by a holder of Definitive Notes and such holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.2(e).

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

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

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

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications required by item (3)(a) thereof, if applicable; and

(D) if the transfer will be made to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications required by item (3)(b) thereof.

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

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

 

App. A-8


(2) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof,

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraph (D) above, if the Company or the Registrar so request, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes . An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of the Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(f) Exchange Offer . Upon the occurrence of an Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 of the Indenture, the Trustee will authenticate:

(i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Transfer Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and

(ii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in an Exchange Offer by Persons that certify that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company.

In addition, the Trustee shall (i) endorse Schedule A to the Unrestricted Global Notes issued pursuant to the preceding paragraph to reflect the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Global Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer, (ii) deliver such Unrestricted Global Notes to the Depository, (iii) instruct the Depository to deliver the relevant Transfer Restricted Global Note(s) to the Trustee, (iv) endorse Schedule A to such Transfer Restricted Global Note(s) to reflect the decrease in principal amount resulting from the Exchange Offer, and (v) thereafter, return the Transfer Restricted Global Notes to the Depository, together with all information regarding the Agent Members accounts to be debited and credited in connection with the Exchange Offer.

 

App. A-9


Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Company will execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 of the Indenture, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

(g) Legends . The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under the Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of the Indenture

(i) Restricted Notes Legend . Except as permitted below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear the 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: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION 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, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT 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 THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO RULE 144 WILL NOT BE PERMITTED, EVEN IF LEGALLY AVAILABLE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (e)(ii) or (e)(iii) or (f) of this Section 2.2 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

App. A-10


(ii) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

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

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

(iii) Temporary Regulation S Global Note Legend . Each Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

(iv) Definitive Note Legend . Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend:

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

(v) OID Legend . Each Note issued hereunder that has more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”) FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE ISSUE PRICE, THE AMOUNT OF OID, THE ISSUE DATE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY, 5300 TOWN AND COUNTRY BLVD., SUITE 500, FRISCO, TEXAS 75034, TELEPHONE NUMBER: (972) 668-8800.”

(ii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on any such Initial Note will cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Note issued to certain holders be issued in global form will continue to apply, and an 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 Notes 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. A-11


(iii) Upon the consummation of an Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes pursuant to which holders of such Initial Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain holders be issued in global form will still apply with respect to holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Exchange Notes in certificated or global form, in each case without the Restricted Notes Legend, will be available to holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Exchange Offer.

(iv) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Note acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Note bear the Restricted Notes Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Note be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

(v) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(h) Rule 144 . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, transfers in reliance upon Rule 144 will not be permitted, even if then legally available.

(i) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of the Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(j) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes .

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon its receipt of an Authentication Order from the Company, authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon any exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 of the Indenture).

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. In addition, the Registrar need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of fifteen (15) days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

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

 

App. A-12


(v) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(vi) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and send, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

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

(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 of the Indenture.

(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.2 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(j) No Obligation of the Trustee .

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to the Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

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

 

App. A-13


EXHIBIT 1

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

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

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

[Restricted Notes Legend]

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: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION 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, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT 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 THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO RULE 144 WILL NOT BE PERMITTED, EVEN IF LEGALLY AVAILABLE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

Exh. 1-1


[Temporary Regulation S Global Note Legend, if applicable]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Certificated Note Legend]

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

[OID Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”) FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE ISSUE PRICE, THE AMOUNT OF OID, THE ISSUE DATE AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY, 5300 TOWN AND COUNTRY BLVD., SUITE 500, FRISCO, TEXAS 75034, TELEPHONE NUMBER: (972) 668-8800.

 

Exh. 1-2


 

No. [     ]       Principal Amount $[        ]  
      CUSIP No.[        ] 1
      ISIN [        ] 2

Comstock Escrow Corporation

9.75% Senior Note due 2026

Comstock Escrow Corporation, a Nevada corporation, promises to pay to                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      Dollars on August 15, 2026 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto] 3 .

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15, commencing [February 15, 2019] 4

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

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

 

1

Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date will bear the following CUSIP number:

    

144A CUSIP No.: 205677 AA5

    

Regulation S CUSIP No.: U2034P AA5

2

Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date will bear the following ISIN:

    

144A ISIN: US205677AA54

    

Regulation S ISIN: USU2034PAA58

3  

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

4  

With respect to Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

Exh. 1-3


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

 

COMSTOCK ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exh. 1-4


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the

Notes referred to in the Indenture.

 

By:                                                                                    
                        Authorized Signatory

Dated: ____________, 20___

 

Exh. 1-5


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

9.75% 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 . The Company promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of this Note at 9.75% per annum and Additional Interest (if any) on the unpaid principal amount of this Note in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”), commencing February 15, 2019. If any date for payment on the Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the due date, and no additional interest will accrue solely as a result of such delayed payment. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from [August 3, 2018] 5 . The Company shall pay (i) 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 equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes and (ii) interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) from time to time on demand at the same rate as on overdue principal 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 (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 immediately 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  2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Company will make or cause to be made payments in respect of Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Global Notes represented thereby. The Company will make or cause to be made payments in respect of Definitive Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder of such Definitive Note or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to such Holder’s registered address. Final payment of principal at maturity with respect to a Definitive Note will only be made by the Trustee upon surrender of the related Note to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. Indenture . The Company issued the Initial Notes under an Indenture dated as of August 3, 2018 (“ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Trustee. The Company may issue Additional Notes having identical terms and conditions to the Notes offered hereby in an unlimited amount from time to time under the Indenture. The Notes include the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all such terms. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. In the event of a conflict between the Indenture and this Note, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

 

5  

With respect to Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

Exh. 1-6


5. Optional Redemption .

(a) The Notes are not subject to optional redemption except as provided in this Paragraph 5.

(b) On or after August 15, 2021, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 or more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, 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 date of redemption), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2021

     107.313

2022

     104.875

2023

     102.438

2024 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Prior to August 15, 2021, the Company may, at any time or from time to time, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes), upon not less than 15 or more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price of 109.750% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, 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 date of redemption), in an amount not greater than the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and that such redemption occurs within 180 days following the closing of any such Equity Offering.

(d) In addition, prior to August 15, 2021, the Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 15 or more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption 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 date of redemption).

6. Notice of Redemption . Notice of optional redemption will be mailed at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge) to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (or to the extent permitted or required by applicable Depository procedures or regulations with respect to Notes in global form, sent electronically). Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption, subject to satisfaction of any conditions thereto.

7. Mandatory Redemption .

Except as set forth in Paragraphs 8 and 9 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.

8. Repurchase at Option of Holder .

Subject to the limitations contained in the Indenture, upon the occurrence of (a) a Change of Control, the Company will be required, pursuant to Section  4.15 of the Indenture, to make an offer to purchase Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, and (b) Asset Sales, the Company will be required, pursuant to Sections 3.08 and 4.10 of the Indenture, to make an offer to purchase Notes with a portion of the Net Available cash of such Asset Sales at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.

 

Exh. 1-7


9. Special Mandatory Redemption . In the event that (a) the Escrow Agent and the Trustee shall not have received the Escrow Release Officers’ Certificate on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Outside Date or (b) the Escrow Issuer shall notify the Escrow Agent and the Trustee in writing that the Escrow Issuer has determined that the Escrow Release Date will not occur on or prior to the Outside Date and/or that the Contribution Agreement has been terminated (each such event described in clauses (a) and (b) above being a “ Special Mandatory Redemption Event ”), the Escrow Issuer will redeem all of the Notes (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) at a price (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”) equal to 100.0% of the issue price of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, from the Issue Date to, but not including, the date of such redemption (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Date ”), which shall be the third Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event. Within one Business Day of the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Event, the Escrow Agent shall liquidate all Escrowed Property and, on or prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, release the Escrowed Property to the Trustee. On the Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event, the Escrow Issuer (or the Trustee upon the written request of and at the expense of the Escrow Issuer) shall deliver a notice of redemption in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository to each Holder of Notes that the entire principal amount outstanding of the Notes shall be redeemed at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

Upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price in respect of the Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Trustee on or before such date, the Notes will cease to bear interest and all rights under the Notes shall terminate. The Trustee will release to (or at the direction of) the Escrow Issuer any Escrowed Property remaining after a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes and payment of fees and expenses. The Escrow Issuer will not be required to effect a Special Mandatory Redemption following the Escrow Release.

9. Guarantees . From and after the Escrow Release Date, the payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes is absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, as primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

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

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

12. Amendment , Supplement and Waiver . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended or supplemented 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 for, the Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of 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 for, Notes). Without the consent of any Holder, the Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with respect to certain matters specified in the Indenture.

 

Exh. 1-8


13. Defaults and Remedies . If any 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 (and the Trustee will, if directed by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes) declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of an Event of Default arising from such events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in Section  6.01(i) or (j)  of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it with respect to the Notes. The Trustee may withhold from Holder notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the Notes. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture, except as provided in the Indenture. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and within ten (10) Business Days of any of the Company’s Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

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

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

16. Trustee Dealings with Company . Subject to the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

17. Unclaimed Money . Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, if money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company on its written request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust. After that, the Holder of such Note must look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or the Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or U.S. Government Obligations, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

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

19. 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).

20. Registration Rights . Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes are entitled to the benefits of the registration rights as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The Holders may be entitled to receive Additional Interest pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein.

 

Exh. 1-9


21. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN 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.

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

23. Successors . In the event a successor entity (including Comstock Resources, Inc.) assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, in accordance with the terms thereof, the predecessor entity will be released from all such obligations.

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

Comstock Resources Inc.

5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500

Frisco, Texas 75034

Attention: Roland O.

BurnsFacsimile: (972) 668-8812

 

Exh. 1-10


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.

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.

 

Exh. 1-11


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 Indenture, check the box below:

☐ Section 4.10                         ☐ Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section  4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) you elect 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.

 

Exh. 1-12


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $                    . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date

   Amount of
decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
   Signature of
authorized
officer of Trustee

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

Exh. 1-13


EXHIBIT 2

Form of Certificate of Transfer

[    ], [    ]

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

48 Wall Street, 22 nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Attn: Legal Department

 

  Re:

[ Comstock Escrow Corporation] [Comstock Resources, Inc.] (the “Company”) 9.75%

      

Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 3, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $                      in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                      (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

(1) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(2) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

Exh. 2-1


(3) [    ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than as provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) [    ] such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, transfers pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act will not be permitted even if legally available.

(4) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Transfer Restricted Global Notes, on Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Transfer Restricted Global Notes or Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

Exh. 2-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: _______________

 

Exh. 2-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a)

[    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

[    ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP [    ]), or

 

  (ii)

[    ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [    ]), or

 

  (b)

[    ] a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2.

After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a)

[    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)

[    ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP [    ]), or

 

  (ii)

[    ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [    ]), or

 

  (iii)

[    ] Unrestricted Global Note

 

  (b)

[    ] a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c)

[    ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note

 

Exh. 2-4


EXHIBIT 3

Form of Certificate of Exchange

[            ], [     ]

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

48 Wall Street, 22 nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Attn: Legal Department

 

  Re:

[ Comstock Escrow Corporation] [Comstock Resources, Inc.] (the “Company”) 9.75%

      

Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 3, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $                      in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

(1) EXCHANGE OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) other than Rule 144, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Transfer Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act other than Rule 144, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

Exh. 3-1


(c) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act other than Rule 144, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(2) EXCHANGE OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM TRANSFER RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRANSFER RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [ ] 144A Global Note [ ] Regulation S Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Transfer Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act other than Rule 144, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend printed on the relevant Transfer Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

Exh. 3-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated                     .

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

Dated: ______________

 

Exh. 3-3


EXHIBIT 4

[FORM OF]

ESCROW RELEASE DATE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”) dated as of [    ], 2018, by and among Comstock Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ CRI ”), the parties that are signatories hereto as Subsidiary Guarantors (each a “ New Guarantor ”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, each of Comstock Escrow Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Escrow Issuer ”) and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture dated as of August 3, 2018 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of the Escrow Issuer’s 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Notes ”), initially in an aggregate principal amount of $850,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 4.19(b) of the Indenture provides that (i) the CRI shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which CRI shall unconditionally assume all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Indenture and (ii) the New Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which each New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Indenture; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Sections 9.01(a)(3) and (8) of the Indenture, the Company, the New Guarantors and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of any Holder;

WHEREAS, each of CRI and the New Guarantors has been duly authorized to enter into this Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all acts, conditions, proceedings and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms for the purposes expressed herein, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, CRI, the New Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

SECTION 2. Agreement to Assume Obligations . CRI hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture and the Notes applicable to the Company and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes and may exercise every right and power of the Company.

SECTION 3. Agreement to Guarantee . Each of the New Guarantors hereby agrees to, jointly and severally with all existing Subsidiary Guarantors (if any), guarantee the Notes Obligations on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

Exh. 4-1


SECTION 4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

SECTION 5. Liability . No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, partner or trustee of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (including any New Guarantor), as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture, any supplemental indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes

SECTION 6. Notices . All notices or other communications to the Company and the New Guarantors shall be given as provided in Section 12.01 of the Indenture.

SECTION 7. The Trustee . The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

SECTION 8. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

SECTION 9. Counterparts . The parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

SECTION 10. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 11. Severability . In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 12. Benefits Acknowledged . Each New Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. Each New Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

SECTION 13. Execution and Delivery . Each New Guarantor agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of any such Subsidiary Guarantee.

[ Signature pages follow]

 

Exh. 4-2


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

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[INITIAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS],

as New Guarantors

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exh. 4-3


AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC,

as Trustee

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Exh. 4-4


EXHIBIT 5

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”) dated as of [    ], 20[    ], by and among Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), the parties that are signatories hereto as Subsidiary Guarantors (each a “ New Guarantor ”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee under the Indenture referred to below.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture dated as of August 3, 2018 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of the Escrow Issuer’s 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Notes ”), initially in an aggregate principal amount of $850,000,000;

WHEREAS pursuant to Sections 9.01(a)(3) and (8) of the Indenture, the Company, the New Guarantors and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of any Holder;

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that the New Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture, each on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, each of the New Guarantors has been duly authorized to enter into this Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all acts, conditions, proceedings and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms for the purposes expressed herein, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the New Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes as follows

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1. Definitions . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

SECTION 2. Agreement to Guarantee . Each of the New Guarantors hereby agrees to, jointly and severally with all existing Subsidiary Guarantors (if any), guarantee the Notes Obligations on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.

SECTION 3. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 

Exh. 5-1


SECTION 4. Liability . No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member, partner or trustee of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (including any New Guarantor), as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture, any supplemental indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes

SECTION 5. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantors shall be given as provided in Section 12.01 of the Indenture.

SECTION 6. The Trustee . The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

SECTION 7. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

SECTION 8. Counterparts . The parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

SECTION 9. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 10. Severability . In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 11. Benefits Acknowledged . Each New Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. Each New Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

SECTION 12. Execution and Delivery . Each New Guarantor agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of any such Subsidiary Guarantee.

[ Signature pages follow]

 

Exh. 5-2


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

 

[NEW GUARANTORS] ,

as a New Guarantor

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Acknowledged by:
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER  & TRUST COMPANY, LLC ,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exh. 5-3

EXHIBIT 10.1

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and between

Comstock Escrow Corporation

and

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,

as Representative of the several Initial Purchasers

Dated as of August 3, 2018

 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of August 3, 2018, by and between Comstock Escrow Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Escrow Issuer ”), and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”), on behalf of itself and as representative (the “ Representative ”) of the several initial purchasers named on Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Initial Notes (as defined below).

Upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below) and the assumption by Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“ CRI ”), of the Escrow Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture (as defined below) pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below), CRI and each of the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 hereto (such guarantors, the “ Guarantors ”) will execute and deliver a Joinder Agreement hereto substantially in the form attached as Annex A hereto (the “ Joinder Agreement ”) and shall thereby join this Agreement.

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated July 20, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), among the Escrow Issuer, CRI, the Guarantors and the Representative (i) for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Initial Securities (as defined below), including the Initial Purchasers. The Purchase Agreement provides for the sale by the Escrow Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of $850,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “ Initial Notes ”) which, pursuant to the terms of the Supplemental Indenture, will be assumed by CRI and fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Guarantees ”) by the Guarantors. The Initial Notes and the Guarantees thereof are herein collectively referred to as the “ Initial Securities .” In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Securities, the Company (as defined below) has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 6(l) of the Purchase Agreement.

The parties hereby agree as follows:

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

Advice : As defined in Section 6(c) hereof.

Agreement: As defined in the preamble hereof.

Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.


Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company: (i) prior to the consummation of the Escrow Merger, the Escrow Issuer and (ii) from and after the consummation of the Escrow Merger, CRI.

Consummate: A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar (as defined in the Indenture) of Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities that were, as of the expiration time of the Exchange Offer, validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

Contributed Business : As defined in the Purchase Agreement.

CRI : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Escrow Issuer: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Escrow Merger : As defined in the Purchase Agreement.

Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Offer: An offer by the Company, registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a Registration Statement, to Holders to exchange, for any and all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, Exchange Securities in an equal principal amount.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

Exchange Securities: The 9.75% Senior Notes due 2026, of the same series under the Indenture as the Initial Securities, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

FINRA: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Guarantees: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Guarantors: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

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Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of August 3, 2018, by and between the Escrow Issuer and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), pursuant to which the Securities are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof (including pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture).

Initial Purchasers: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Initial Notes: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Initial Placement: The issuance and sale by the Company of the Initial Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Initial Securities: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Joinder Agreement: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

Purchase Agreement: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

Representative: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Securities: The Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities.

Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

Supplemental Indenture: As defined in the Purchase Agreement.

Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Initial Security, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Security is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Security entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on which such Initial Security has been

 

-3-


effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement and (c) the date on which such Initial Security is distributed to the public by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).

Trust Indenture Act: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Trustee: As defined in the definition of Indenture.

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

SECTION 2. Securities Subject to this Agreement .

(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.

(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “ Holder ”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

SECTION 3. Registered Exchange Offer .

(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), each of the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated no later than the 300th day after the Closing Date. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities.

(b) Each of the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however , that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Securities shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(c) The Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Securities that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer

 

-4-


Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company) may exchange such Initial Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Initial Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

Each of the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Exchange Securities received by Broker-Dealers in the Exchange Offer, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities. The Company agrees that Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) such Prospectus during such 180-day period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 3(c).

SECTION 4. Shelf Registration .

(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated by the 300th day after the Closing Date, or (iii) with respect to any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates then, upon such Holder’s request, the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall:

(x) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) as promptly as practicable, which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and

 

-5-


(y) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable.

Each of the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Securities by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Initial Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement).

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

SECTION 5. Additional Interest. If (i) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated by the 300th day after the Closing Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has not been filed or declared effective by the Commission by the 300th day after the Closing Date or (iii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose at any time during which it is required by this Agreement to be kept effective without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iii), a “ Registration Default ”), the Company hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Transfer Restricted Securities shall be increased by 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Registration Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period, but in no event shall such increase exceed 1.00% per annum. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Securities, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

 

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All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.

SECTION 6. Registration Procedures .

(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(i) In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall comply with the applicable provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer.

(ii) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Initial Securities. The Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees, however, to use commercially reasonable efforts to (A) participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a favorable resolution by the Commission staff of such submission.

(iii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (which may include the no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (ii) above), and (2) must comply with the registration

 

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and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or Item 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.

(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In the event that the Company and the Guarantors are required to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be filed, the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors shall comply with the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause as promptly as practicable to be prepared and to be filed with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Initial Securities by Broker-Dealers), the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors shall:

(i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements (including, if required by the Securities Act or any regulation thereunder, financial statements of the Guarantors for the period specified in Section 3 or Section 4 hereof, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or Section 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the 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 to comply fully

 

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with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

(iii) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, advise the underwriter(s) and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

(iv) furnish without charge to each of the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement, and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which an Initial Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing within five Business Days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed timely made upon confirmation of electronic transmission within such period). The objection of an Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;

 

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(v) provide any document that is to be filed with the Commission after the filing of a Registration Statement and is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement to a single law firm selected by the Representative with respect to documents to be incorporated by reference into the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, a law firm selected by the Holders holding a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement, prior to the filing thereof to permit a reasonable opportunity for such counsel to review such document (including exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed;

(vi) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, make available at reasonable times for inspection by the Initial Purchasers, the managing underwriter(s), if any, participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such Initial Purchasers or any of the underwriter(s), subject to customary confidentiality provisions, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of each of the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness and to participate in meetings with investors to the extent requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any;

(vii) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(viii) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if any;

(ix) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference), unless the same is publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR database system (or any successor thereto);

 

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(x) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

(xi) enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested by any Initial Purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors shall:

(A) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings:

(1) upon the date of the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, if applicable, or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, if applicable, a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, signed by (y) the President or any Vice President and (z) a principal financial or accounting officer of each of the Company and, if such date is on or after the date of execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors, confirming, as of the date thereof, matters similar to those set forth in Section 6(g) of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request;

(2) upon the date of the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, if applicable, or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, if applicable, an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company and, if such date is on or after the date of execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors, covering the matters set forth in Section 6(e)(i) and (ii) of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors, officers and representatives of

 

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the Contributed Business, representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and the Guarantors, representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Contributed Business, representatives of the petroleum engineers for the Company and the Guarantors, representatives of the underwriter(s), if any, and counsel to the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective, and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus;

(3) upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and covering or affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Sections 6(a) and (h) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;

(4) upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Contributed Business’ independent registered public accounting firm, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and covering or affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Sections 6(b) and (i) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception; and

 

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(5) upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, a customary reserve engineer’s comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Company’s independent petroleum consultants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in reserve engineer’s comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and covering or affirming the matters set forth in the reserve engineer’s comfort letter delivered pursuant to Sections 6(c) and (j) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;

(B) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

(C) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with Section 6(c)(xi)(A) hereof and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company or any of the Guarantors pursuant to this Section 6(c)(xi), if any.

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company and (if applicable) the Guarantors contemplated in Section 6(c)(xi)(A)(1) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;

(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however , that none of the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Securities to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Securities, as the case may be; in return, the Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;

 

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(xiv) reasonably cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends (other than customary legends included in global securities held for the benefit of a depositary); and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request (subject to the terms of the Indenture) at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such Holders or underwriter(s);

(xv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in Section 6(c)(xii) hereof;

(xvi) if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;

(xvii) provide a CUSIP number for all Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement covering such Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for such Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and take all other action necessary to ensure that all such Securities are eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company;

(xviii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA;

(xix) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement of CRI meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Securities Act (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of CRI’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;

 

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(xx) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Securities to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and to execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

(xxi) cause all Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities or the managing underwriter(s), if any; and

(xxii) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act, unless the same is publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR database system (or any successor thereto).

Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, that no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Company’s option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5 hereof.

SECTION 7. Registration Expenses .

(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors, jointly and severally, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing

 

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fees and expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with FINRA (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state securities or blue sky laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors (from and after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement) and, subject to Section 7(b) hereof, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Securities on a securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements thereof; (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent registered public accounting firm of the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), all fees and disbursements of independent registered public accounting firm of the Contributed Business (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), and all fees and disbursements of the independent petroleum consultants to the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.

(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be selected by the Representative or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared, in an amount not to exceed $75,000 in the aggregate.

SECTION 8. Indemnification .

(a) The Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a “controlling person”) and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an “ Indemnified Holder ”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of

 

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investigating, preparing, pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending any claim or action), joint or several, directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders expressly for use therein. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Company or any of the Guarantors may otherwise have.

In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Company or the Guarantors, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company and, after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve any of the Company or the Guarantors of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent the Company or the Guarantors are materially prejudiced by such failure. Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company and, after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). The Company and, after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to one local counsel in each jurisdiction) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the Holders. The Company and, after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company’s and the Guarantors’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and each of the Company and, upon the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors agree to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.

 

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(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, the Guarantors and their respective directors, officers of the Company and, after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement. the Guarantors who sign a Registration Statement, and any Person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company or any of the Guarantors, and the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each such Person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company, the Guarantors or their respective directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company and the Guarantors, and the Company, the Guarantors, their respective directors and officers and such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph.

(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b) hereof (other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds to the Company and the Guarantors from the Initial Placement), the amount of Additional Interest which did not become payable as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement resulting in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments actions or expenses, and such Registration Statement, or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Indemnified Holders, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a) hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

The Company, the Guarantors (after the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement) and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) 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 which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall

 

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be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (or their related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder with respect to the Initial Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which 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 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Initial Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.

SECTION 9. Rule 144A. The Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

SECTION 10. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

SECTION 11. Selection of Underwriters. The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) that will administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided, however , that such investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous.

(a) Remedies. The Company and, upon execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

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(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Escrow Issuer will not on or after the date of this Agreement, and CRI and each of the Guarantors will not on or after the date of the Joinder Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. 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 the Escrow Issuer’s, CRI’s or any of the Guarantors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Adjustments Affecting the Securities . The Company will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Securities that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.

(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding any Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect, directly or indirectly, the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered; provided, however, that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser with respect to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.

(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

(ii) if to the Escrow Issuer, CRI or the Guarantors:

Comstock Resources, Inc.

5300 Town and Country Blvd.

Suite 500

Frisco, TX 75034

Facsimile: (972) 668-8812

Attention: Roland O. Burns, President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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with a copy to:

Locke Lord LLP

2200 Ross Avenue Suite 2800

Dallas, TX 75201

Facsimile: (214) 756-8553

Attention: Jack Jacobsen

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 answered back, if telexed; when receipt 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.

(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however , that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.

(g) 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMSTOCK ESCROW CORPORATION,

as Escrow Issuer

By:  

/s/ Roland O. Burns

  Name:   Roland O. Burns
  Title:   Vice President

The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                         INCORPORATED,
as Representative of the several Initial Purchasers
By:   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
               Incorporated
By:  

/s/ J. Lex Maultsby

  Name: J. Lex Maultsby
  Title: Managing Director

 

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SCHEDULE 1

Guarantors

Comstock Oil & Gas, LP

Comstock Oil & Gas – Louisiana, LLC

Comstock Oil & Gas GP, LLC

Comstock Oil & Gas Investments LLC

Comstock Oil & Gas Holdings, Inc.


ANNEX A

[FORM OF]

JOINDER AGREEMENT TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

[Escrow Release Date], 2018

WHEREAS, reference is hereby made to (i) the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2018 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), by and between Comstock Escrow Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“ Escrow Issuer ”), and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, on behalf of itself and as representative (the “ Representative ”) of the other Initial Purchasers and (ii) the Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Escrow Issuer, Comstock Resources, Inc. (the “ CRI ”), the guarantors party thereto and the Representative;

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement contemplates that immediately prior to the Escrow Release on the Escrow Release Date, (i) the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into CRI, with CRI continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger and assuming all obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) CRI will agree to join the Registration Rights Agreement as the Company pursuant to this agreement (this “ Joinder Agreement ”) and (iii) each subsidiary of CRI that is a signatory hereto (each, a “ Guarantor ”) will agree to join the Registration Rights Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to this Joinder Agreement; and

WHEREAS, this Joinder Agreement is being executed on the Escrow Release Date by CRI and each of the Guarantors (each a “ Joinder Party ” and collectively, the “ Joinder Parties ”) in order for such party to become party to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Registration Rights Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given them in the Registration Rights Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, each Joinder Party agrees for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers as follows:

1. Joinder . Each Joinder Party hereby agrees to (i) join and become a party to the Registration Rights Agreement as indicated by its signature below, (ii) be bound by all covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and acknowledgments attributable to such Joinder Party under the Registration Rights Agreement, as if such Joinder Party was a party thereto as of the date of the Registration Rights Agreement and (iii) perform all obligations and duties as are required of it (including those obligations and duties of an indemnifying party) pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

2. Representations and Warranties of each Joinder Party . Each Joinder Party hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement. Each Joinder Party, jointly and severally, hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Initial Purchaser that it has all the requisite corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this


Joinder Agreement and to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby and by the Registration Rights Agreement. Each Joinder Party hereby represents and warrants that the representations and warranties set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement applicable to such party are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. This Joinder Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Joinder Party.

3. Governing Law . THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

4. Counterparts . This Joinder 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Joinder Agreement by telecopier, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Joinder Agreement.

5. Amendments. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Joinder Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

6. Headings . The headings in this Joinder Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.,
as the Company
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, LP
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS – LOUISIANA, LLC
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS GP, LLC
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS INVESTMENTS LLC
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Guarantors
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title: