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) October 18, 2018

 

 

W&T Offshore, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

1-32414

(Commission File Number)

 

Texas   72-1121985

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation)

 

(IRS Employer Identification

No.)

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

713.626.8525

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Emerging growth company    ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 18, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), W&T Offshore, Inc. (the “Company”) issued and sold $625 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.75% senior second lien notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated October 5, 2018 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, W&T Energy VI, LLC, and W&T Energy VII, LLC, as subsidiary guarantors (the “Guarantors”), and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”). The Company filed a copy of the Purchase Agreement as Exhibit 10.1 to its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 11, 2018.

On the Closing Date, the Company entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) by and among the Company, the Guarantors, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Notes were issued (the “Indenture”). The principal terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture. The Notes mature on November 1, 2023. Interest is payable on the Notes on each November 1 and May 1, commencing May 1, 2019.

The Notes are secured by second-priority liens on the same collateral that secures the Credit Facility (as defined below); provided, however, that pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below), the security interest in such collateral that secures the Notes and the related guarantees will be contractually subordinated to liens thereon that secure the Credit Facility and certain other permitted priority lien obligations. Consequently, the Notes and the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to the Credit Facility and such other permitted priority lien obligations that the Company may issue in the future to the extent of the value of such collateral.

Prior to November 1, 2020, the Company may redeem all or any portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, plus the “Applicable Premium” (as defined in the Indenture). In addition, prior to November 1, 2020, the Company may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate original principal amount of the Notes in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 109.750% of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

On and after November 1, 2020, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) equal to 104.875% for the 12-month period beginning November 1, 2020, 102.438% for the 12-month period beginning November 1, 2021, and 100.000% on November 1, 2022 and thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantors.

The Indenture includes a number of covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability and the ability of its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture), including the Guarantors, to (i) make investments; (ii) incur additional indebtedness or issue certain types of preferred stock; (iii) create certain liens; (iv) sell assets; (v) enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other payments from the Company’s subsidiaries to the Company; (vi) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (vii) engage in transactions with affiliates; (viii) pay dividends or make other distributions on capital stock or subordinated indebtedness; and (ix) create subsidiaries that would not be restricted by the covenants of the Indenture. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications set forth in the Indenture. In addition, most of the above described covenants will terminate if both S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc. (“S&P”), and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) assign the Notes an investment grade rating and no default exists with respect to the Notes.

The Indenture provides that each of the following is an Event of Default: (i) default in the payment of interest on the Notes when due, continued for 30 days; (ii) default in payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when due; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its restricted subsidiaries, if any, to comply with certain covenants relating to merger and consolidation and offers to purchase Notes in connection with certain change of control transactions or asset sales; (iv) failure by the Company to comply for 60 days after notice with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its restricted subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its restricted subsidiaries) if that default: (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such

 

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indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such indebtedness (a “Payment Default”); or (b) results in the acceleration of such indebtedness prior to its stated maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in the Indenture with respect to the Company or any of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries that is a significant subsidiary or any group of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a significant subsidiary of the Company; (viii) failure by the Company, or any of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries that is a significant subsidiary or any group of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a significant subsidiary of the Company, to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (ix) any Security Document (as defined in the Indenture) ceases for any reason to be enforceable with respect to any collateral having a fair market value of not more than $25.0 million, which failure is not cured within 45 days; (x) any second lien purported to be granted under any Security Document on collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority lien, which failure is not cured within 45 days; and (xi) except as permitted by the Indenture, any future subsidiary guarantee entered into by one of the Company’s subsidiaries shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any guarantor, or any person acting on behalf of any guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its subsidiary guarantee of the Notes.

The foregoing description of the Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement

On October 18, 2018, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as original priority lien agent (the “Original Priority Lien Agent”), Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as original second lien collateral trustee (the “Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee”), the Trustee, as original second lien trustee, second lien collateral trustee, third lien collateral trustee and third lien trustee and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as priority lien agent (the “Priority Lien Agent”), entered into a First Amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement (originally dated May 11, 2015), which was acknowledged and agreed to by the Company and the Guarantors (as amended, the “Intercreditor Agreement”) to govern the relationship of the holders of the Notes, the holders of any other parity lien obligations that the Company may issue in the future, the lenders under the Credit Facility and holders of other priority lien obligations that the Company may issue in the future, with respect to collateral and certain other matters.

In addition, the Original Priority Lien Agent, the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Priority Lien Agent and the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under the Indenture governing the Notes, entered into a Priority Confirmation Joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated October 18, 2018 (the “Priority Lien Joinder”).

Under the terms of the First Amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent and the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee have ceased to be parties to the Intercreditor Agreement.

The foregoing descriptions of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Priority Lien Joinder are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Intercreditor Agreement, which is filed in original form as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2015 and the First Amendment to which is filed as

 

3


Exhibit 10.1 to this report, each of which being incorporated herein by reference, and the Priority Lien Joinder, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

On October 18, 2018, in conjunction with the issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent (in such capacity, “Administrative Agent”), and certain of our lenders and other parties thereto which provides the Company a revolving credit and letter of credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), with initial bank lending commitments and an initial borrowing base of $250 million with a letter of credit sublimit of $30 million. The Credit Facility matures on October 18, 2022.

The Credit Facility is guaranteed by the Guarantors and is secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the natural gas and oil properties and personal property assets of the Company and the Guarantors, other than its member interest in its drilling joint venture entity, Monza Energy LLC. Certain future-formed or acquired wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of the Company will also be required to guarantee the Credit Facility and grant a security interest in substantially all of their natural gas and oil properties and personal property assets to secure the obligations under the Credit Facility.

The Credit Agreement limits the amounts the Company can borrow up to a borrowing base amount (subject to total bank lending commitments), which the administrative agent and required lenders thereunder will in good faith determine, in accordance with their respective usual and customary oil and gas lending criteria, based upon the loan value of the proved oil and gas reserves located within the geographic boundaries of the United States included in the most recent reserve report provided to the administrative agent and the lenders.

The Credit Agreement requires semi-annual borrowing base redeterminations based on reserve reports. Additionally, the borrowing base is subject to unscheduled redeterminations, once per year at the request of the required lenders, once per year at the request of the Company and/or an unlimited number of times at the Company’s request in connection with an acquisition of natural gas and oil properties with a present value in excess of $50 million. Furthermore, the borrowing base may be reduced from time to time due to certain issuances of new senior unsecured and unsecured senior subordinated indebtedness, certain sales of borrowing base properties or at the Company’s request. If the aggregate amount outstanding under the Credit Facility exceeds the Credit Facility commitments at any time, the Company would be required to immediately upon request repay indebtedness to eliminate such excess. If the aggregate amount outstanding under the Credit Facility exceeds the borrowing base but is less than the Credit Facility commitments at any time, the Company would be required to repay indebtedness or to provide mortgages on additional borrowing base properties to eliminate such excess.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate per annum equal to either (a) the adjusted LIBOR rate (“LIBOR”) (which cannot be less than zero) for interest periods of 1, 2, 3 or 6 months plus the applicable LIBOR Margin (described below) or (b) the alternative base rate (“ABR”) plus the applicable ABR margin. ABR is a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus  1 2 of 1.0%, (ii) the prime rate announced from time to time by the administrative agent and (iii) LIBOR for a 1-month Interest Period on such day plus 1.0%. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears for ABR loans, at the end of the applicable interest period for LIBOR loans (but not less frequently than quarterly) and upon the prepayment or maturity of the underlying loans. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee quarterly in arrears in respect of unused commitments under the Credit Facility. The applicable LIBOR and ABR margins and the commitment fee rate are calculated based upon the utilization levels of the Credit Facility as a percentage of the borrowing base then in effect, as set forth below:

 

Borrowing base utilization percentage

   X < 25%     25%  £  X
< 50%
    50%  £  X
< 75%
    75%  £
X< 90%
    ³  90%  

LIBOR Margin

     2.50     2.75     3.00     3.25     3.50

ABR Margin

     1.50     1.75     2.00     2.25     2.50

Commitment Fee Rate

     0.375     0.375     0.50     0.50     0.50

 

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The Credit Agreement contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, and requires the Company and certain of its affiliates obligated under the Credit Agreement to make customary representations and warranties in connection with credit extensions thereunder. The negative covenants, among other things and subject to significant exceptions, limit the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to:

 

   

incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;

 

   

make loans to others;

 

   

make investments;

 

   

merge or consolidate with another entity;

 

   

make dividends and certain other payments;

 

   

hedge future production or interest rates;

 

   

create liens that secure indebtedness;

 

   

transfer or sell assets;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

engage in certain other transactions without the prior consent of the lenders.

In addition, the Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter. The Company will also be required to maintain a ratio of consolidated total debt to EBITDAX of no greater than (i) 3.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, (ii) 3.25 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019 and (iii) 3.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2019 and thereafter.

If an event of default (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement) occurs, the lenders would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the Credit Agreement, termination of the lenders’ commitments thereunder, foreclosure on collateral, and all other remedial actions available to a secured creditor.

The foregoing description of the Credit Facility is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Facility, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this report 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 included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On October 18, 2018, the Company used net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, borrowings under the Credit Facility and cash on hand to (i) repay and retire its outstanding $75.0 million 11.00% 1.5 Lien Term Loan and $300.0 million 9.00% Second Lien Term Loan and (ii) redeem or repurchase in full all of its outstanding 8.500% Senior Notes due 2019, 9.00%/10.75% Senior Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes due 2020 and 8.50%/10.00% Senior Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes due 2021 (collectively, the “Existing Notes”). On such date, the Company repurchased and retired $464.4 million in aggregate principal of its Existing Notes pursuant to its acceptance of early tenders of Existing Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by holders pursuant to the Company’s offer to purchase for cash any and all of its outstanding Existing Notes. The remaining outstanding $63.8 million in aggregate principal of its Existing Notes have been irrevocably called for redemption on November 17, 2018 under the terms of the applicable indenture governing each issue of Existing Notes. Sufficient redemption funds were deposited in trust with the

 

5


indenture trustee to satisfy and discharge all of the Company’s obligations under the Existing Notes and the respective indentures, and settlement of such redemptions will occur on November 19, 2018, the next business day following the redemption date.

On October 18, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Notes offering, effectiveness of the Credit Facility and the redemption or repayment of the Existing Notes. A copy of this press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

4.1    Indenture, dated as of October  18, 2018, by and among W&T Offshore, Inc., W&T Energy VI, LLC, and W&T Energy VII, LLC, as subsidiary guarantors the Guarantors (as defined) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
10.1    First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October  18, 2018, by and among Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Original Priority Lien Agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Original Second Lien Trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as Priority Lien Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association as Third Lien Collateral Trustee and Wilmington Trust, National Association as Third Lien Trustee.
10.2    Priority Confirmation Joinder, dated as of September  18, 2018, by and between Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Original Priority Lien Agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Original Second Lien Trustee, Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Third Lien Collateral Trustee and Third Lien Trustee and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, Priority Lien Agent.
10.3    Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October  18, 2018, by and among W&T Offshore, Inc., Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as agent and the various agents and lenders party thereto.
99.1    Press release dated October 18, 2018.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

   

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.

(Registrant)

Dated: October 24, 2018     By:   /s/ Shahid A. Ghauri
    Name:   Shahid A. Ghauri
    Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

7

Exhibit 4.1

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

9.75% SENIOR SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2023

INDENTURE

Dated as of October 18, 2018

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Trustee

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015, among Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), and the other parties thereto (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, along Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Priority Lien Agent, the Collateral Trustee, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as a Priority Lien Agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Third Lien Collateral Trustee, and as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). Each holder of Additional Second Lien Obligations (as defined therein) (i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Second Lien Secured Parties. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Credit Agreement (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to W&T Offshore, Inc., and such lenders are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1

  

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

  

BY REFERENCE

  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      5  

Section 1.02

  Other Definitions      46  

Section 1.03

  Rules of Construction      47  

ARTICLE 2

  

THE NOTES

  

Section 2.01

  Form and Dating      47  

Section 2.02

  Execution and Authentication      48  

Section 2.03

  Registrar and Paying Agent      49  

Section 2.04

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      49  

Section 2.05

  Holder Lists      50  

Section 2.06

  Transfer and Exchange      50  

Section 2.07

  Replacement Notes      61  

Section 2.08

  Outstanding Notes      61  

Section 2.09

  Treasury Notes      62  

Section 2.10

  Temporary Notes      62  

Section 2.11

  Cancellation      62  

Section 2.12

  Defaulted Interest      62  

ARTICLE 3

  

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

  

Section 3.01

  Notices to Trustee      63  

Section 3.02

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased      63  

Section 3.03

  Notice of Redemption      64  

Section 3.04

  Effect of Notice of Redemption      65  

Section 3.05

  Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price      65  

Section 3.06

  Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part      65  

Section 3.07

  Optional Redemption      65  

Section 3.08

  Mandatory Redemption      67  

Section 3.09

  Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      67  

ARTICLE 4

  

COVENANTS

  

Section 4.01

  Payment of Notes      69  


Section 4.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      69  

Section 4.03

  Reports      70  

Section 4.04

  Compliance Certificate      71  

Section 4.05

  Taxes      72  

Section 4.06

  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      72  

Section 4.07

  Corporate Existence      72  

Section 4.08

  Restricted Payments      72  

Section 4.09

  Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries      77  

Section 4.10

  Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock      79  

Section 4.11

  Asset Sales      83  

Section 4.12

  Transactions with Affiliates      86  

Section 4.13

  Liens      88  

Section 4.14

  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      88  

Section 4.15

  Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries      90  

Section 4.16

  Additional Note Guarantees and Collateral      91  

Section 4.17

  Termination of Covenants      92  

ARTICLE 5

  

SUCCESSORS

  

Section 5.01

  Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets      93  

Section 5.02

  Successor Corporation Substituted      94  

ARTICLE 6

  

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

  

Section 6.01

  Events of Default      95  

Section 6.02

  Acceleration      97  

Section 6.03

  Other Remedies      98  

Section 6.04

  Waiver of Past Defaults      98  

Section 6.05

  Control by Majority      98  

Section 6.06

  Limitation on Suits      99  

Section 6.07

  Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment      99  

Section 6.08

  Collection Suit by Trustee      99  

Section 6.09

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      99  

Section 6.10

  Priorities      100  

Section 6.11

  Undertaking for Costs      100  

ARTICLE 7

  

TRUSTEE

  

Section 7.01

  Duties of Trustee      101  

Section 7.02

  Rights of Trustee      102  

Section 7.03

  Individual Rights of Trustee      103  

Section 7.04

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      103  

Section 7.05

  Notice of Defaults      104  

 

2


Section 7.06

  Compensation and Indemnity      104  

Section 7.07

  Replacement of Trustee      105  

Section 7.08

  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      106  

Section 7.09

  Eligibility; Disqualification      106  

ARTICLE 8

  

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

  

Section 8.01

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      106  

Section 8.02

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      106  

Section 8.03

  Covenant Defeasance      107  

Section 8.04

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      107  

Section 8.05

  Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      109  

Section 8.06

  Repayment to Company      109  

Section 8.07

  Reinstatement      110  

ARTICLE 9

  

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

  

Section 9.01

  Without Consent of Holders of Notes      110  

Section 9.02

  With Consent of Holders of Notes      112  

Section 9.03

  Revocation and Effect of Consents      114  

Section 9.04

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      114  

Section 9.05

  Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.      114  

ARTICLE 10

  

NOTE GUARANTEES

  

Section 10.01

  Guarantee      114  

Section 10.02

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      116  

Section 10.03

  Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee      116  

Section 10.04

  Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms      116  

Section 10.05

  Releases      117  

ARTICLE 11

  

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

  

Section 11.01

  Satisfaction and Discharge      118  

Section 11.02

  Application of Trust Money      119  

ARTICLE 12

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

Section 12.01

  Notices      120  

Section 12.02

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      121  

 

3


Section 12.03

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      122  

Section 12.04

  Rules by Trustee and Agents      122  

Section 12.05

  No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      122  

Section 12.06

  Governing Law      122  

Section 12.07

  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      122  

Section 12.08

  Successors      123  

Section 12.09

  Severability      123  

Section 12.10

  Counterpart Originals      123  

Section 12.11

  Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      123  

ARTICLE 13

  

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

  

Section 13.01

  Security Interest      123  

Section 13.02

  Concerning the Trustee      124  

Section 13.03

  Authorization of Actions to be Taken      125  

Section 13.04

  Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements      126  

Section 13.05

  Intercreditor Agreement      127  

Section 13.06

  Collateral Trust Agreement      127  

Section 13.07

  Release of Liens in Respect of Notes      128  

Section 13.08

  Additional Indebtedness      128  

 

Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C    Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D    Form of Certificate from Acquiring Institutional Accredited Investor
Exhibit E    Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

INDENTURE dated as of October 18, 2018 among W&T Offshore, Inc., a Texas corporation, the Guarantors (as defined) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee.

The Company, the Guarantors (as defined) and the Trustee (as defined) agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023 (collectively with any Additional Notes which may be issued under this Indenture, the “ Notes ”):

 

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ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions .

144A Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will initially be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold or exchanged in reliance on Rule 144A.

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

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

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

Additional Assets ” means:

(1) any assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and that are used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, other than Indebtedness or Capital Stock;

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

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

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

Additional Notes ” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.02 and 4.10 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

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Additional Secured Debt Designation ” means the written agreement of the holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt or their Parity Lien Representative, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, the Parity Lien Agent and each existing and future holder of Parity Liens:

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

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

(c) consenting to and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents establishing Parity Liens.

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

(1) the sum of:

(a) discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated (including any share of proved reserves attributed to oil and gas assets proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Company from any Joint Venture) in a Reserve Report prepared as of the end of the fiscal year ending at least 91 days prior to the date of determination (or as of June 30 ending at least 45 days prior to the date of determination, if the Company elects to prepare a mid-year Reserve Report) as increased by , as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of:

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

(ii) estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward determinations of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration,

 

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development or exploitation, production or other activities which reserves were not reflected in such Reserve Report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (including utilizing the prices under SEC guidelines applicable to a Reserve Report as of its date),

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

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

(iv) reductions in the estimated oil and natural gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Reserve Report since the date of such Reserve Report attributable to downward determinations of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such Reserve Report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (including utilizing the prices under SEC guidelines applicable to a Reserve Report as of its date);

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

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

(c) the Net Working Capital (excluding, to the extent included in the determination of discounted future net revenues under clause (1)(a) above, any adjustments made pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 410-20 as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements; and

(d) the greater of (i) the net book value as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements and (ii) the Fair Market Value, as estimated by the Company, of other tangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, its proportionate share of other tangible assets proportionately

 

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consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Company from any oil and gas Joint Venture) as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (it being understood that the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of any assets); minus

(2) the sum of:

(a) Minority Interests;

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

(c) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (including utilizing the same prices in the Company’s Reserve Report used for this definition), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties (excluding any interests subject to escrow arrangements in connection with financial assurance requirements for plugging and abandonment obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries);

(d) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (including utilizing the same prices in the Company’s Reserve Report used for this definition), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

(e) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in the immediately preceding clause (1)(a) (utilizing the same prices in the Company’s Reserve Report used for this definition), would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.

 

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

Agent ” means the Custodian, any Registrar or Paying Agent.

Applicable Premium means, with respect to a Note at any redemption date, the excess of (1) the present value at such time of (a) redemption price of such Note as of November 1, 2020 (without regard to accrued and unpaid interest) plus (b) all required interest payments due on such Note through November 1, 2020 (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (2) the principal amount of such Note. The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the Applicable Premium.

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

ASC ” means Accounting Standards Codification.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets (including by way of a Production Payment and Reserve Sale or a sale and leaseback transaction); provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.14 hereof and/or Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.11; and

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any of its other Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $40.0 million;

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

 

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

(4) the disposition of products, services, inventory or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business;

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

(6) a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.08;

(7) Permitted Investments, including, without limitation, unwinding Hedging Obligations;

(8) a disposition of Hydrocarbons or mineral products inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(9) the sale or other disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of crude oil and natural gas properties or direct or indirect interests in real property; provided , that at the time of such sale or disposition such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves;

(10) the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or which are usual and customary in the Oil and Gas Business generally or in the geographic region in which such activities occur;

(11) any trade or exchange by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries of oil and gas properties or other properties or assets for oil and gas properties or other properties or assets owned or held by another Person, provided that the fair market value of the properties or assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (together with any cash) is reasonably equivalent to the fair market value of the properties or assets (together with any cash) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, and provided further that any net cash received must be applied in accordance with the provisions described in Section 4.11;

(12) the creation or perfection of a Lien (but not, except to the extent contemplated in clause (13) below, the sale or other disposition of the properties or assets subject to such Lien);

(13) the creation or perfection of a Permitted Lien and the exercise by any Person in whose favor a Permitted Lien is granted of any of its rights in respect of that Permitted Lien;

 

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(14) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property, including, without limitation, licenses for seismic data, in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(16) any Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, (i) shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 90 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto or (ii) are in connection with partial or complete satisfaction of financial assurance requirements in connection with plugging and abandonment obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(17) a disposition of Income Tax Refund Claims.

Attributable Debt ” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease Obligation of any Person, the amount thereof that would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Banking Services means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Company or any Guarantor by any holder of Priority Lien Debt or any Affiliate thereof: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) Treasury Management Arrangements (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

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

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

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

 

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Board of Directors ” means:

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

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

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the 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 maximum amount determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Credit Agreement as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries against which such lenders are prepared to provide loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve-based borrowing base loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Credit Agreement, and which is based upon, inter alia , the review by such lenders of the hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Building has the meaning assigned to such term in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation; provided that, in no event shall the term “Building” include platforms and other structures located in state or federal waters offshore of the United States or other areas that are not subject to Flood Insurance Regulation.

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

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty; provided that all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the FASB on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ ASU ”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Indenture (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations in the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.03.

 

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Capital Stock ” means:

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

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

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) United States dollars;

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

(3) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Moody’s;

(4) certificates of deposit, demand deposit accounts and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

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

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

 

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(7) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

CFC ” means a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Principals or a Related Party of the Principals;

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

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above), other than the Principals or a Related Party of the Principals becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

Collateral ” means all property of any kind (excluding any Building or Mobile Home) which is subject to a Lien in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders or which under the terms of any Security Document is purported to be subject to such a Lien, subject, however, to the Intercreditor Agreement.

Collateral Disposition ” means any sale, transfer or other disposition (whether voluntary or involuntary) to the extent involving assets or other rights or property that constitute Collateral. The sale or issuance of Equity Interests in a Guarantor such that it thereafter is no longer a Guarantor shall be deemed to be a Collateral Disposition of the Collateral owned by such Guarantor.

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

Collateral Trustee ” means the collateral trustee for all holders of Parity Lien Obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement. Wilmington Trust, National Association will initially serve as the Collateral Trustee.

Company ” means W&T Offshore, Inc., and any and all successors thereto.

 

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

(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale (together with any related provision for taxes and any related non-recurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity), to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

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

(3) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

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

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

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

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

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

(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person (except to the extent of the share of Net Income of any Joint Venture that is proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the specified Person);

 

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

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

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

(5) any asset impairment writedowns on oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines will be excluded;

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

(7) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, any non-cash or nonrecurring charges associated with any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded.

Consolidated Net Worth ” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the sum of:

(1) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date; plus

(2) the respective amounts reported on such Person’s balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred stock.

Consolidated Secured Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness, in each case secured by a Lien; provided that Consolidated Secured Debt will not include undrawn amounts under revolving credit facilities and Indebtedness in respect of any (1) letters of credit, bank guarantees and performance, surety or similar bonds, except to the extent of obligations in respect of drawn standby letters of credit which have not been reimbursed within three Business Days and (2) Hedging Obligations.

 

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Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.01 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

Credit Agreement ” means the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, Societe Generale and Natixis, New York Branch, as co-syndication agents, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise), supplemented or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to investors issued pursuant to indentures) in whole or in part from time to time.

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

Credit Facilities ” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more current or future debt facilities (including, without limitation, Credit Agreement), indentures, or commercial paper facilities with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, trust companies, mutual funds, other lenders, investors or any of the foregoing providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes, debt securities, guarantees, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders, or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell such receivables to) such lenders against such receivables), letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, or other borrowings, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (in each case, without limitation as to amount), in whole or in part, from time to time and any agreements and related documents governing Indebtedness or other Obligations incurred to refinance amounts then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding, (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) (including by means of sales of debt securities to investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

Custodian ” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

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

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

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Depositary ” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature; provided , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date, will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.08 hereof. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

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

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (1) that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or (2) that Guarantees Indebtedness of the Company or of a Guarantor in excess of a Minimum Amount.

Drilling Program ” means the exploration, drilling and development of identified drilling projects from Company-held leases and producing acreage in the Gulf of Mexico pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2018, between the Company and Monza Energy, LLC.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company.

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 of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) by the Company after the Issue Date.

 

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

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

Excluded Assets ” means (i) cash, certificates of deposit, deposit accounts, money market accounts or other such liquid assets (“ Excluded Liquid Assets ”) but only to the extent that such Excluded Liquid Assets that are on deposit or maintained with the Priority Lien Collateral Agent or any other holder of Priority Lien Obligations to cash collateralize letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations rather than generally to the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations as a whole, (ii) any governmental approval, license or permit that by its terms or by operation of law or regulation would be void, voidable, terminable or revocable if mortgaged, pledged or assigned under the terms of the Parity Lien Documents (provided that such assets will constitute Excluded Assets only (x) so long as the mortgage, pledge or assignment would be void, voidable, terminable or revocable and (y) if excluded from the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations), (iii) Equity Interests in excess of 65% of the voting Equity Interests in Subsidiaries that are (a) FSHCOs or (b) Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs or are disregarded entities that own Equity Interests in CFCs, (iv) assets of any CFCs, and (v) other property or assets of the Company or any Guarantor that are not required to be subject to a Lien securing the Priority Lien Obligations pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents except to the extent that such property or assets are subject to a Priority Lien generally in favor of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (i) a Domestic Subsidiary that is owned directly or indirectly by a CFC, or (ii) a FSHCO.

Existing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding the Notes, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and intercompany Indebtedness) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

Fair Market Value means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (except as otherwise set forth in this Indenture or unless the value is less than $10.0 million, in which case it may be determined by an officer of the Company), which determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture.

FASB ” means Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the

 

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Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

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

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business), or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and the Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period will be calculated giving pro forma effect to any expense and cost reductions that have occurred or, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial officer of the Company, are reasonably expected to occur (regardless of whether those operating improvements or cost savings could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

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

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

(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; and

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

 

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

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings) and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

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

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

(4) all cash dividends on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person, other than dividends payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; plus

(5) all cash dividends on any series of preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, other than dividends payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

Flood Insurance Regulations ” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time and (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

FSHCO ” means any Domestic Subsidiary (including a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that has no material assets (held directly or through Subsidiaries) other than (i) Equity Interests of one or more CFCs or (ii) Equity Interests of one or more CFCs and indebtedness of one or more CFCs.

 

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GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the FASB or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Indenture, (i) the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness, respectively, and (ii) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used in this Indenture shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein.

Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01 or Section 2.06 hereof.

Government Securities ” 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

that, in either 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) of the Securities Act), as custodian, with respect to any such Government Security or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Security held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided, however , that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Security or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Security evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

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Guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise), or entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part).

Guarantors ” means

(1) each Subsidiary of the Company that executed this Indenture on the Issue Date; and

(2) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and other arrangements or agreements designed to protect the Person entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchange rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

(3) any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of commodities used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

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

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

Hydrocarbon Interests means all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, working interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

 

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

IAI Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors in compliance with the Securities Act.

Income Tax Refund Claim ” means any interest, including, without limitation, an interest in proceeds to be received therefrom, in claims for refunds of U.S. federal income taxes for the tax years 2003 and 2004 made by the Company pursuant to formal claims for refund dated June 23, 2016, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the Company on Internal Revenue Service Form 1120X for each of the respective years, reflecting the impact of a carryback of losses from the Company’s 2013 and 2014 tax years and the collateral impacts thereof, including any direct or indirect effects on the Company’s tax year 2003 from the carryback of losses from the Company’s 2012 tax year.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

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

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property due more than nine months after such property is acquired; and

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,

if, and to the extent that, any of the items described in clauses (1), (2), (4) and (5) above would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

In addition, the term “ Indebtedness ” includes (1) all Indebtedness described in the preceding paragraph of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person; provided, however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person, and (2) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness

 

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described in the preceding paragraph of any other Person (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment, but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment). Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness.

In addition, “ Indebtedness ” of any Person shall include Indebtedness described in the preceding paragraph that would not appear as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person if:

(1) such Indebtedness is the obligation of a Joint Venture that is not a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner of the Joint Venture (a “ General Partner ”); and

(3) there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, with respect to the payment of such Indebtedness to property or assets by such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person;

and then such Indebtedness shall be included in an amount not to exceed:

(a) the lesser of (i) the net assets of the General Partner and (ii) the amount of such obligations to the extent that there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, to the property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; or

(b) if less than the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) immediately above, the actual amount of such Indebtedness that is recourse to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, if the Indebtedness is evidenced by a writing and is for a determinable amount and the related interest expense shall be included in Fixed Charges to the extent actually paid by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

Indirect Participant ” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Notes ” means the first $625,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

Institutional Accredited Investor ” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who is not also a QIB.

 

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Intercreditor Agreement means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated May 11, 2015, among Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as first lien agent, and the Collateral Trustee, as second lien agent, and the other parties thereto (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, along Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Priority Lien Agent, the Collateral Trustee, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as a Priority Lien Agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Third Lien Collateral Trustee, and as further amended, restated or modified in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, or replaced, whether upon or after termination or otherwise), and joined on the Issue Date by the Trustee, as representative of the Holders of Notes, pursuant to a Priority Confirmation Joinder (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning specified in Exhibit A hereto.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating of Baa3 (or the equivalent) or better by Moody’s, BBB- (or the equivalent) or better by S&P or an equivalent rating by a Substitute Rating Agency.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents) and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(2) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clause (1) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution; and

(3) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees) advances or capital contributions (excluding endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business, and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.08(c). The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an

 

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Investment by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.08(c). Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Issue Date means the date of this Indenture.

Joint Venture ” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly makes any Investment.

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

Minimum Amount ” means $25.0 million.

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

Mobile Home has the meaning assigned to the term “Manufactured Home” and “Mobile Home” in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation; provided that, in no event shall the term “Mobile Home” include platforms and other structures located in state or federal waters offshore of the United States or other areas that are not subject to Flood Insurance Regulation.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

Mortgaged Properties ” means all property as to which a mortgage lien, deed of trust lien or similar lien is granted to secure Priority Lien Debt on the Issue Date and all other property of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary as to which a mortgage lien, deed of trust lien or similar lien shall be granted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in favor of the Collateral Trustee and/or a trustee pursuant to a deed of trust, mortgage or other similar instrument in order to secure the Obligations under the Notes and the Note Guarantees or any part thereof, subject, however, to Section 13.01(c).

 

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Mortgages ” means all mortgages, deeds of trust and similar documents, instruments and agreements (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof) creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on the Mortgaged Properties and other related assets to secure payment of the Notes and the Note Guarantees or any part thereof.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends and including any share of net income attributed to any Joint Venture proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of such specified Person; provided , however , that the foregoing shall exclude:

(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with:

(a) any Asset Sale; or

(b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(2) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss.

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

(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Sale;

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

(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to holders of Minority Interests in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; and

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, or held in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price or for any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale.

 

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Net Working Capital ” means (a) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, less (b) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness and any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 815).

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

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

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity.

Non-U.S. Person ” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

Note Documents ” means this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents (other than any Security Documents that do not secure the Notes Obligations).

Note Guarantee ” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Notes ” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

Obligations ” means all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, primary or secondary, direct or indirect, absolute, fixed or contingent, and whether or not required to be considered pursuant to GAAP from time to time, including, without limitation, any principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities (including any interest, fees and expenses accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in this Indenture, whether or not such interest, fees or expenses is an allowed claim under any such proceeding or under applicable state, federal or foreign law) payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

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

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 12.03 hereof.

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

(1) the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, production, operation and disposition of interests in crude oil, natural gas and other Hydrocarbon properties;

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

(3) any business relating to exploration for or development, production, exploitation, treatment, processing (but not refining), storage, transportation or marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith; and

(4) any activity that is ancillary or complementary to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (1) through (3) of this definition.

Oil and Gas Properties means Hydrocarbon Interests; the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests; all hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, the lands covered thereby and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or

 

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other wells (including those used for either environmental sampling or remedial purposes), structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

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

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Secured Debt Document, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

Parity Lien Debt ” means:

(1) the Notes issued on the date of this Indenture and the Note Guarantees thereof; and

(2) any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is secured equally and ratably with the Indebtedness referenced in clause (1) of this definition by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (2) of this definition:

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement; provided further that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

(b) such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation; and

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

 

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

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

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

(1) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; or

(2) in the case of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt that is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity.

Participant ” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of:

(1) a Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(2) a Person that was merged, consolidated or amalgamated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,

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

(a) the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.10(a);

(b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company immediately prior to such transaction; or

 

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(c) the Consolidated Net Worth of the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of such Restricted Subsidiary or 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) direct or indirect ownership of crude oil, natural gas, other related Hydrocarbon and mineral properties or any interest therein or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems or ancillary real property interests; and

(2) Investments in the form of, pursuant to or in accordance with operating agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals, production sharing agreements, participation agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling agreements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), subscription agreements, stock purchase agreements, stockholder agreements and other similar or customary agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries), transactions, properties, interests or arrangements and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto.

For the avoidance of doubt, “Permitted Business Investments” shall include the Company’s Investments in Monza Energy, LLC pursuant to the Drilling Program and shall include Investments in any Joint Venture similar to the Investments in Monza Energy, LLC or in any Joint Venture formed for the purpose of acquiring or developing Oil and Gas Properties with one or more third parties.

Permitted Investments ” means:

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

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

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

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

 

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

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.11;

(5) any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;

(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

(8) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business made for bona fide business purposes not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

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

(10) surety and performance bonds and workers’ compensation, utility, lease, tax, performance and similar deposits and prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of business;

(11) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.10;

(12) Guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(13) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of any entity merged into the Company or merged into or consolidated or amalgamated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.01 to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

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(14) Permitted Business Investments;

(15) Investments received as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(16) Investments in any units of any oil and gas royalty trust; and

(17) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) 3.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (b) $50.0 million.

Permitted Liens ” means:

(1) Liens securing the Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt (other than Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees incurred on the Issue Date) incurred under Section 4.10(b)(1); provided that any Liens securing Priority Lien Debt shall be secured equally and ratably with Liens securing Priority Lien Debt under this clause (1);

(2) Parity Liens securing the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the related Note Guarantees;

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

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

(5) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

(6) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens described in another clause of this definition);

(7) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

 

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

(9) Liens arising from leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(10) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or the like Liens arising by contract or statute in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(11) Liens arising (including from pledges or deposits) (A) in connection with leases, tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, government contracts, performance bonds and similar obligations, or (B) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

(12) 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;

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

(14) any attachment or judgment Lien that does not constitute an Event of Default;

(15) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however , that

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

(b) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge; and

 

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(c) to the extent the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or replaced constitutes Parity Lien Debt, then the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien may be only Parity Lien Debt or secured on a junior Lien basis to all Parity Lien Debt;

(16) Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations with respect to, or the repair, improvement or construction cost of, assets or property acquired or repaired, improved or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

(a) 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 assets or property so acquired or repaired, improved or constructed plus fees and expenses in connection therewith; and

(b) such Liens are created within 180 days of repair, improvement, construction or acquisition of such assets or property and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto (including improvements);

(17) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained or deposited with a depositary institution; provided that:

(a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; and

(b) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depositary institution;

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

(19) Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(20) Liens on pipelines and pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

(21) Liens arising from farmout, carried working interest, joint operating, unitization, royalty, sales and similar agreements relating to the exploration or development of, or production from, oil and gas properties entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

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

(24) Liens securing Hedging Obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(25) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

(26) Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.10;

(27) Liens securing Parity Lien Debt that does not exceed in principal amount the greatest of (a) $100.0 million at any one time outstanding, (b) 7.0% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds therefrom and (c) an amount of Parity Lien Debt by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that, pro forma for such incurrence and the application of proceeds therefrom, the Company’s Senior Secured Leverage Ratio would not exceed 2.00:1.00;

(28) Liens of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect to Indebtedness that does not exceed in principal amount the greater of (a) $60.0 million at any one time outstanding and (b) 4.0% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of proceeds therefrom; and

(29) Liens of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in connection with any Income Tax Refund Claim.

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

 

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

(2) (a) if the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is earlier than the final maturity date of the Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date no earlier than the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, refunded, discharged, refinanced, replaced or defeased, or

(b) if the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is later than the final maturity date of the Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date at least 91 days later than the final maturity date of the Notes;

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

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

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

Principals ” means Tracy W. Krohn, his spouse, Laurie P. Krohn, and their immediate family and descendants by blood or adoption.

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

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

 

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Priority Lien Debt ” means:

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

(2) additional Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors under any other Credit Facility that is secured equally and ratably with the Indebtedness referenced in clause (1) above by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

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

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

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

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

 

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Priority Lien Documents ” means the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the documents pursuant to which Priority Lien Obligations are granted.

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

Priority Lien Representative ” means (1) in the case of the Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

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

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

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

Proved Reserves ” means “Proved Reserves” as defined in the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

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

Rating Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P; provided that if Moody’s or S&P shall cease to rate the Notes for reasons outside the control of the Company, another security rating agency selected by the Company that is nationally recognized in the United States may be substituted therefor (a “ Substitute Rating Agency ”).

 

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

Regulation S Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold or exchanged in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Related Party ” means any trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, of which one or more of the Principals or other Related Parties collectively Beneficially Own more than 50% of such entity.

Reserve Report ” means one or more engineering reports dated as of the December 31st immediately prior to the determination date or, if the Company elects to create and designate a mid-year report or reports as a “Reserve Report” under this Indenture, the June 30th immediately prior to the determination date (provided that if the Reserve Report as of the December 31st immediately prior to the determination date is not available and the date of determination is on or prior to the following March 31st, the Reserve Report shall be as of the prior December 31st (or if the Company so elects or elected to prepare and designate a mid-year reserve report as a “Reserve Report’, the prior June 30th), in each case concerning all Oil and Gas Properties and interests owned by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries which are located in or offshore of the United States and which have attributable to them proved oil or gas reserves, which, to the extent required by the Credit Agreement, shall be prepared by Netherland Sewell and Associates, Inc., or other independent petroleum engineers chosen by the Company. This report shall take into account any “over-produced” status under gas balancing arrangements. This report shall in each case be in the form delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement, or if there is no Credit Agreement requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Company with the form of Reserve Report required under the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

Responsible Officer ” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust group of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

S&P ” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and its successors.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Debt ” means Priority Lien Debt and Parity Lien Debt.

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Priority Lien Documents and the Parity Lien Documents.

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

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

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

Senior Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt outstanding on such date to (b) Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, in each case determined on a pro forma basis with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

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

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

 

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Series of Secured Debt means each Series of Priority Lien Debt and each Series of Parity Lien Debt.

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

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

Subordinated Obligation ” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement or any Indebtedness of a Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement, as the case may be.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity 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 (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

Treasury Management Arrangement ” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

 

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Treasury Rate means with respect to the Notes 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) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to November 1, 2020; provided , however , that if the period from the redemption date to November 1, 2020is 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 the final maturity of the Notes 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 will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) on or 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 of each in reasonable detail.

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

Uniform Commercial Code or “ UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

Unrestricted Definitive Note ” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note ” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

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

(2) except as permitted by Section 4.12 hereof, is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

 

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

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

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

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

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” of any specified Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) will at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

Term

   Defined in
Section

Affiliate Transaction

   4.12

Asset Sale Offer

   3.09

Authentication Order

   2.02

Calculation Date

   1.01 under “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”

Change of Control Offer

   4.14

Change of Control Payment

   4.14

Change of Control Payment Date

   4.14

Covenant Defeasance

   8.03

Event of Default

   6.01

Excess Proceeds

   4.11

Flood Insurance Regulations

   13.01

General Partner

   1.01 under “Indebtedness”

incur

   4.10

Legal Defeasance

   8.02

Minimum Mortgage Requirement

   4.17

Note Register

   2.06

Notes Obligations

   13.01

Offer Amount

   3.09

Offer Period

   3.09

Other Offer Parties

   4.11

 

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Paying Agent

   2.03

Payment Default

   6.01

Permitted Debt

   4.10

Purchase Date

   3.09

Registrar

   2.03

Restricted Payments

   4.08

Substitute Rating Agency

   1.01
under “Rating Agency”

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) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

(8) this Indenture shall not be governed by the provisions of the TIA, including any requirements to deliver annual opinions with respect to perfection of security interests or opinions with respect to release of Collateral in accordance with this Indenture, the Collateral Trust Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating .

(a) General . The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

 

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

(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication .

At least one Officer must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.

A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by at least one Officer (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate Notes for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture, including any Additional Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Company pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

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Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent .

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

The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes. The place of payment with respect to the Notes, in addition to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, shall be an office maintained by the Company in New York, New York, and at such time, if ever, as the Notes are no longer represented by one or more Global Notes, the Company shall appoint and maintain a Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, the intention of the Company being that, after giving effect to the procedures of the Depositary respecting payments on Global Notes, the Notes shall at all times be payable in New York, New York.

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

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

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

 

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Section 2.05 Holder Lists .

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven 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 the Holders of Notes.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or

(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (1), (2) or (3) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or Section 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

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(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Beneficial interests in any 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 2.06(b)(1).

(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

(A) both:

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary 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

(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

(B) both:

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.

 

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Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this 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 2.06(g) hereof.

(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in any 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 2.06(b)(2) above and such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

(A) If any such transfer is effected at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, 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 pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(4).

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 Restricted Global Note.

 

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(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .

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

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

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) or (C) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

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(2) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and if the Company or Registrar so request or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(3) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests .

(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes 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 Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

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(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) or (C) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof, the Trustee will cancel the 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, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.

(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global N otes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and if the Company or Registrar so request or if the Applicable Procedures 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes 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 will 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 exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(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 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must 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 must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

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

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

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

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

 

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(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

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

(f) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

(1) Private Placement Legend.

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER

 

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CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES OF LESS THAN $100,000 AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(2), (c)(3), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2) or (e)(3) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(C) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to Section 9.01 hereof, the Private Placement Legend may not be removed from any Global Note or any Definitive Note other than in connection with a transfer under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

(2) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO

 

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SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(A) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), 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 MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.”

(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. 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 will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. 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 will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary 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 will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

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

 

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(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.11 or 4.14 and 9.04 hereof).

(3) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

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

(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

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

(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

 

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

(9) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests 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, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes .

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

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes .

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

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Company and the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to each of them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

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

 

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If the Paying Agent (other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof) holds, by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on a redemption date or other maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes .

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any 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 knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes .

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 2.11 Cancellation .

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

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest .

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company delivered at least 5 Business Days before such notice is to be sent, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will send or cause to be sent to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

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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 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

(1) the paragraph of Section 3.07 hereof pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

(2) the redemption date;

(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

(4) the redemption price (if then determined and otherwise the basis for its determination).

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased .

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption by lot (except that any Notes represented by a Global Note will be redeemed by such method as DTC may require), unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

In the event of partial redemption, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee will 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. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption .

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail (or send electronically in the case of Global Notes), a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 8 or 11 hereof.

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

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price (if then determined and otherwise the basis for its determination);

(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued 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 ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(7) the paragraph in Section 3.07 of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

(8) if such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one of more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed (subject to the first paragraph of this Section 3.03) until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or that 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 Company in its sole discretion) by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed, or that such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Company’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Company any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied; and

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

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided , however , that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days prior to the giving of such notice of redemption (or such shorter period as shall be acceptable to the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and a copy of the notice of redemption that sets forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

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Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption .

Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, unless the condition described in the notice of redemption, to the extent one exists, does not occur.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price .

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

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or tendered for purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or tendered for purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or tendered for purchase 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 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part .

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption .

(a) At any time prior to November 1, 2020, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 109.750% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:

(1) at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

 

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(2) each such redemption must occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

(b) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph (a) or paragraph (d) or (e) below, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to November 1, 2020.

(c) On or after November 1, 2020, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2020

     104.875

2021

     102.438

2022

     100.000

(d) At any time prior to November 1, 2020, the Company may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(e) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company (or the third party making the Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 4.14(d) hereof) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the Holders and the Trustee, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to Section 4.14 to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, to, but not including, the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

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

 

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Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption .

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.11 hereof, the Company is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), it will follow the procedures specified below.

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and (i) with respect to Excess Proceeds from any Asset Sale that is a Collateral Disposition, all holders of other Parity Lien Obligations, or (ii) with respect to other Excess Proceeds, all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, repay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “ Offer Amount ”) to the purchase of Notes and such other Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis based on the outstanding amount of the Notes and such other Indebtedness, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

For the avoidance of doubt, each Asset Sale Offer shall be made to the Holders and to any applicable Other Offer Parties pursuant to Section 4.11 and the aggregate amount of the Notes subject to any Asset Sale Offer that is also made to Other Offer Parties shall be an amount of Excess Proceeds that is proportionate to the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes relative to the then outstanding principal amount of relevant Indebtedness of the Other Offer Parties. In addition, if the offer requirements or mechanics applicable to such other Indebtedness are not consistent with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.09 for an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may change the procedures for such Asset Sale Offer from those set forth herein provided that (x) no change may be made with respect to the amount of Notes subject to the Asset Sale Offer and (y) such procedures shall be clearly set out in the relevant Asset Sale Offer notice.

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

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Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by first class mail (or electronically in the case of Global Notes), a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

(1) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.11 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

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

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

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

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000 only;

(6) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

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

(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee will select the Notes and the Company or the trustee or agent for such other Indebtedness will select such other Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, will be purchased); and

(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

 

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On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

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

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes .

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company will maintain in the continental United States, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) 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 made. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall not be an office or agency of the Company for the purpose of service of legal process against the Company or any Guarantor.

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation under Section 2.03 to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York where any Definitive Notes may be presented or surrendered for any payment. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, such surrenders, presentations, notices and demands may be made at the designated Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive at the aforesaid office all such surrenders, presentations, notices and demands; provided that the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall not be an office or agency of the Company for the purpose of service of legal process against the Company or any Guarantor.

Section 4.03 Reports .

(a) So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the SEC for public availability, within 30 days of the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing, in which case the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes and the Trustee, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations):

(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports, and, with respect to the annual information only, an audit report thereon by a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants; and

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

(b) All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. The Company will conduct a conference call for the Holders of the Notes, any prospective investor and any securities analyst to discuss the information furnished pursuant to the previous paragraph no later than three business days after furnishing any information pursuant to clause (1) of Section 4.03(a).

(c) If, at any time, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Company’s filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 on its website within 30 days of the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.

 

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(d) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 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.

(e) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03, the Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(f) The Company shall be deemed to have furnished such reports to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether such filing has occurred or if such reports are publicly available.

(g) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s and the Guarantors’ compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no duty or responsibility to review such reports, information or documents.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate .

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

 

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(b) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, within five days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Taxes .

The Company will pay, and will 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 of the Notes.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .

The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the 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 will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Corporate Existence .

Subject to Article 5 hereof, so long as any of the Notes shall remain outstanding, the Company will at all times do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

Section 4.08 Restricted Payments .

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

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

 

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(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including without limitation, any such purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement made in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, any Subordinated Obligation (excluding the purchase or other acquisition of any Subordinated Obligation in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity payment, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase or other acquisition); or

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

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

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

(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.10(a) hereof; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (9) or (10) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.08), is equal to or less than the sum, without duplication, of the following:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from July 1, 2018 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (but in any event not less than zero dollars); plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and 100% of the Fair Market Value of securities or other property other than cash received that is used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business by the Company since the Issue Date from the sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or as a

 

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contribution to the Company’s common equity capital or from the sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or guaranteed the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination); plus

(C) the amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person since the Issue Date resulting from:

(i) repurchases or redemptions of such Restricted Investments by such Person, proceeds realized upon the sale of such Restricted Investment to a purchaser other than the Company or a Subsidiary or the Company, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets (including by way of dividend or distribution) by such Person to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

(ii) the redesignation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (valued in each case at the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of redesignation) not to exceed the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary,

which amount in each case under this clause (C) was included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided , however , that no amount will be included under this clause (C) to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income; plus

(D) 100% of any dividends received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor after the Issue Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.08(a) hereof will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend within 90 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(2) the making of any Restricted Payment since the Issue Date in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Equity Interests issued or sold to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Company; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from clause (3)(B) of this Section 4.08(a);

(3) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value since the Issue Date of Subordinated Obligations in exchange for, or with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(4) the payment since the Issue Date of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(5) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value since the Issue Date of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any of the Company’s (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’) current or former directors or employees pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement or restricted stock agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $10.0 million in any 12-month period (with unused amounts in any 12-month period being permitted to be carried over into succeeding 12-month periods); provided , further , that the amounts in any 12-month period may be increased by an amount not to exceed (A) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of the Company’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to any such directors or employees that occurs after the Issue Date ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement will be excluded from clause (3)(B) of this Section 4.08(a)) plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(6) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value since the Issue Date of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any of the Company’s (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’) current or former directors or employees in connection with the exercise or vesting of any equity compensation (including, without limitation, stock options, restricted stock and phantom stock) or made in order to satisfy the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s tax withholding obligation with respect to such exercise or vesting;

 

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(7) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, repurchases of Subordinated Obligations at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligations in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligations in the event of an Asset Sale, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, in connection with any change of control offer or asset sale offer required by the terms of such Subordinated Obligations, but only if:

(a) in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 4.14 (including without limitation the repurchase of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection therewith); or

(b) in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Section 4.11 (including without limitation the repurchase of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection therewith);

(8) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Capital Stock of the Company representing fractional shares of such Capital Stock in connection with a merger, consolidation or other combination involving the Company or any other transaction permitted by this Indenture;

(9) Restricted Payments in an amount up to $35.0 million for each 12-month period following the Issue Date, with any unused portion of such amount in any such period to be carried forward to succeeding 12-month periods; provided that if the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.00:1.00 on any anniversary of the Issue Date, such amount shall be limited to $15.0 million for the subsequent 12-month period;

(10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30.0 million since the Issue Date; and

(11) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.10(a) hereof.

(c) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.08 will be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the

 

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Trustee within five Business Days of the making of the Restricted Payment, together with a copy of any related resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company. Such Officers’ Certificate shall state that the Restricted Payment is permitted by this Section 4.08. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.08, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in (1) through (11) above or is entitled to be made pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.08, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such Restricted Payment, or later classify, reclassify or re-divide all or a portion of such Restricted Payment, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.08.

Section 4.09 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .

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

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

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

(b) The restrictions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

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

(2) this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the other Note Documents;

(3) applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, permit or similar restriction;

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

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(5) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, leases and licenses (including, without limitation, licenses of intellectual property) entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(6) purchase money obligations for property (including Capital Stock) acquired in the ordinary course of business, Capital Lease Obligations and mortgage financings that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.09(a) hereof;

(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of assets, including without limitation an agreement for the sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by the applicable Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other disposition;

(8) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.13 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(9) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into (a) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (b) with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitations are applicable only to the assets or property that are the subject of such agreements;

(10) other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.10; provided that the provisions of such agreement relating to such dividend and other payment encumbrances or restrictions taken as a whole are not materially more restrictive, as determined by the Board of Directors or the Company in good faith, than those provisions contained in the agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and the Credit Agreement, in each case as in effect on the Issue Date;

(11) the issuance of preferred stock by a Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such preferred stock was made in accordance with Section 4.10 and the terms of such preferred stock do not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

 

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(12) supermajority voting requirements existing under corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders’ agreements and similar documents and agreements;

(13) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(14) encumbrances or restrictions contained in Hedging Obligations permitted from time to time under this Indenture; and

(15) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.10 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock .

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided , however , that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.10(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under 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 its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greatest of:

(i) $300.0 million; and

(ii) 20% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom; and

 

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(iii) the Borrowing Base at the time of incurrence;

provided that if the lenders under each Credit Facility incurred under this clause (1) do not include at least one commercial bank that provides, in the ordinary course of its business, reserve-based bank loans in the Oil and Gas Business, then the aggregate amount that may be incurred under this clause (1) shall not exceed $300.0 million;

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

(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the Issue Date ;

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed the greater of (a) $30.0 million and (b) 2.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.10(a) hereof or clauses (2), (3), (4) or (11) of this Section 4.10(b) or this clause (5);

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

(A) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Company or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a 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 not either the Company or 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) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided , however , that:

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

(B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

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

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

(10) the Guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.10; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

(11) Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

(12) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five Business Days;

(13) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

 

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

(16) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $60.0 million and (b) 4.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness; and

(17) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness recourse only to the Income Tax Refund Claim (subject to customary recourse exceptions).

(c) The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided , however , that no Indebtedness shall be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not incur any Indebtedness secured by a Priority Lien unless the principal amount of such Indebtedness is pari passu in right of payment with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness secured by a Priority Lien. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.10, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (17) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.10(a) hereof, the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.10; provided that any Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date incurred under the Credit Agreement shall be considered incurred under clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt and may not be later reclassified. 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 Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.10; provided , in each such case, that

 

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the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.10, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.10 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

(e) The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

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

(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

(3) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

(A) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination; and

(B) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

Section 4.11 Asset Sales .

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

(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests or other assets issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) (a) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or (b) the Fair Market Value of all forms of consideration other than cash received for all Asset Sales since the Issue Date does not exceed in the aggregate 15% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time each determination is made. For purposes of this provision, each of the following shall be deemed to be cash:

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

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days after the date of the Asset Sale, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

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(C) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (2) or (3) of the next paragraph of this Section 4.11; and

(D) accounts receivable of a business retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, following the sale of such business; provided that such accounts receivable are not (i) past due more than 90 days and (ii) do not have a payment date greater than 120 days from the date of the invoice creating such accounts receivable.

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, or, if within such 365-day period the Company has entered into a binding commitment or commitments with respect to the actions described in clauses (2) or (3) below, within 180 days after the entry into such binding commitment or commitments (or if later, 365 days after receipt of such Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale), the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:

(1) (A) if the Asset Sale is a Collateral Disposition, to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt; provided that with respect to Parity Lien Debt, such repayment, prepayment, redemption or repurchase must be made either by a pro rata redemption, repayment or repurchase of outstanding Parity Lien Debt or by an offer to purchase on a pro rata basis made to all holders of Parity Lien Debt under the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 or (B) if such Asset Sale is not a Collateral Disposition, to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is not subordinated in right of payment to the Notes (but, in each case, excluding intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of its Affiliates);

(2) to invest in Additional Assets;

(3) to make capital expenditures in respect of the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Business; or

(4) any combination of the foregoing.

Pending the application of any Net Proceeds in the manner provided above, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

(c) Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.11(b) will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” Within five days after the date that the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and (i) with respect to Excess Proceeds from any Asset Sale that is a Collateral Disposition, all holders of other Parity Lien Obligations, or (ii) with respect to

 

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other Excess Proceeds, all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture (such applicable holders of any Parity Lien Obligations or other applicable pari passu Indebtedness, the “ Other Offer Parties ”) with respect to offers to purchase, repay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof to purchase or repay on a pro rata basis the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased or repaid out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of purchase or repayment, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds allocated for the purchase of Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will select Notes for purchase by such method as DTC may require), subject to adjustment to maintain authorized minimum denominations. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

(d) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.11, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.11 by virtue of such compliance.

(e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.11, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to consummate an Asset Sale without complying with such clauses to the extent that:

(1) the consideration for such Asset Sale constitutes Additional Assets and/or the assumption of obligations secured by Liens that burden some or all of the assets being sold and/or cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that, in the case of any such assumption, (a) the Person assuming such obligations shall have no recourse with respect to such obligations to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) no assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than those assets being sold) are subject to such Liens; and

(2) such Asset Sale is for Fair Market Value; provided that at least 75% of the total consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any such Asset Sale shall be in the form of Additional Assets, the assumption of obligations secured by Liens described in clause (e)(1) above, cash or Cash Equivalents (including, without limitation, assets deemed cash pursuant to clause (a)(2) above), or any combination of the foregoing, and that any Net Proceeds so received shall be subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.11.

 

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Section 4.12 Transactions with Affiliates .

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

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(A) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.12(a); and

(B) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $30.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.12 and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

(b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.12(a) hereof:

(1) any employment agreement or arrangement, stock option or stock ownership plan, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement, restricted stock agreement, severance agreement or other compensation plan or arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and payments, awards, grants or issuances of securities pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, pursuant to the Company’s long-term incentive compensation plan, as amended;

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

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

 

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(4) reasonable fees and expenses and compensation paid to, and indemnity or insurance provided on behalf of, officers, directors or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors;

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

(6) Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 4.08 hereof;

(7) transactions between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company and such director is the sole cause for such Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(8) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(9) advances to or reimbursements of employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business;

(10) any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of Section 4.12(a);

(11) the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any written agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party on the Issue Date and which is described in the Company’s offering memorandum relating to the Initial Notes, as these agreements may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; provided , however , that any future amendment, modification or supplement entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted to the extent that its terms do not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holders of the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) as compared to the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date; and

(12) (a) guarantees of performance by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges of Equity Interests of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 4.13 Liens .

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), securing any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor.

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control .

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to but excluding the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders on an record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes properly tendered prior to the expiration of the Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”);

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

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

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

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(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 $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple thereof.

(b) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.14, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue of such compliance.

(c) Promptly following the expiration of the Change of Control Offer, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, and the Company will:

(1) on the Change of Control Payment Date, deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered; and

(2) on the Change of Control Payment Date, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Paying Agent will send to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Any Note so accepted for payment will cease to accrue interest on and after the Change of Control Payment Date unless the Company defaults in making the Change of Control Payment. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.14, 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 Section 4.14 and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

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(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

(f) Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled, at the Company’s option. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding paragraph will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

(g) The provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable regardless of whether or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

Section 4.15 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary 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 4.08 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions of this Section 4.15 and was permitted by Section 4.08 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements of this Section 4.15 as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.10 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.10 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence immediately following such designation.

 

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Section 4.16 Additional Note Guarantees and Collateral .

(a) If, after the Issue Date, any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) that is not already a Guarantor has Indebtedness outstanding in excess of a Minimum Amount or guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or of a Guarantor in excess of a Minimum Amount, then such Domestic Subsidiary will (i) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E and (ii) execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee an amendment, supplement or other instrument in respect of the Security Documents (other than the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement) necessary to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a grantor thereunder and take all action required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder, as well as to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, in each case within 180 days of the date on which it guaranteed such Indebtedness.

(b) In addition, at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Documents, instruments, certificates, financing statements, notices and other documents, and take such other actions (including the filing of any financing statements and recording of any Mortgages) as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

(c) In addition to the Collateral, from and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Guarantor acquires any Property that constitutes collateral for the Priority Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, promptly (but in any event no later than the date that is 20 Business Days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary to grant the Collateral Trustee a valid and enforceable perfected Lien on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected Lien on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of Holders of the Notes and the holders of any other Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if the Company or any Guarantor creates any additional Lien upon any Property that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt after the Issue Date, the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within 20 Business Days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected Lien upon such property or asset, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, and obtain all related

 

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deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative as security for the Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Section 4.16(c) shall not be required.

(d) The Company will deliver to the Collateral Trustee semi-annually on or before May 1 and November 1 in each calendar year, beginning May 1, 2019, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that, as of the date of such certificate, the Collateral includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than 85% (or such greater amount as may be required by the Credit Agreement in effect at such time) of the total discounted present value of Proved Reserves attributable the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Reserve Report (the “ Minimum Mortgage Requirement ”), together with (i) such executed Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as may be necessary to cause the Minimum Mortgage Requirement to be satisfied, (ii) reasonably satisfactory evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages, amendments or supplements in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) and (iii) local counsel opinion or opinions (each, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to the real property that is subject to the applicable Mortgage; provided that, (x) to the extent corresponding Mortgages securing the Priority Lien Obligations are being delivered and (y) Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the county or counties applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent; provided further that any such Mortgages and related items required to be delivered on the Issue Date may be delivered no later than 90 days following the Issue Date (subject to extension with the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; it being understood that the Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to have provided its consent to any such extension to the extent a corresponding extension is provided by the Priority Lien Agent).

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein or in the other Note Documents to the contrary, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be required to grant a security interest in, and the Collateral shall not include, any Excluded Asset.

Section 4.17 Termination of Covenants .

If on any date following the Issue Date, (1) the Notes are assigned an Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies and (2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the following provisions of this Indenture:

(i) Section 4.08;

 

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(ii) Section 4.09;

(iii) Section 4.10;

(iv) Section 4.11;

(v) Section 4.12;

(vi) Section 4.15; and

(vii) Section 5.01(4).

Following the termination of the foregoing provisions, the Board of Directors of the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof or clause (2) of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor whether or not the Notes have been assigned an Investment Grade Rating, nor any duty to notify the Holders of any of the foregoing.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets .

The Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (i) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation); or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(1) either:

(A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or

(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the other Note Documents; provided that, unless such Person is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Notes will be added to this Indenture by a supplemental indenture.

 

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(3) immediately after such transaction or transactions, no Default or Event of Default exists;

(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made, would, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, (a) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.10(a) hereof or (b) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio not less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; and

(5) any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made continues to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, subject to the Parity Liens, except as permitted by this Indenture or the other Note Documents.

For purposes of this Section 5.01, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in clause (4) of this Section 5.01, any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, the Company may merge into a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction, and any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted .

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided , however , that, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its properties and assets, the Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default .

Each of the following will be an “ Event of Default ”:

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

(2) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;

(3) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 3.09, 4.11, 4.14 or 5.01 hereof;

(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture;

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

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

(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 15 Business 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 and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

 

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(6) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (net of any amount with respect to which a reputable and solvent insurance company has acknowledged liability in writing), which judgments are not paid, discharged, stayed or fully bonded for a period of 60 days (or, if later, the date when payment is due pursuant to such judgment);

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

(A) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

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

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

(B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

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

 

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

(9) the occurrence of any of the following:

(A) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Security Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (9)(A) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Security Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Security Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $25.0 million, ceases to be enforceable; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

(B) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Security Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 45 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

(C) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens; and

(D) except as permitted by any Note Document, (i) any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or (ii) any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

Section 6.02 Acceleration .

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all of the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and, in the case of notice by Holders, also to the Trustee specifying the applicable Events of Default and that it is a notice of acceleration.

 

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Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders, rescind an acceleration and its consequences, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies .

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

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder 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 .

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase). 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 .

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may 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 it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits .

A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(1) such Holder gives to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

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

(3) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) during such 60-day period, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request.

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

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

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

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee .

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof 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 for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders 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

 

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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 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities .

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

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

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

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

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 of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee .

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

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

(1) the duties of the Trustee will 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 will 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 paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(2) the Trustee will 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 will 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 hereof.

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

(e) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense.

 

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(f) The Trustee will 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.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice, nor shall it be charged with knowledge, of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

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 will 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 and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will 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 will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

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

(f) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the losses, liabilities and expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g) 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.

 

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(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder (including, without limitation, as Collateral Trustee), and each Agent.

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

(j) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into (i) the performance of or compliance with any of the covenants or agreements set forth herein, (ii) the occurrence of any default, or the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Indenture or any other agreement, instrument or document.

(k) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

(l) The permissive rights of the Trustee under this Indenture shall not be construed as duties.

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 or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.09 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee s Disclaimer .

The Trustee will 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 will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will 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.

 

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Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults .

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will send to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it is actually known to the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 Compensation and Indemnity .

(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will 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 will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors will jointly and severally indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities 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 of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors, 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 or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

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

(d) To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.06, the Trustee will 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 and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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Section 7.07 Replacement of Trustee .

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will 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 at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

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

(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 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 will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate 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 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will 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 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Article 7, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.06 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 7.08 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.09 Eligibility; Disqualification .

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

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(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03(b), 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.16 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes will 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 will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will 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 will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Section 6.01(3) through (6) and Section 6.01(9) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a

 

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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, or interest and premium on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

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

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

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

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

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

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

 

 

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(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

All of the Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes, as provided under Section 13.05 hereof, upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with the provisions described above.

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

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will 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 acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Company .

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

 

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

Section 8.07 Reinstatement .

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

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (if applicable with respect to the Security Documents) may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the other Note Documents without the consent of any Holder of Notes:

(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 a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 hereof;

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

 

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(5) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the other Note Documents to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s offering memorandum relating to the Initial Notes, to the extent that such provision in the “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim or substantially verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the other Note Documents;

(6) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof;

(7) to subordinate Liens on Collateral in accordance with the Note Documents;

(8) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien with respect to or securing the Notes or the Note Guarantees when such release, termination or discharge is provided for in accordance with this Indenture and the other Note Documents;

(9) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes or release the Note Guarantees pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;

(10) to add any Collateral as provided in this Indenture or the other Note Documents, as applicable;

(11) with respect to the Security Documents, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(12) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the Security Documents establishing Parity Liens (including to secure Parity Lien Obligations permitted to be incurred and secured under this Indenture); or

(13) to evidence and provide for the acceptance under this Indenture of a successor Trustee.

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

 

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Each Holder of Notes hereunder (x) consents to the amendment of any Note Document in the manner and for the purposes set forth in this Section 9.01, (y) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any amendment to any Note Document pursuant to Section 9.01 and (z) authorizes and instructs the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (and the Trustee to direct the Collateral Trustee, if necessary) to enter into any amendment to any Note Document pursuant to this Section 9.01 on behalf of such Holder of Notes.

Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended 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 .

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (if applicable with respect to the Security Documents) may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 3.09, 4.11, 4.14, and 4.15 hereof), the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Section 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture and will direct the Collateral Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement to the Security Documents unless such amended or supplemental indenture or such Security Document amendment or supplement affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture and may but shall not be obligated to direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into such amendment or supplement to the Security Documents.

 

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

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver. Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(1) reduce the 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 or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (except as provided above with respect to Section 3.09, 4.11 and 4.14 hereof);

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

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium 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);

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

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to bring suit for the enforcement of payments of principal of, or interest or premium on, the Notes;

(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section 3.09, 4.11 or 4.14 hereof);

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

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

In addition, any amendment or supplement to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Indenture or any Note Document that has the effect of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes will require the consent of the Holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

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Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents .

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

Section 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Company approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

ARTICLE 10

NOTE GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee .

(a) Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

(1) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

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(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are 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 of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.

 

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Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee .

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture or a supplemental indenture in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or a supplemental indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary after the Issue Date, if required by Section 4.16 hereof, the Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.16 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

Section 10.04 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms .

Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05 hereof, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

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(2) either:

(a) subject to Section 10.05 hereof, the Person acquiring the assets in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or another Guarantor) unconditionally assumes pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form attached as Exhibit  E hereto, all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the other Note Documents; or

(b) such transaction does not violate Section 4.11 hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses (2)(a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

Section 10.05 Releases .

(a) In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then the Person acquiring the assets will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that such transaction does not violate Section 4.11 hereof. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company or such Guarantor in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

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(b) In the event of any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that (i) such transaction does not violate Section 4.11 hereof and (ii) such Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such sale or other disposition. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company or such Guarantor in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(c) Upon designation of any Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, such Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(d) Upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article 8 hereof or upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 11 hereof, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(e) Upon the liquidation or dissolution of a Guarantor; provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 10.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

In addition, the Collateral Trustee’s Lien on the Collateral will be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge .

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

(1) either:

(a) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

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

(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 11.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.06 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or to relieve the Company from its obligations with respect to the Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money or Government Securities deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Notices .

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

Facsimile No.: (713) 626-8527

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy to:

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

Facsimile No.: (713) 624-7324

Attention: General Counsel

If to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

15950 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, Texas 75248

Attention: W&T Offshore, Inc. Senior Second Lien Notes Administrator

Facsimile: (888) 316-6238

 

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

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that notices to the Trustee shall only be effective upon actual receipt.

Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be sent or transmitted to Holders of Global Notes in any manner that is in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Company sends a notice or communication to Holders, it will send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 12.02 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

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

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

 

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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 and must include:

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

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

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

(4) 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 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Section 12.06 Governing Law .

THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

Section 12.07 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

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

 

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Section 12.08 Successors .

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05 hereof.

Section 12.09 Severability .

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

Section 12.10 Counterpart Originals .

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this instrument as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original instrument 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 12.11 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table 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 will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

ARTICLE 13

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 13.01 Security Interest .

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

 

 

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(b) Each Holder of the Notes, by its acceptance thereof and of the Note Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and amendments to the Security Documents) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and authorizes and appoints the Trustee to enter into a Collateral Trust Joinder (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement) (such joinder, a “ Collateral Trust Joinder ”) and a Priority Confirmation Joinder (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to the Intercreditor Agreement as representative for the Notes and authorizes and appoints (and directs the Trustee to authorize and appoint) Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the Collateral Trustee. Each Holder of the Notes further directs the Collateral Trustee (and authorizes the Trustee to direct the Collateral Trustee) to enter into the Security Documents (including any amendments thereto and any security documents to secure additional Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement, all as more particularly described in the Collateral Trust Agreement) and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including, without limitation, the limitations on duties of the Collateral Trustee provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Holder of the Notes, by accepting the Notes and the Note Guarantees of the Guarantors (with respect to the Holders) and the benefits of the Note Documents, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, and the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Documents and actions that may be taken thereunder.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision in this Indenture or any other Note Document to the contrary, in no event is any Building or Mobile Home included in the definition of “Mortgaged Properties” or the definition of “Collateral” and no Building or Mobile Home is hereby encumbered by any security interest or lien granted pursuant to this Indenture or any other Note Document. As used herein, “ Flood Insurance Regulations ” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq .), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time and (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Section 13.02 Concerning the Trustee .

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall not be obligated to take any action (or to direct the Collateral Trustee to take any action) under the Collateral Trust Agreement or any other Security Document without the written direction of the Holders in accordance with this Indenture.

 

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(b) Neither the Trustee nor any of its officers, directors, employees, attorneys or agents shall be responsible or liable (i) for the legality, enforceability, effectiveness or sufficiency of the Security Documents, for the creation, perfection, priority, sufficiency, maintenance, renewal or protection of any Lien, or for any defect or deficiency as to any such matters, or (ii) for any failure to demand, collect, foreclose or realize upon or otherwise enforce any of the Liens or Security Documents or any delay in doing so, or (iii) for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral.

(c) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee under this Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified and compensated and all other rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits set forth in this Indenture are extended to the Trustee when acting under the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Note Documents.

(d) The Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral.

(e) Whenever an action under the Collateral Trust Agreement requires an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement), the Trustee, in its capacity as Parity Lien Representative, shall seek the direction of Holders of the Notes (if Holder consent or direction is required under this Indenture). Subject to the next succeeding sentence, the Trustee shall deliver an affirmative vote in such Act of Parity Lien Debtholders in the entire aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes, if the minimum consent or directions of Holders for such action required under this Indenture are met. If the requested action requires the consent or direction of each Holder of the Notes affected thereby, then the Trustee shall not deliver an affirmative vote in such Act of Parity Lien Secured Debtholders unless it receives the consent of each Holder.

Section 13.03 Authorization of Actions to be Taken .

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof and the Security Documents, the Trustee, upon the written direction of the Holders holding a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes shall direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Collateral Trustee to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Liens on the Collateral;

(2) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Trustee is a party; or

 

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(3) collect and receive payment of any and all Obligations.

(b) At the Company’s sole cost and expense and subject to the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee having been indemnified by the Holders and/or the Company, the Trustee is authorized and empowered (but is not obligated) to direct the Collateral Trustee to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as may be reasonably expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders of Notes in the Collateral, including the power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of Holders or the Trustee.

Section 13.04 Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Company shall deliver, or cause one or more Guarantors to deliver, to the Collateral Trustee the following items within 90 days after the Issue Date:

(a) fully executed counterparts of Mortgages (in sufficient counterparts for the prompt recordation in each jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property subject to such Mortgage is located) and to the extent requested by the Credit Agreement Agent, corresponding UCC fixture filings or as-extracted collateral filings (or, if UCC fixture filings and as-extracted collateral filings are not available in the applicable jurisdiction, equivalent filings as available in such jurisdiction), and any similar filings as shall be required by local law, which Mortgages, UCC fixture filings or as-extracted collateral filings (or, in the case of UCC fixture filings and as-extracted collateral filings, any other equivalent filings, as available in each applicable jurisdiction) or other similar filings shall cover each Mortgaged Property, together with evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Credit Agreement Agent that such Mortgages, UCC fixture filings or as-extracted collateral filings (or, in the case of UCC fixture filings and as-extracted collateral filings, any other equivalent filings, as available in each applicable jurisdiction) or similar filings have been delivered to the Persons responsible for recording or filing, as applicable, of such Mortgages, UCC fixture filings, as-extracted collateral filings, equivalent filings or similar filings, as the case may be;

(b) title information and lien searches with respect to the Mortgaged Properties, to the extent requested by the Credit Agreement Agent; and

(c) legal opinions addressed to the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee from (1) local counsel, covering, without limitation, the enforceability of each Mortgage under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property subject to such Mortgage is located, the creation of valid mortgage Liens on such Mortgaged Property under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property subject to such Mortgage is located and other matters customarily addressed in legal opinions of local counsel with respect to the Mortgages, and (2) outside counsel to the Company of national standing, covering, without limitation, the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Mortgages with respect to Delaware and Texas laws, in each case, in form and substance substantially equivalent to the opinions delivered to the Credit Agreement Agent.

 

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The Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC within the applicable time period for such a filing, containing customary detail on such actions, upon completion of the deliveries referred to in this Section 13.04.

Section 13.05 Intercreditor Agreement .

This Article 13 and the provisions of each other Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee (and the Trustee to direct the Collateral Trustee) on behalf of each Holder of Notes to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Holders of Notes as Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In addition, each Holder of Notes authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 13.06 Collateral Trust Agreement .

This Article 13 and the provisions of each Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms therewith. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Trustee, on behalf of each holder of Notes Obligations, to execute and deliver a Collateral Trust Joinder to the Collateral Trust Agreement (and to direct the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver the Collateral Trust Agreement), which shall subject such holders of Notes Obligations to the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement and to perform its obligations thereunder as a Parity Lien Representative.

 

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Section 13.07 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes .

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

(a) in whole, upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 11 hereof;

(b) in whole, upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

(c) as to any Collateral of the Company or a Guarantor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that is not prohibited by Section 4.11, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of;

(d) in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes in accordance with Article 9 hereof;

(e) with respect to the assets of any Guarantor, at the time that such Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee in accordance with Section 10.05; or

(f) if and to the extent required by Section 4.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

In addition, the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral will be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. If the Priority Lien Obligations are repaid in full and the related commitments terminated thereunder without being replaced, the Liens on the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and the other Parity Lien Obligations will not be released at such time, except to the extent the Collateral or any portion thereof was disposed of in order to repay the Obligations under the Priority Lien Obligations secured by the Collateral in compliance with Section 4.11 hereof.

Section 13.08 Additional Indebtedness .

In connection with the incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof of any Priority Lien Obligations or Parity Lien Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to the terms hereof and of any other then outstanding Priority Lien Documents and Parity Lien Documents, Holders, by their acceptance of a Note, authorize and direct the Trustee to execute and deliver (and to direct the Collateral Trustee to execute and deliver) any supplements, joinders or confirmations to the Intercreditor Agreement and Collateral Trust Agreement and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or

 

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other modifications to any Security Document (including but not limited to any Mortgages and UCC fixture filings), and to make or consent to any filings or take any other actions in connection therewith, as may be reasonably deemed by the Company to be necessary or reasonably desirable for any Lien on the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary permitted to secure such Indebtedness to become a valid, perfected Lien (with such priority as may be designated by the Company, the relevant Guarantor or Subsidiary, to the extent such priority is permitted by the Note Documents) pursuant to the Security Document being so amended, amended and restated, restated, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified.

[ Signatures on following page ]

 

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SIGNATURES

Dated as of October 18, 2018

 

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:   /s/ Janet Yang
Name:   Janet Yang
Title:   Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
W&T ENERGY VI, LLC
W&T ENERGY VII, LLC
By: W&T Offshore, Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ Shahid Ghauri
Name:   Shahid Ghauri
Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:   /s/ Shawn Goffinet
Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

 

CUSIP: [                ]

ISIN: [                ]

9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023

 

No.             $[_______________]

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.

promises to pay to                      or registered assigns,

the principal sum of                                                                                                               DOLLARS on November 1, 2023.

Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15

Dated:                         , 2018

 

 

[Signature pages to follow]

 

A-1


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

             

Name:
Title:

 

A-2


TRUSTEE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

             

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:

 

A-3


[Back of Note]

9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023

[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(A) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), 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 MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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. [Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] ]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN “INSTITUTIONAL

 

A-4


ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES OF LESS THAN $100,000 AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] ]

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

(1) I NTEREST . W&T Offshore, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9.75% per annum from                     until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). Interest on the Notes will accrue

 

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from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be                     . The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(2) M ETHOD OF P AYMENT . 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 April 15 or October 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled 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 Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal, interest, and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

(3) P AYING A GENT AND R EGISTRAR . Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may 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) I NDENTURE AND SECURITY DOCUMENTS . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder. The Notes and the Guarantees are secured by Parity Liens on the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents. The rights of the Holders in the Collateral are subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

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(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 1, 2020. On or after November 1, 2020, the Company will have the option to redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2020

     104.875

2021

     102.438

2022

     100.000

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to November 1, 2020, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price equal to 109.750% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

(c) At any time prior to November 1, 2020, the Company may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(d) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Company (or the third party making the Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 4.14(d) of the Indenture) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the Holders and the Trustee, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to Section 4.14, to

 

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redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, to, but not including, the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION.

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

(7) REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.

(a) If there is a Change of Control, each Holder of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to but excluding the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes and (i) with respect to Excess Proceeds from any Asset Sale that is a Collateral Disposition, all holders of other Parity Lien Obligations, or (ii) with respect to other Excess Proceeds, all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, repay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, to purchase or repay on a pro rata basis the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Indebtedness that may be purchased or repaid out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of purchase or repayment, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds allocated for the purchase of Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will select Notes for purchase by such method as DTC may require), subject to adjustment to maintain authorized minimum denominations. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

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(8) N OTICE OF R EDEMPTION . Notice of redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, 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 defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. Notes in minimum denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

(9) D ENOMINATIONS , T RANSFER , E XCHANGE . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 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 and the Trustee 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 and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

(10) P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(11) A MENDMENT , S UPPLEMENT AND W AIVER . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents 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 Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Security Documents may be amended or supplemented: (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; (iii) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees in case of a merger or consolidation; (iv) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder; (v) to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the other Note Documents to any provision

 

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of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s offering memorandum relating to the Initial Notes, to the extent that such provision in the “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim or substantially verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the other Note Documents; (vi) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes; (vii) to subordinate Liens on Collateral in accordance with the Note Documents; (viii) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien with respect to or securing the Notes or the Note Guarantees when such release, termination or discharge is provided for in accordance with the Indenture and the other Note Documents; (ix) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes or release the Note Guarantees pursuant to the terms of the Indenture; (x) to add any Collateral as provided in the Indenture or the other Note Documents, as applicable; (xi) with respect to the Security Documents, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement; (xii) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the Indenture or any of the Security Documents establishing Parity Liens (including to secure Parity Lien Obligations permitted to be incurred and secured under the Indenture); or (xiii) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of a successor Trustee.

(12) D EFAULTS AND R EMEDIES . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Sections 3.09, 4.11, 4.14 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness for money borrowed of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay certain final judgments that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; (viii) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Security Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable with respect to any Collateral having a fair market value of not more than $25.0 million, which failure is not cured within 45 days; (ix) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Security Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, which failure is not cured within 45 days; (x) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms its obligations set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens; and (xi) except as permitted by any Note Document, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and

 

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payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will 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. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or premium, if any) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. 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, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

(13) T RUSTEE D EALINGS WITH C OMPANY . The Trustee, 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.

(14) N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . A director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

(15) A UTHENTICATION . This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

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

(17) CUSIP N UMBERS . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers 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.

 

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(18) GOVERNING LAW. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

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

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

Facsimile No.: (713) 626-8527

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

and irrevocably appoint                              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 face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*                                         

 

*Participant

in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.11 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

☐ Section 4.11                                 ☐ Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.11 or 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$______________

Date:                     

 

   Your Signature:   

 

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

Tax Identification No:                         

Signature Guarantee*                             

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

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 Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  

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 or

Custodian

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

Wilmington Trust, National Association

15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, Texas 75248

Re: 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as 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 Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the 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. 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

2. ☐  Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted 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

 

B-1


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. 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ☐  Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted 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 to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(b) ☐ 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;

or

(c) ☐ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $100,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in 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 be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

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4. ☐  Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. No Transferee will be permitted to take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note until such time as the Indenture is amended to permit the removal of the Private Placement Legend from any Note.

(a) ☐  Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 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 Private Placement 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) ☐ 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 Private Placement 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ☐ 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 Private Placement 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

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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:                     

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE]

(a) ☐ a beneficial interest in the:

(i) ☐ 144A Global Note (CUSIP 92922P AL0), or

(ii) ☐ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U85254 AF4), or

(iii) ☐ IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or

2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

(a) ☐ a beneficial interest in the:

(i) ☐ 144A Global Note (CUSIP 92922P AL0), or

(ii) ☐ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U85254 AF4), or

(iii) ☐ IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or

(iv) ☐ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ); or

(b) ☐ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

(c) ☐ an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

Wilmington Trust, National Association

15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, Texas 75248

Re: 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023

(CUSIP                          )

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as 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 Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note . No exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note shall be permitted until such time as the Indenture is amended to provide for the removal of the Private Placement Legend from any Note.

(a) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a 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 Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement 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.

 

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(b) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a 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 Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement 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.

(c) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a 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 Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement 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 Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a 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 Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement 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 Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

(a) ☐ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the 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 Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

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(b) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ☐ 144A Global Note, ☐ Regulation S Global Note, ☐ IAI 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 Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

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:                     

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Nine Greenway Plaza, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77046

Wilmington Trust, National Association

15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, Texas 75248

Re: 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Indenture ”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., as issuer (the “ Company ”), the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $          aggregate principal amount of:

(c) ☐ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

(d) ☐ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) inside the United States in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $100,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule

 

D-1


904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (D) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of                  , 20          , among                      (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), a subsidiary of                      (or its permitted successor), a [Texas] corporation (the “ Company ”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of October 18, 2018 providing for the issuance of 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “ Note Guarantee ”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of Holders.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

3. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

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4. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

5. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 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 instrument as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original instrument for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

6. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

7. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

8. RATIFICATION 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.

 

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

Dated:                  , 20__

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

                 

  Name:
  Title:
[COMPANY]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[EXISTING GUARANTORS]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-3

Exhibit 10.1

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

dated as of October 18, 2018 among

Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC,

as Original Priority Lien Agent

and

Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.

as Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association

as Original Second Lien Trustee

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association

as Second Lien Trustee

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

and

Cortland Capital Market Services LLC,

as a Priority Lien Agent

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association,

as Third Lien Collateral Trustee

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association,

as Third Lien Trustee


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Section 1.

  Amendments to the Intercreditor Agreement      2  

Section 2.

  Agreement and Acknowledgement      4  

Section 3.

  Representations and Warranties of Each Party      4  

Section 4.

  Representations and Warranties of Each Representative      5  

Section 5.

  Parties in Interest      5  

Section 6.

  Survival of Amendment      5  

Section 7.

  Counterparts      5  

Section 8.

  Severability      5  

Section 9.

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      5  

Section 10.

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      6  

Section 11.

  Headings      6  

 

i


This Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated as of October 18, 2018 (this “ Amendment ”), is among Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC (“ TD Texas ”), as Original Priority Lien Agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. (“ MSSF ”), as Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee (solely for the purposes of Section 2), Wilmington Trust, National Association (“ Wilmington Trust ”), as Original Second Lien Trustee (solely for the purposes of Section 2), Wilmington Trust, as Second Lien Trustee, Wilmington Trust, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as Priority Lien Agent, Wilmington Trust, as Third Lien Collateral Trustee (solely for the purposes of Section 2) and Wilmington Trust, as Third Lien Trustee. Defined terms used in this Amendment, including in the Recitals, are used with the meaning defined in the Original Intercreditor Agreement (herein after defined) unless the context shall otherwise require.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, TD Texas as Original Priority Lien Agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties, and MSSF as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (in such capacity, “ Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee ”) entered into the INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT , dated as of May 11, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date of this Amendment, the “ Original Intercreditor Agreement ).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Priority Confirmation Joinder dated September 7, 2016, Wilmington Trust, as Second Lien Trustee (as defined therein, in such capacity, the “ Original Second Lien Trustee ”) under the Indenture, dated as of September 7, 2016 (the “ Original Second Lien Indenture ”) by and among as the Original Second Lien Trustee, W&T and the guarantors party thereto became party to the Original Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties under such Second Lien Substitute Facility as a Second Lien Representative bound thereby as fully as if it had executed and delivered the Original Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Priority Confirmation Joinder dated September 7, 2016, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC (“ Cortland ”) as administrative agent and collateral agent (herein the “ 1.5 Lien Agent ”) under the 1.5 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 7, 2016 (the “ 1.5 Lien Credit Agreement ”) by and among Cortland, W&T, as Borrower, and the various financial and institutions and other persons from time-to-time parties thereto became a party to the Original Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties under such Priority Substitute Credit Facility and is bound thereby as fully as if it had executed and delivered the Original Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Priority Confirmation Joinder dated September 7, 2016, Wilmington Trust as (i) trustee (in such capacity, the “ Third Lien Trustee ”) under the Indenture dated as of September 7, 2016 (the “ Third Lien Indenture ”) by and among the Third Lien Trustee, W&T and the guarantors party thereto, and (ii) collateral trustee (in such capacity, the “ Third Lien Collateral Trustee ”) under the Collateral Trust Agreement dated as of September 7, 2016 among W&T, the guarantors party thereto, the Third Lien Trustee, the other Third Lien Debt Representatives (as defined therein) party thereto and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, became parties to the Original Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility as Third Lien Representative and a Secured Debt Representative under the Original Intercreditor Agreement as if it had executed and delivered the Original Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

1


WHEREAS, on the date hereof, pursuant to the Priority Confirmation Joinder dated of even date herewith, Wilmington Trust as (i) trustee (in such capacity, the “ Second Lien Trustee ”) under the Indenture dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Second Lien Indenture ”) by and among the Second Lien Trustee, W&T and the guarantors party thereto and (ii) collateral trustee (in such capacity, the “ Second Lien Collateral Trustee ”) under the Collateral Trust Agreement dated as of October 18, 2018, among W&T, the guarantors party thereto, the Second Lien Trustee, the other Second Lien Debt Representatives (as defined therein) party thereto and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Wilmington Trust became a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties under such Additional Second Lien Debt Facility as Second Lien Representative and as a Secured Debt Representative under the Original Intercreditor Agreement, bound thereby as fully as if it had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

WHEREAS, on the date hereof W&T paid all principal, interest and all other amounts then occurring in respect of the 1.5 Lien Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Term Loans, the Original Second Lien Indenture and the Third Lien Indenture.

WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend to amend the Intercreditor Agreement as hereinafter provided.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Amendments to the Intercreditor Agreement .

(a) Section 1.01(d) . Section 1.01(d) of the Intercreditor Agreement is amended by (i) by adding the following definition of “Discharge of Third Lien Obligations” in appropriate alphabetical order:

““ Discharge of Third Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the following:

(a) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Third Lien Debt;

(b) payment in full in cash of all other Third Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Third Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

provided that, if at any time after the Discharge of Third Lien Obligations has occurred, W&T enters into any Third Lien Document evidencing a Third Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Third Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Third Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Third Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which W&T designates such Indebtedness as Third Lien Debt in

 

2


accordance with this Agreement, the obligations under such Third Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Third Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section  4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Third Lien Obligations.”;

(ii) deleting the definition of “Priority Credit Agreement” and replacing it in its entirety with the following:

““ Priority Credit Agreement ” means the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018, among W&T as borrower, the Original Priority Lien Agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time with the same and/or different lenders and/or agents and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.”;

(iii) deleting the phrase “, each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit B hereto,” from the definition of “Priority Lien Security Documents”; and

(iv) deleting the phrase “, each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit B hereto,” from the definition of “Term Loan Second Lien Security Documents”.

(b) Amendment to Section  4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement . Effective on the date hereof, (i) clause (ii) in Section  4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement is amended by adding the following to the beginning of such clause: “subject to Section  6.01 hereof,” and (ii) the percentage of “80%” in Section  4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement is amended to the percentage “85%”.

(c) Amendment to Section  4.04 of the Intercreditor Agreement . Effective on the date hereof, Section  4.04 of the Intercreditor Agreement is amended by deleting “ Section  4.06 ” appearing therein and replacing it with “ Section  4.04 ”.

(d) Amendment to Article IX of the Intercreditor Agreement .

Article IX of the Intercreditor Agreement is amended by adding the following Section  9.19 to the end of Article IX following Section  9.18 :

Section  9.19 . Subject to the provisions of Section  4.03 , upon the payment in full in cash of (a) the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on any Series of Second Lien Debt or Series of Third Lien Debt and (b) all other Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Second Lien Debt or Series of Third Lien Debt, as applicable, is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time), automatically, without any further action or notice, (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, in respect of such Series of Secured Debt subject of such payment in full, shall cease to be Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, in

 

3


respect of such Series of Secured Debt so repaid under this Agreement, (ii) such Series of Secured Debt and all other Obligations in respect of such Series of Secured Debt shall cease to constitute Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as the case may be, (iii) W&T shall promptly notify each Priority Lien Agent, Second Lien Collateral Trustee and Third Lien Collateral Trustee in writing of the occurrence of such payment, and (iv) the relevant Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall promptly execute and deliver to W&T, at W&T’s cost and expense, such Lien releases, mortgage releases, UCC-3 termination statements and other instruments and documents as W&T may reasonably request in order to fully release all Collateral for the relevant repaid Series of Secured Debt.

(e) Amendment to Exhibit B of the Intercreditor Agreement . Exhibit B of the Intercreditor Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Exhibit B in its entirety.

(f) Amendment to Annex I of the Intercreditor Agreement . Annex I of the Intercreditor Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety by Annex I hereto.

Section 2. Agreement and Acknowledgement . The parties hereto agree and acknowledge (i) MSSF has ceased to be Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Term Loans, (ii) MSSF has ceased to be Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties under the Original Second Lien Indenture, (iii) Cortland has ceased to be Priority Lien Agent for the Priority Lien Debt referred to in the third WHEREAS clause of this Amendment (the “ 1.5 Lien Priority Debt ”), (iv) Wilmington Trust has ceased to be Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the Third Lien Secured Parties under the Third Lien Indenture and (v) Wilmington Trust has ceased to be Third Lien Trustee for the Third Lien Secured Parties under the Third Lien Indenture and (vi) subject to Section  4.03 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Term Loan Second Lien Obligations are no longer Secured Obligations, the Priority Lien Obligations in respect of the 1.5 Lien Priority Debt are no longer Secured Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations in respect of the Original Second Lien Indenture are no longer Secured Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations in respect of the Third Lien Indenture are no longer Secured Obligations.

Section 3. Representations and Warranties of Each Party . Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

(a) Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Amendment.

(b) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

(c) The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Amendment (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

 

4


Section 4. Representations and Warranties of Each Representative . Each Secured Debt Representative represents and warrants to the other Secured Debt Representatives that it is authorized under the Secured Debt Documents to which Secured Debt Representative is a party to enter into this Amendment.

Section 5. Parties in Interest . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Amendment.

Section 6. Survival of Amendment . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Amendment shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment.

Section 7. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Amendment.

Section 8. Severability . Any provision of this Amendment held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

Section 9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW).

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Amendment, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Amendment shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Amendment in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

5


(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Amendment in any court referred to in paragraph (b)  of this Section  9 . Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Amendment irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement. Nothing in this Amendment will affect the right of any party to this Amendment to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AMENDMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 11. Agency Capacity. Wilmington Trust is entering into this Amendment in its capacities as Original Second Lien Trustee, Second Lien Trustee, Third Lien Trustee, Second Lien Collateral Trustee and Third Lien Collateral Trustee, and not in its individual or corporate capacity. In acting hereunder, Wilmington Trust in each of its capacities shall be all of the rights, privileges and immunities under each of the applicable Second Lien Documents or Third Lien Documents in acting hereunder.

Section 12. Headings . Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Amendment and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Amendment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of October 18, 2018.

 

TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), LLC , as Priority Lien Agent
By:  

/s/ John David

Name:   John David
Title:   Managing Director
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. , as Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee
By:  

/s/ Chance Moreland

Name:   Chance Moreland
Title:   Authorized Person
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Second Lien Trustee under the Indenture dated as of September 7, 2016
By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Second Lien Trustee under the Indenture dated as of October 18, 2018
By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

[Signature to the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES, LLC,

as Priority Lien Agent,

By:  

/s/ Matthew Trybula

Name:   Matthew Trybula
Title:   Associate Counsel

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Third Lien Collateral Trustee

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Third Lien Trustee

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

[Signature to the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement]


Acknowledged and Agreed to by:
W&T OFFSHORE, INC. , as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Janet Yang

Name:   Janet Yang
Title:   Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

[Signature to the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement]


ANNEX I

Provision for the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Documents, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015, among Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), and the other parties thereto (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Priority Lien Agent, the Collateral Trustee, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as a Priority Lien Agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Third Lien Collateral Trustee, and as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Each holder of [any Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations] [Additional Third Lien Obligations], by its acceptance of such [Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] (as defined therein) (i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each [Second/Third] Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such [Second/ Third] Lien Secured Parties. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Credit Agreement (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to W&T Offshore, Inc., and such lenders are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement

Provision for all Priority Lien Security Documents, Second Lien Security Documents, any Additional Second Lien Security Documents, the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents that Grant a Security Interest in Collateral

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015, among Toronto Dominion (Texas), LLC, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), and the other parties thereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”) and joined on the date hereof by Wilmington Trust, National Association, as representative of the holders of the notes governed by the Indenture, pursuant to a Priority Confirmation Joinder (as defined therein). Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, [(i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement,] [(i)] [(ii)] agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, [(ii)][(iii)] authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the [Priority Lien Agent] [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and [(iii)][(iv)] acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) including the Collateral Trust Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

[Signature to the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement]

Exhibit 10.2

PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”) between TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), LLC, as Priority Lien Agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein).

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. This Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section  4.04(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being Second Lien Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement.

1. Joinder . The undersigned, Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association (the “ New Representative ”) (i) as trustee (in such capacity the “ Second Lien Trustee ”) under that certain Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Second Lien Indenture ”) by and among the New Representative as Second Lien Trustee, W&T Offshore, Inc. and the guarantors party thereto and (ii) as collateral trustee (in such capacity the “ Second Lien Collateral Trustee ”) under that certain Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (the “ Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement ”) by and among the New Representative as Second Lien Collateral Trustee, W&T Offshore, Inc. and the grantors party thereto hereby:

(a) represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Substitute Facility as a Second Lien Collateral Trustee (in the case of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee), a Second Lien Representative (in the case of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Second Lien Trustee) and a Secured Debt Representative (in the case of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee) under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

(b) agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Trustee and Second Lien Collateral Trustee

15950 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, Texas 75248

Attention: W&T Offshore, Inc. Senior Second Lien Notes Administrator

Facsimile: (888) 316-6238

2. Priority Confirmation .

The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt that constitutes the Second Lien Substitute Facility for which the undersigned is acting as Second Lien Representative and Second Lien Collateral Trustee hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Debt under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

1


(a) all Second Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Second Liens at any time granted by W&T or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Second Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Second Lien Debt, and that all such Second Liens will be enforceable by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Second Lien Debt for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

(b) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Second Lien Representative are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

(c) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Second Lien Representative appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

3. Full Force and Effect of Intercreditor Agreement . Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

4. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article IX of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

5. Expenses . W&T agree to reimburse each Secured Debt Representative for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in connection with this Priority Confirmation Joinder, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel.

6. Concerning the New Representative . Wilmington Trust, National Association is delivering this Priority Confirmation Joinder solely in its capacity as Second Lien Trustee under the Second Lien Indenture and Second Lien Collateral Trustee under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and shall be entitled to all of the rights, privileges and immunities in the Second Lien Indenture and the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement as though fully set forth herein.

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of October 18, 2018.

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Trustee under the Indenture dated as of October 18, 2018
By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement dated as of October 18, 2018

 

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

The following Priority Lien Agents hereby acknowledge receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC
as Priority Lien Agent

 

By:  

/s/ John David

Name:   John David
Title:   Managing Director

 

Cortland Capital Market Services LLC,
as Priority Lien Agent

 

By:  

/s/ Matthew Trybula

Name:   Matthew Trybula
Title:   Associate Counsel

 

3


The Second Lien Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Second Lien Trustee under the Indenture dated as of September 7, 2016

 

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:   Shawn Goffinet
Title:   Assistant Vice President

The Third Lien Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Third Lien Trustee under the Indenture dated as of September 7, 2016

 

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:

 

Shawn Goffinet

Title:

 

Assistant Vice President

The Second Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder:

 

Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.
as Second Lien Collateral Trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement dated May 11, 2015

 

By:  

/s/ Chance Moreland

Name:

 

Chance Moreland

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

The Third Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder:

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association
as Third Lien Collateral Trustee

 

By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

Name:

 

Shawn Goffinet

Title:

 

Assistant Vice President

 

4


Acknowledged and Agreed to by:
W&T OFFSHORE, INC. , as Borrower

 

By:  

/s/ Janet Yang

Name:   Janet Yang
Title:   Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

5

Exhibit 10.3

$750,000,000

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.,

as Borrower

and

TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS) LLC,

as Administrative Agent

and

THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH, SOCIETE GENERALE AND

NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Issuers

and

SOCIETE GENERALE AND NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Co-Syndication Agents

and

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. and ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC

as Co-Documentation Agents

and

VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER PERSONS FROM TIME TO TIME

PARTIES HERETO,

as Lenders

and

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

SG AMERICAS SECURITIES, LLC and NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH

as Bookrunners

and

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

SG AMERICAS SECURITIES, LLC NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH, MORGAN

STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. and ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC

as Joint Lead Arrangers

October 18, 2018


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I - Definitions and References

     2  

Section 1.1

  Defined Terms      2  

Section 1.2

  Exhibits and Schedules; Additional Definitions      35  

Section 1.3

  Amendment of Defined Instruments      36  

Section 1.4

  References and Titles      36  

Section 1.5

  Calculations and Determinations      36  

ARTICLE II - The Loans

     37  

Section 2.1

  Commitments to Make Loans; Restrictions on Commitments or Issuance or Participation in Letters of Credit      37  

Section 2.2

  Requests for New Loans      38  

Section 2.3

  Continuations and Conversions of Outstanding Loans      39  

Section 2.4

  Use of Proceeds      40  

Section 2.5

  Fees      41  

Section 2.6

  Optional Prepayments      41  

Section 2.7

  Mandatory Prepayments      42  

Section 2.8

  Initial Availability Amount      44  

Section 2.9

  Determinations of Borrowing Base      44  

Section 2.10

  Maturity Date      45  

Section 2.11

  Letters of Credit      45  

Section 2.12

  Interest      51  

Section 2.13

  Register; Notes      52  

Section 2.14

  Defaulting Lenders      53  

Section 2.15

  Reduction of Aggregate Commitments      55  

ARTICLE III - Payments to Lenders

     56  

Section 3.1

  General Procedures      56  

Section 3.2

  Capital Reimbursement      57  

Section 3.3

  Increased Cost of Eurodollar Loans      58  

Section 3.4

  Availability      59  

Section 3.5

  Funding, Losses      59  

Section 3.6

  Taxes      59  

Section 3.7

  Change of Applicable Lending Office      63  

Section 3.8

  Replacement of Lenders      63  

Section 3.9

  Participants      63  

ARTICLE IV - Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness and to Lending

     64  

Section 4.1

  Closing Date      64  

Section 4.2

  Additional Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letters of Credit      67  

 

-i-


ARTICLE V - Representations and Warranties

     68  

Section 5.1

  No Default      68  

Section 5.2

  Organization and Good Standing      68  

Section 5.3

  Authorization      69  

Section 5.4

  No Conflicts or Consents      69  

Section 5.5

  Enforceable Obligations      69  

Section 5.6

  Initial Financial Statements      69  

Section 5.7

  Other Obligations and Restrictions      69  

Section 5.8

  Full Disclosure      70  

Section 5.9

  Litigation      70  

Section 5.10

  Labor Disputes and Acts of God      70  

Section 5.11

  ERISA Plans and Liabilities      70  

Section 5.12

  Environmental Matters      70  

Section 5.13

  Names and Places of Business and State of Incorporation or Formation      71  

Section 5.14

  Borrower’s Subsidiaries      71  

Section 5.15

  Title to Properties; Licenses      71  

Section 5.16

  Government Regulation      72  

Section 5.17

  Insider      72  

Section 5.18

  Insurance      72  

Section 5.19

  Solvency      72  

Section 5.20

  Taxes      72  

Section 5.21

  Gas Imbalances, Prepayments      73  

Section 5.22

  Marketing of Production      73  

Section 5.23

  Hedging Transactions      73  

Section 5.24

  Restriction on Liens      73  

Section 5.25

  Maintenance of Properties      73  

Section 5.26

  Compliance with Laws and Agreements      74  

Section 5.27

  Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions      74  

ARTICLE VI - Affirmative Covenants of Borrower

     74  

Section 6.1

  Payment and Performance      74  

Section 6.2

  Books’ Financial Statements and Reports      75  

Section 6.3

  Other Information and Inspections      78  

Section 6.4

  Notice of Material Events and Change of Address      78  

Section 6.5

  Maintenance of Properties      79  

Section 6.6

  Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications      79  

Section 6.7

  Payment of Trade Liabilities, Taxes, etc.      79  

Section 6.8

  Insurance      79  

Section 6.9

  Performance on Borrower’s Behalf      80  

Section 6.10

  [Reserved]      80  

Section 6.11

  Compliance with Agreements and Law      80  

Section 6.12

  Environmental Matters; Environmental Reviews      80  

Section 6.13

  Evidence of Compliance      81  

Section 6.14

  Hedging Program      81  

Section 6.15

  Maintenance of Liens on Properties      82  

 

-ii-


Section 6.16

  Perfection and Protection of Security Interests and Liens      82  

Section 6.17

  Bank Accounts; Offset      83  

Section 6.18

  Production Proceeds      83  

Section 6.19

  Guaranties of Borrower’s Subsidiaries; Joinder; Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries      83  

Section 6.20

  Casualty and Condemnation      84  

Section 6.21

  ERISA Information      84  

Section 6.22

  Keepwell      84  

Section 6.23

  Depository Banks      85  

ARTICLE VII - Negative Covenants of Borrower

     86  

Section 7.1

  Indebtedness      86  

Section 7.2

  Limitation on Liens      87  

Section 7.3

  Hedging Contracts      88  

Section 7.4

  Limitation on Mergers, Issuances of Securities      89  

Section 7.5

  Limitation on Sales of Property      89  

Section 7.6

  Limitation on Distributions; Redemptions and Prepayments of Indebtedness      91  

Section 7.7

  Limitation on Investments and New Businesses      92  

Section 7.9

  Transactions with Affiliates; Creation and Dissolution of Subsidiaries      92  

Section 7.10

  Certain Contracts; Amendments; Multiemployer ERISA Plans      93  

Section 7.11

  Current Ratio      94  

Section 7.12

  Leverage Ratio      94  

Section 7.13

  Fiscal Year      94  

Section 7.14

  Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions      94  

ARTICLE VIII - Events of Default and Remedies

     95  

Section 8.1

  Events of Default      95  

Section 8.2

  Remedies      97  

ARTICLE IX - Administrative Agent and Issuers

     97  

Section 9.1

  Appointment and Authority of Administrative Agent      97  

Section 9.2

  Exculpation, Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Etc.      98  

Section 9.3

  Credit Decisions      99  

Section 9.4

  Indemnification      100  

Section 9.5

  Rights as Lender      101  

Section 9.6

  Sharing of Set-Offs and Other Payments      101  

Section 9.7

  Investments      101  

Section 9.8

  Benefit of Article IX      102  

Section 9.9

  Resignation      102  

Section 9.10

  Delegation of Duties      102  

Section 9.11

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      103  

Section 9.12

  Intercreditor Agreement      103  

 

-iii-


ARTICLE X - Miscellaneous      103  

Section 10.1

  Waivers and Amendments; Acknowledgments      103  

Section 10.2

  Survival of Agreements; Cumulative Nature      106  

Section 10.3

  Notices      107  

Section 10.4

  Payment of Expenses; Indemnity      107  

Section 10.5

  Joint and Several Liability; Parties in Interest      108  

Section 10.6

  Assignments      109  

Section 10.7

  Confidentiality      112  

Section 10.8

  Governing Law; Submission to Process      112  

Section 10.9

  Limitation on Interest      112  

Section 10.10

  Termination; Limited Survival      113  

Section 10.11

  Severability      113  

Section 10.12

  Counterparts; Electronic Execution of Assignments      114  

Section 10.13

  Waiver of Jury Trial, Punitive Damages, etc.      114  

Section 10.14

  Release of Collateral; Collateral Matters; Hedging      114  

Section 10.15

  Amendment and Restatement      115  

Section 10.16

  Other Agents      116  

Section 10.17

  USA Patriot Act Notice      116  

Section 10.18

  Posting of Approved Electronic Communications      116  

Section 10.19

  Amendment and Restatement      118  

Section 10.20

  Hedging Arrangements      119  

Section 10.21

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      119  

Section 10.22

  LIBOR Successor Rate      119  

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1    Disclosure Schedule
Schedule 2(a)    Existing Security Agreements
Schedule 2(b)    Amendments to Security Agreements
Schedule 2.11(c)    Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 3    Lenders Schedule
Schedule 4    Pricing

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    Form of Revolving Loan Note
Exhibit B    Borrowing Notice
Exhibit C    Continuation/Conversion Notice
Exhibit D    Certificate Accompanying Financial Statements
Exhibit E    Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit F    Reserved
Exhibit G    Form of Issuance Request
Exhibit H-1    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit H-2    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit H-3    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Exhibit H-4    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

 

-v-


THIS SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of October 18, 2018, by and among W&T Offshore, Inc. (herein called “ Borrower ”), a Texas corporation, the various financial institutions and other persons from time to time parties hereto, as lenders (collectively, the “ Lenders ”), each Issuer referred to below, as issuers of Letters of Credit (in such capacity together with any successors thereto, each an “ Issuer ”), Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC (“ TD (Texas) ”), individually and as agent (herein called “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Lenders, Société Generale (“ Soc Gen ”) and Natixis, New York Branch (“ Natixis ”), as co-syndication agents (the “Co- Syndication Agents ”), Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.. (“ Morgan Stanley ”) and ABN Amro Capital USA LLC (“ ABN Amro ”), as Co-Documentation Agents (the “ Co-Documentation Agents ”), TD Securities (USA) LLC (“ TD Securities ”), SG Americas Securities, LLC (“ SGAS ”) and Natixis as bookrunners (the “Bookrunners”) and TD Securities, SGAS, Natixis, Morgan Stanley and ABN Amro as Joint Lead Arrangers (the “ Joint Lead Arrangers .”)

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, W&T Offshore, Inc., a Texas corporation, the Lenders (or their predecessors-in-interest), the Issuers (or their predecessors-in-interest) and TD (Texas) LLC have heretofore entered into the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2013, (as amended and modified from time to time, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lenders and Issuers agreed to make Loans to the Borrower or issue or participate in Letters of Credit on behalf of the Borrower;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have entered into mortgages, guarantees and other security documents listed on Schedule 2(a) (collectively, the “ Existing Security Documents ”) under which (a) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have granted Liens to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Parties on substantially all of their properties and assets to secure the payment and performance of the Obligations (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) and (b) the Subsidiaries of the Borrower have guaranteed the Obligations (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement);

WHEREAS, the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders is evidenced by certain promissory notes of the Borrower (collectively, the “ Existing Notes ”) and is secured by the Existing Security Documents (the Existing Credit Agreement, the Existing Notes, the Existing Security Documents and the various related agreements, documents and instruments are referred to collectively as the “ Existing Credit Documents ”);

WHEREAS, in order to refinance the Existing Credit Agreement and other outstanding indebtedness, to pay certain costs, fees and expenses and to provide for working capital and general corporate purposes, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders and Issuers provide:

(a) Revolving Loan Commitments (to include availability for Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit and repayment of Reimbursement Obligations) pursuant to which Revolving Loans will be made from time to time prior to the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date; and

 

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(b) Letter of Credit Commitments pursuant to which Letters of Credit will be issued from time to time prior to the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date.

WHEREAS, the Borrower, Administrative Agent, Lenders and the Issuers are willing, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (including Article V ), to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in order to extend Commitments and make Loans to the Borrower (which Loans shall be used, among other things, in order to extend, renew and continue the Existing Notes and the corresponding loans under the Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date), and to issue and participate in such Letters of Credit hereunder for the account of the Borrower; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto have agreed that it is in their respective best interests to enter into this Agreement to extend, renew and continue, but not to extinguish, terminate or novate, the Existing Notes and the corresponding loans and to amend, restate and supersede, but not to extinguish, terminate or cause to be novated the Indebtedness under, the Existing Credit Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as follows:

ARTICLE I - Definitions and References

Section 1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, each of the following terms has the meaning given it in this Section 1.1 or in the sections and subsections referred to below:

ABR Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest at a fluctuating rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

ABR Payment Date ” means (a) the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year, beginning with the first such Business Day following the Closing Date, and (b) any day on which past due interest or principal is owed under the Notes and is unpaid. If the terms of any Loan Document provide that payments of interest or principal on the Notes shall be deferred from one ABR Payment Date to another day, such other day shall also be an ABR Payment Date.

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

(a) the sum of:

(i) discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated (including any share of proved reserves attributed to Oil and Gas Properties proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower from any Operating Joint Venture) in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the fiscal year ending at least 91 days prior to the date of determination, with respect to a reserve report is prepared, reviewed or audited by independent petroleum engineers or 45 days prior to the date of determination with respect to a reserve report which is prepared by the Borrower’s in-house engineering staff as increased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue of:

 

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(A) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such reserve report, and

(B) estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries (including any share of proved reserves attributed to Oil and Gas Properties proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower from any Operating Joint Venture in accordance with this Agreement) attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward determinations of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which reserves were not reflected in such reserve report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such reserve report),

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

(C) estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries reflected in such reserve report produced or disposed of since the date of such reserve report, and

(D) reductions in the estimated oil and natural gas reserves of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries (including any reductions of the share of proved reserves attributed to Oil and Gas Properties proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower from any Operating Joint Venture in accordance with this Agreement) reflected in such reserve report since the date of such reserve report attributable to downward determinations of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities conducted or otherwise occurring since the date of such reserve report which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, result in such determinations, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices under SEC guidelines applicable to a reserve report as of its date);

provided, however, that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases shall be estimated by the Borrower’s in-house engineering staff;

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

 

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(iii) the Net Working Capital (excluding, to the extent included in the determination of discounted future net revenues under clause (1)(a) above, any adjustments made pursuant to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s FASB ASC Topic 410-20 as of a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements); and;

(iv) the greater of (i) the net book value as of a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements and (ii) the fair market value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, its proportionate share of other tangible assets proportionately consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower from any Operating Joint Venture in accordance with this Agreement) as of a date no earlier than the date of the Borrower’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (provided that the Borrower shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed); minus

(b) the sum of:

(i) to the extent included in the calculation clause (a) above, Minority Interests;

(ii) any net natural gas balancing liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) reflected in the Borrower’s latest audited financial statements;

(iii) to the extent included in clause (a)(i) above, the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (including utilizing the same prices in the Borrower’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties (excluding any interests subject to escrow arrangements in connection with financial assurance requirements for plugging and abandonment obligations of the Borrower and its Guarantor Subsidiaries;

(iv) to the extent included in clause (a)(i) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Borrower’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries with respect to volumetric production payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

(v) the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to dollar-denominated production payments that, based on the estimates of production included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in the immediately preceding clause (a)(i) (utilizing the same prices utilized in the Borrower’s year-end reserve report), would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries with respect to dollar-denominated production payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

 

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If the Borrower changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” will continue to be calculated as if the Borrower were still using the full cost method of accounting.

Administrative Agent ” means TD (Texas), as Administrative Agent hereunder, and its successors in such capacity.

Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, each other Person that directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries or otherwise) controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.

Agreement ” means this Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as from time to time amended, modified, supplemented or amended and restated.

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Revolving Loan Commitments of all Lenders.

Aggregate Percentage Share ” means, at any time and with respect to any Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender, by (b) the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments of all Lenders. If the Revolving Loan Commitments have terminated or expired, the Aggregate Percentage Shares shall be determined using the Revolving Loan Commitments most recently set forth in the Register, giving effect to any assignments made in accordance with Section 10.6 or any increases or decreases in Revolving Loan Commitments made in accordance with this Agreement.

Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, the per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin plus the highest of the determinable of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus one-half percent (0.5%) per annum, and (iii) the Reference Eurodollar Rate plus one percent (1%) per annum provided that in no event shall the Alternate Base Rate at any time be less than the Applicable Margin. If the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate changes after the date hereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be automatically increased or decreased, as the case may be, without notice to Borrower, from time to time as of the effective time of each such change. The Alternate Base Rate shall in no event, however, exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If for any reason the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate for any reason, including, without limitation, the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient bids or publications in accordance with the terms hereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined using the Prime Rate until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist.

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.

 

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Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of ABR Loans and such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of Eurodollar Loans.

Applicable Margin ” means for any day and with respect to all Loans maintained as Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, the applicable percentage set forth below corresponding to the Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage:

 

If the Borrowing

Base Utilization

Percentage is:

   Then the Applicable
Margin for
Eurodollar Loans is:
    Then the
Applicable Margin
for ABR Loans is:
    Commitment
Fee Rate:
 

³ 90%

     3.50     2.50     0.500

³ 75%<90%

     3.25     2.25     0.500

³ 50%<75%

     3.00     2.00     0.500

³ 25%<50%

     2.75     1.75     0.375

<25%

     2.50     1.50     0.375

Each change in the Applicable Margin shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

Approved Counterparty ” means any counterparty to a Hedging Contract with a Restricted Person that (a) is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, (b) was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging Contract was consummated, (c) is listed on Schedule 1 as an Approved Counterparty to the extent such Hedging Contract was in existence on the Closing Date or (d) is any other Person designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent (a “ Designated Approved Counterparty ”); provided that the Borrower shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent within three (3) Business Days after entering into any Hedging Contract or transaction under a Hedging Contract with any Designated Approved Counterparty, which written notice shall include specific details regarding such Hedging Contract and such transaction and shall state that (i) such Hedging Contract and such transaction has been consummated and identify the Designated Approved Counterparty party thereto, (ii) prior to entering into such Hedging Contract or such transaction, the Borrower offered such transaction to at least two Lenders (or their Affiliates) that are active in the oil and gas commodity hedging business and such Lenders (or their Affiliates) do not, as determined in the sole discretion of the Borrower, provide terms that are as good or better as the terms of such transaction to the Restricted Persons, (iii) such Designated Approved Counterparty has (or the credit support provider of such Person has), at the time of entry into the applicable Hedging Contract, a long term senior unsecured debt rating of A- or better from S&P (or its equivalent) or A3 or better from Moody’s (or its equivalent) and (iv) such Designated Approved Counterparty has agreed to be bound by Articles IX and X of this Agreement as if it were a Lender.

 

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Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that (a) is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business, and (b) is administered or managed by a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or a Person or an Affiliate of a Person that administers or manages a Lender.

Arrangers ” means TD Securities, SG Americas Securities, LLC, Natixis, New York Branch, Morgan Stanley and ABN Amro, collectively, as Joint Lead Arrangers; herein sometimes “Joint Lead Arrangers” or “Arrangers” and “ Arranger ” means any of them.

Arm’s Length Transaction ” means, with respect to any transaction between a Restricted Person and one of its Affiliates, that the terms thereof are no less favorable to such Restricted Person than those which could have been obtained at the time of such transaction in an arm’s-length dealing with Persons other than such Affiliate.

Assignment and Acceptance ” means each Assignment and Acceptance, substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto or in another form acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Authorized Officer ” means, as to any Person, its President, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Accounting Officer, its General Counsel, its Chief Operations Officer, its Chief Technical Officer, its Treasurer, or any other officer specified as such to the Administrative Agent in writing by any of the aforementioned officers of such Person or by resolution from the board of directors or similar governing body of such Person.

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Bank Price Deck ” shall mean the Administrative Agent’s forward curve for each of oil, natural gas and other Hydrocarbons, as applicable, furnished to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Benefiting Restricted Person ” shall mean a Restricted Person for which funds or other support is necessary for such Restricted Person to constitute an Eligible Contract Participant.

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

Borrower ” means W&T Offshore, Inc., a Texas corporation, and its permitted assigns and successors.

Borrowing ” means a borrowing of new Loans of a single Type pursuant to Section 2.2 or a continuation or conversion of existing Loans into a single Type (and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, with the same Interest Period) pursuant to Section 2.3.

 

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Borrowing Base ” means, at the particular time in question, either the Initial Availability Amount or such other amount provided for in Section 2.8 or the amount determined by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.9, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including Sections 2.9 and 7.5).

Borrowing Base Deficiency ” has the meaning given it in Section 2.7(b).

Borrowing Base Entities ” means (i) the Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (other than Non-guarantor Subsidiaries) and (ii) the Operating Joint Ventures.

Borrowing Base Properties ” means the Oil and Gas Properties from time to time included in the most recent Engineering Report delivered pursuant to this Agreement (other than any such properties owned by an Operating Joint Venture which are designated by an Authorized Officer in such Engineering Report or in a certificate accompanying delivery of such Engineering Report as to not be included in the determination of the Borrowing Base); provided that the Oil and Gas Properties owned by an Included Joint Venture and included in such most recent Engineering Report (and not designated as not to be included in the determination of the Borrowing Base) shall only be taken into account in determining the Borrowing Base to the extent of the Borrower’s and the Guarantor Subsidiaries’ aggregate Investment Percentage in such Included Joint Venture.

Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage ” means, as of any day, the fraction expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the Facility Usage on such day, and the denominator of which is the Borrowing Base in effect on such day.

Borrowing Notice ” means a written or telephonic request, or a written confirmation, made by an Authorized Officer of Borrower which meets the requirements of Section 2.2.

Building ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation; provided that, in no event shall the term “Building” include platforms and other structures located in state or federal waters offshore of the United States or other areas that are not subject to Flood Insurance Regulation.

Business Day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday or United States federal holiday, on which commercial banks are open for business with the public in New York, New York and Houston, Texas. Any Business Day in any way relating to Eurodollar Loans (such as the day on which an Interest Period begins or ends) must also be a day on which, in the judgment of the Administrative Agent, significant transactions in dollars are carried out in the interbank eurocurrency market in London, England.

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP in accordance with Section 1.6.

Capital Stock ” means (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (b) in the case of an association, limited liability company or other business entity, shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) thereof, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

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Cash Equivalents ” means investments in:

(a) marketable obligations, maturing within 12 months after acquisition thereof, issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or an instrumentality or agency thereof and entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States of America;

(b) demand deposits, and time deposits (including certificates of deposit) maturing within 12 months from the date of deposit thereof, with any office of any Lender or with a domestic office of any national or state bank or trust company which is organized under the Laws of the United States of America or any state therein, which has capital, sur plus and undivided profits of at least $500,000,000, and whose certificates of deposit have at least the third highest credit rating given by either Rating Agency;

(c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any commercial bank meeting the specifications of clause (b) above;

(d) open market commercial paper, maturing within 270 days after acquisition thereof, which has the highest or second highest credit rating given by either Rating Agency; and

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

Casualty Event ” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Collateral.

Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” or group of related “persons” (a “Group”) (as such terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), (b) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower, (c) the consummation of any transaction the result of which is that any “Person” (as defined above) or Group becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d3 and Rule 13d5 under the Exchange Act), in each case, other than the Permitted Holders, of more than 25% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower, provided , however , that no Change in Control shall have occurred as a result of the consummation of any such transaction if, immediately following such consummation, Tracy W. Krohn is the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower; or (d) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower are not Continuing Directors.

Closing Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.1 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.1).

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

 

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Collateral ” means all property of any kind which is subject to a direct Lien in favor of Lenders (or in favor of Administrative Agent or a trustee for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, or any other Lender Party) or which, under the terms of any Security Document, is purported to be subject to such a Lien, subject, however, to Section 10.14(d); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral shall not include any Capital Stock of any joint venture other than an Included Joint Venture.

Commitment ” means, as the context may require, any Revolving Loan Commitment or Letter of Credit Commitment.

Commitment Fee Rate ” means the applicable percentage set forth in the definition of Applicable Margin based on the Borrowing Base Utilization.

Commitment Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date until and including the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date (or, if earlier, the day on which the Notes first become due and payable in full).

Commitment Termination Date ” means the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date.

Commitment Termination Event ” means

(a) the occurrence of any Default described in clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 8.1(j) with respect to the Borrower; or

(b) the occurrence and continuance of any other Event of Default and either

(i) the declaration of the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2, or

(ii) in the absence of such declaration, the giving of notice by the Administrative Agent, acting at the direction of the Required Lenders, to the Borrower that the Commitments have been terminated.

Commodity Exchange Act ” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq .), as amended and any successor statute.

Communications ” is defined in Section 10.18(a).

Consolidated ” refers to the consolidation of any Person, in accordance with GAAP, with its properly consolidated subsidiaries. References herein to a Person’s Consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. refer to the consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. of such Person and its properly consolidated subsidiaries.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means as to any Person or Persons for any period, the Consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP, whether paid or accrued including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount and capitalized debt issuance costs, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to the present value of the net rental payments under sale and leaseback transactions, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Contracts described in Section 7.3(b).

 

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Consolidated Net Income ” means, as to any Person or Persons for any period, the net income of such Person or Persons (determined without duplication on a Consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP).

Continuation/Conversion Notice ” means a written or telephonic request, or a written confirmation, made by an Authorized Officer of Borrower which meets the requirements of Section 2.3.

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of Borrower who (a) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date hereof or (b) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of (i) two-thirds of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election or (ii) two-thirds of those Directors who were previously approved by Continuing Directors.

Control Agreement ” means an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent which provides for the Administrative Agent to have “control” (as defined in Section 8-106 of the UCC, as such term relates to investment property (other than certificated securities or commodity contracts) or as used in Section 9-106 of the UCC, as such term relates to commodity contracts, or as used in Section 9-104(a) of the UCC, as such term relates to deposit accounts).

Covered Property ” is defined in Section 6.2(f).

Default ” means any Event of Default and any default, event or condition which would, with the giving of any requisite notices and the passage of any requisite periods of time, constitute an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means, at the time in question, (a) with respect to Eurodollar Loans, the per annum rate equal to two percent (2.0%) per annum plus the Eurodollar Rate then in effect and (b) with respect to ABR Loans and all other Obligations, the per annum rate equal to two percent (2.0%) per annum plus the Alternate Base Rate then in effect. The Default Rate shall never exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

Defaulting Lender ” shall mean any Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans or participations in Letters of Credit within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless, in regards to funding its portion of Loans, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, (b) notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Issuers in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect

 

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that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent or any Issuer, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans and purchase participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent, such Issuer and the Borrower), (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (e) (i) becomes or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent or (ii) becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian, appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or, other than by way of an Undisclosed Administration, has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, (f) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a governmental authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such governmental authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

Determination Date ” has the meaning given it in Section 2.9.

Disbursement ” means, with respect to an Issuer, the amount disbursed by such Issuer on a Disbursement Date.

Disbursement Date ” is defined in Section 2.11(e).

Disclosure Report ” means either a notice given by Borrower under Section 6.4 or a certificate given by Borrower’s Chief Financial Officer under Section 6.2(b) or notice delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(j).

Disclosure Schedule ” means Schedule 1 hereto.

Distribution ” means (a) any dividend or other distribution made by a Restricted Person on or in respect of the Capital Stock of such Restricted Person (including any option or warrant to buy such an equity interest), or (b) any payment made by a Restricted Person to purchase, redeem, acquire or retire any Capital Stock in such Restricted Person (including any option or warrant).

 

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Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” below its name on the Lender Schedule attached hereto, or such other office as such Lender may from time to time specify to Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

EBITDAX ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (a) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss, plus any net loss realized in connection with an asset sale (together with any related provisions for taxes by a Restricted Person), to the extent such losses were included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) an amount equal to the provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period (including state franchise taxes), to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (c) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (d) depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles) for such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (e) accretion expense for abandonment retirement obligations, plus (f) other non-cash charges (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period or to the extent it represents a restructuring change) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such other non-cash charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the depreciation, depletion and amortization and other non-cash charges and expenses of, the Subsidiaries of the relevant Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income of such Person only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be distributed to such Person by such Subsidiary without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees,

 

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orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that such Subsidiary or its stockholders. For purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, EBITDAX shall only include (i) EBITDAX of the Borrower and its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Non-guarantor Subsidiaries), (ii) EBITDAX of Subsidiaries (other than Non-guarantor Subsidiaries) that are not Wholly-owned Subsidiaries but that are Guarantor Subsidiaries equal to the aggregate Investment Percentage of the Borrower’s and the Guarantor Subsidiaries’ ownership of such Subsidiary and (iii) EBITDAX of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries and joint ventures and other Persons that are not Subsidiaries but in which the Borrower and its Guarantor Subsidiaries own Capital Stock to the extent of dividends and Distributions actually received by the Borrower or a Guarantor Subsidiary in cash from such Persons. In the event that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall make an Equity Investment in any Person, or a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition, EBITDAX (and each component thereof) in respect of such acquired Person or the assets or properties subject of such Material Acquisition or Material Disposition shall be calculated on a pro forma basis commencing the first day of the four quarter period in which such acquisition or disposition is consummated.

Electronic Platform ” is defined in Section 10.18(b).

Eligible Contract Participant ” shall mean an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.

Eligible Transferee ” means a Person which either (a) is an Issuer, a Lender or an Affiliate of Lender or an Approved Fund, or (b) is consented to as an Eligible Transferee by (i) the Administrative Agent, (ii) with respect solely to transfers of Revolving Loans or Revolving Loan Commitments, each Issuer, and (iii) so long as no Event of Default is continuing, by Borrower, which consents in each case will not be unreasonably withheld ( provided that no Person organized outside the United States may be an Eligible Transferee without the consent of Borrower if Borrower would be required to pay withholding taxes on interest or principal owed to such Person).

Energy VI ” means W&T Energy VI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Energy VII ” means W&T Energy VII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Engineering Report ” means the Initial Engineering Report and each subsequent engineering report delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(d).

Environmental Claims ” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, obligations, liabilities, losses, proceedings, decrees, judgments, penalties, fees, fines, demand letters, orders, directives, claims (including claims for contribution or claims involving liability in tort, strict, absolute or otherwise), Liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, or claims for legal fees or costs of investigations or proceedings, relating to any Environmental Law or arising from the actual or alleged presence or Release of any Hazardous Material, including without limitation, enforcement, mitigation, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages or contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive or declaratory relief pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

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Environmental Laws ” means all applicable Laws relating to pollution or the regulation or protection of human health or safety (to the extent such health or safety relate to exposure to Hazardous Materials), natural resources or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land, natural resources or wetlands), including those relating to any release of hazardous materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, management, generation, recycling or handling of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials. Without limitation, Environmental Laws include, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980, the Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of 1980 and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; the Clean Air Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Oil Pollution Act, each as amended and their state and local counterparts or equivalents.

Equity Investment ” means relative to any Person, any ownership or similar interest held by such Person in any other Person consisting of any purchase or other acquisition of any capital stock, warrants, rights, options, obligations or other securities of such Person, limited partnership interests, membership interest in a limited liability company, or beneficial interests in a trust.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, together with all rules and regulations promulgated with respect thereto.

ERISA Affiliate ” means Borrower and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control that, together with Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

ERISA Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained by any ERISA Affiliate with respect to which any Restricted Person has a fixed or contingent liability (other than a “multiemployer plan” as that term is defined in Section 4001 of ERISA).

Eurodollar Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurodollar Lending Office” below its name on the Lender Schedule attached hereto (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to Borrower and Administrative Agent.

Eurodollar Loan ” means a Loan bearing interest at a fluctuating rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

Eurodollar Margin ” means the Applicable Margin in effect at such time for Eurodollar Loans.

Eurodollar Rate ” means with respect to each particular Eurodollar Loan and the associated LIBOR Rate and Reserve Percentage, the rate per annum calculated by Administrative Agent (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 0.01%) determined on a daily basis pursuant to the following formula:

 

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Eurodollar Rate =

  

LIBOR Rate

   + Eurodollar Margin
   100.0% - Reserve Percentage   

The Eurodollar Rate for any Eurodollar Loan shall change whenever the Eurodollar Margin or the Reserve Percentage changes. No Eurodollar Rate shall ever exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. The Eurodollar Rate shall not be less than zero.

Eurodollar Rate Payment Date ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan: (a) the day on which the related Interest Period ends, and (b) any day on which past due interest or past due principal is owed under the Notes with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and is unpaid. If the terms of any Loan Documents provide that payments of interest or principal with respect to such Eurodollar Loan shall be deferred from one Eurodollar Rate Payment Date to another day, such other day shall also be a Eurodollar Rate Payment Date.

Evaluation Date ” means the following dates:

(a) Each date on or after the Closing Date, which Required Lenders, at their option, specify as a date as of which the Borrowing Base is to be redetermined, provided that each such date must be the first or last day of a current calendar month and that Required Lenders shall not be entitled to request any such redetermination more than once during any Fiscal Year;

(b) April 15 and October 15 of each Fiscal Year, beginning April 15, 2019;

(c) The date of each sale of interests in Oil and Gas Properties that would permit the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to redetermine the Borrowing Base pursuant to the terms of Section 7.5; and

(d) Each date which the Borrower, at its option, specifies as a date as of which the Borrowing Base is to be redetermined, provided that each such date must be the first or last day of a current calendar month and that the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any such redetermination more than once during any Fiscal Year unless such request is in connection with any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property involving consideration equal to or in excess of $50,000,000.

Event of Default ” is defined in Section 8.1.

Excepted Liens ” means: (a) Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (b) statutory landlord’s liens, operators’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, workers’, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties each of which is in respect of obligations that are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (c) contractual Liens which arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the

 

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sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and are for claims which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP, provided that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held by the Borrower or any other Restricted Person or materially impair the value of such property subject thereto; (d) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution, provided that no such deposit account is a dedicated cash collateral account or is subject to restrictions against access by the depositor in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board of Governors and no such deposit account is intended by Borrower or any other Restricted Person to provide collateral to the depository institution; (e) easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations in any property of the Borrower or any other Restricted Person for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment, that do not secure any monetary obligations and which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such property for the purposes of which such property is held by the Borrower or any other Restricted Person or materially impair the value of such property subject thereto; (f) Liens on cash or securities pledged to secure performance of tenders, surety and appeal bonds, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds, bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, regulatory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (g) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default, provided that 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 and no action to enforce such Lien has been commenced; (h) royalties, overriding royalties, reversionary interests, production payments and similar burdens granted by a Restricted Person with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties to the extent such burdens do not reduce such Restricted Person’s net interests in production in its Oil and Gas Properties below the interests reflected in each Engineering Report or the interests warranted under this Agreement or the Security Documents and do not operate to deprive any Restricted Person of any material rights in respect of its assets or properties (except for rights customarily granted with respect to such interests) and (i) Liens incurred within 90 days of the Closing Date on up to $65,000,000 of receivables in respect of the Income Tax Refund Claim.

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

Excluded Account ” means (a) each deposit account in which all or substantially all of the deposits consist of amounts utilized to fund payroll, employee benefit or tax obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (b) “zero balance” accounts, (c) escrow accounts for amounts constituting purchase price deposits held in escrow pursuant to a binding and enforceable purchase

 

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and sale agreement with a third party containing customary provisions regarding the payment and refunding of such deposits, (d) escrow accounts, trust accounts or fiduciary accounts and (e) cash collateral accounts permitted under Section 7.2 of this Agreement (including, without limitation, an account pledged to secure Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (m) of the definition of Indebtedness.

Excluded Obligation in respect of a Hedging Contract ” shall mean, with respect to any Restricted Person individually determined on a Restricted Person by Restricted Person basis, any Obligation in respect of a Hedging Contract, if and to the extent that, all or a portion of the joint and several liability or the guaranty of such Restricted Person for, or the grant by such Restricted Person of a security interest or other Lien to secure, such Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Restricted Person’s failure for any reason to constitute an Eligible Contract Participant at the time such guarantee or the grant of such security interest or other Lien becomes effective with respect to, or any other time such Restricted Person is by virtue of such guarantee or grant of such security interest or other Lien otherwise deemed to enter into, such Obligation. If an Obligation in respect of a Hedging Contract arises under a master agreement governing more than one transaction, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Obligation that is attributable to Hedging Contract for which such guarantee, security interest or other Lien is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by the recipient’s net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes imposed on the recipient, and branch profits Taxes imposed on the recipient, in each case, (i) by the United States of America (or any political subdivision thereof) or by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, or (ii) by any other jurisdiction as a result of a present or former connection between the recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than a connection arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under or received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or enforced, any Loan Document), (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 3.8), any withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability to comply with Section 3.6(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.6(a), (c) any United States backup withholding Tax and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Existing Credit Agreement ” is defined in the first recital.

Existing Credit Documents ” is defined in the third recital.

 

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Existing Lender ” is defined in Section 10.19.

Existing Notes ” is defined in the third recital.

Existing Security Documents ” is defined in the second recital.

Existing Senior Notes ” means the Borrower’s 8.50% senior notes due 2019.

Facility Amount ” means $750,000,000.

Facility Availability ” means at any time the difference of (i) the lowest of the Borrowing Base, the Aggregate Commitments or the Facility Amount at such time minus (ii) Revolving Credit Exposure at such time.

Facility Usage ” means, at the time in question, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans of all Lenders plus all Letter of Credit Outstandings of all Issuers.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (and any amended or successor sections thereto) and any present or future regulations or official interpretations thereof.

Federal Funds Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of one percent) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (a) if the day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate quoted to Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by Administrative Agent in good faith.

Fiscal Quarter ” means a three-month period ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 of any year.

Fiscal Year ” means a twelve-month period ending on December 31 of any year.

Flood Insurance Regulations ” is defined in Section 10.14.

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Four Quarter Period ” means as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then ended.

GAAP ” means those generally accepted accounting principles and practices which are recognized as such by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any generally recognized successor) and which, in the case of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, are applied for all periods after the date hereof in a manner consistent with the manner in which such principles

 

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and practices were applied to the audited Initial Financial Statements. If any change in any accounting principle or practice is required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any such successor) in order for such principle or practice to continue as a generally accepted accounting principle or practice, all reports and financial statements required hereunder with respect to Borrower or with respect to Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be prepared in accordance with such change, but all calculations and determinations to be made hereunder may be made in accordance with such change only after notice of such change is given to each Lender and Majority Lenders agree to such change insofar as it affects the accounting of Borrower or of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capital Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.6.

Guarantor Subsidiary ” means a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

Hazardous Materials ” means (a) any petroleum or petroleum product (including crude oil or fraction thereof), explosive, radioactive material, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead and radon gas; (b) any chemical, material, gas substance waste which is defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substance”, “hazardous waste”, “hazardous material”, “extremely hazardous substance”, “hazardous chemical”, “toxic substance”, “toxic chemical”, “contaminant” or “pollutant” or words of similar import under any Environmental Law; and (c) any other chemical, material, gas substance or waste, exposure to which, or the presence, use, generation, treatment, Release, transport or storage of which is prohibited, limited or regulated under any Environmental Law.

Hedging Contract ” means (a) any agreement providing for options, swaps, floors, caps, collars, forward sales or forward purchases involving interest rates, commodities or commodity prices, equities, currencies, bonds, or indexes based on any of the foregoing, (b) any option, futures or forward contract traded on an exchange, and (c) any other hedging contract, derivative agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.

Highest Lawful Rate ” means, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious rate of interest that such Lender is permitted under applicable Law to contract for, take, charge, or receive with respect to its Loan. All determinations herein of the Highest Lawful Rate, or of any interest rate determined by reference to the Highest Lawful Rate, shall be made separately for each Lender as appropriate to assure that the Loan Documents are not construed to obligate any Person to pay interest to any Lender at a rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender.

Hydrocarbon Interests ” shall mean all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, working interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

 

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

Included Joint Venture ” means at any time an Operating Joint Venture whose Oil and Gas Properties, or a portion of whose Oil and Gas Properties, are included in the Borrowing Base Properties and the Capital Stock of such Person owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has been pledged to secure the Obligations.

Income Tax Refund Claim ” shall mean any interest, including without limitation an interest in proceeds to be received therefrom, in claims for refunds of U.S. Federal income taxes for the tax years 2003 and 2004 made by the Borrower pursuant to formal claims for refund dated June 23, 2016, and filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the Borrower on Internal Revenue Service Form 1120X for each of the respective years, reflecting the impact of a carryback of losses from the Borrower’s 2013 tax year and the collateral impacts thereof, including any direct or indirect effects on the Borrower’s tax year 2003 from the carryback of losses in respect of the Borrower’s 2012 tax year.

Increased Costs ” is defined in Section 3.9.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means Liabilities in any of the following categories:

(a) Liabilities for borrowed money,

(b) Liabilities constituting an obligation to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services,

(c) Liabilities evidenced by a bond, debenture, note or similar instrument,

(d) Liabilities which (i) would under GAAP be shown on such Person’s balance sheet as a liability, and (ii) is payable more than one year from the date of creation thereof (other than reserves for taxes and reserves for contingent obligations),

(e) Liabilities arising under Hedging Contracts,

(f) Capitalized Lease Obligations and Liabilities arising under operating leases and Liabilities arising with respect to sale and lease-back transactions,

(g) Liabilities arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements,

(h) Liabilities owing under direct or indirect guaranties of Liabilities of any other Person or constituting obligations to purchase or acquire or to otherwise protect or insure a creditor against loss in respect of Liabilities of any other Person (such as obligations under working capital maintenance agreements, agreements to keep-well, or agreements to purchase Liabilities, assets, goods, securities or services), but excluding endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments in the course of collection,

 

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(i) Liabilities (for example, repurchase agreements) consisting of an obligation to purchase securities or other property, if such Liabilities arises out of or in connection with the sale of the same or similar securities or property,

(j) Liabilities with respect to letters of credit or applications or reimbursement agreements therefor,

(k) Liabilities with respect to payments received in consideration of oil, gas, or other minerals yet to be acquired or produced at the time of payment (including obligations under “take-or-pay” contracts to deliver gas in return for payments already received and the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment), or

(l) Liabilities with respect to other obligations to deliver goods or services in consideration of advance payments therefor;

provided , however , that the “Indebtedness” of any Person shall not include (i) Liabilities that were incurred by such Person on ordinary trade terms to vendors, suppliers, or other Persons providing goods and services for use by such Person in the ordinary course of its business, unless and until (x) such Liabilities are outstanding more than 90 days past the original invoice or billing date therefor or, (y) if such Person is contesting any such Liability in good faith by appropriate proceedings (promptly initiated and diligently conducted) and has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor, such Liability is outstanding more than 180 days past the original invoice or billing date therefor and (ii) Liabilities associated with bonds and surety obligations (including reimbursement obligations).

Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

Initial Availability Amount ” means the amount provided for in Section 2.8.

Initial Engineering Report ” means, the engineering report prepared by the Borrower’s in-house petroleum engineering staff, dated July 1, 2018 concerning Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Included Joint Ventures reflecting reserves of Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Included Joint Ventures as of July 1, 2018.

Initial Financial Statements ” means the audited annual financial statements of Borrower dated as of December 31, 2017.

Insurance Schedule ” means a schedule of the insurance of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to be delivered on or near the Closing Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as such schedule may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement by and between the Administrative Agent, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein), dated as of May 11, 2015, as amended, modified or supplemented.

 

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Interest Expense ” means, for any applicable period, the aggregate cash interest expense (both accrued and paid and net of interest income received during such period by the Restricted Persons) of the Restricted Persons for such applicable period, including the portion of any payments made in respect of Capital Lease Obligations allocable to interest expense, but excluding one-time write-offs of unamortized upfront fees and other upfront fees and expenses associated with (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) the indenture for the Senior Second Lien Notes and (iii) the Specified Additional Debt Documents.

Interest Period ” means, with respect to each particular Eurodollar Loan in a Borrowing, a period of 1, 2, 3 or 6 months, as specified in the Borrowing Notice applicable thereto, beginning on and including the date specified in such Borrowing Notice (which must be a Business Day), and ending on but not including the same day of the month as the day on which it began (e.g., a period beginning on the third day of one month shall end on but not include the third day of another month), provided that each Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (unless such next succeeding Business Day is the first Business Day of a calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day). No Interest Period may be elected which would extend past the date on which the associated Note is due and payable in full.

Investment ” means any investment, in cash or by delivery of property made, directly or indirectly in any Person, whether by acquisition of Capital Stock, indebtedness or other obligations or securities or by loan, advance, capital contribution or otherwise.

Investment Percentage ” means, as to any Person (herein the “Owner”), the percentage of total Capital Stock of another Person owned directly or indirectly by such Owner.

Issuance Request ” means a request and certificate duly executed by the chief executive, accounting or financial authorized officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto (with such changes thereto as may be agreed upon from time to time by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower).

Issuer ” means each of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch, Natixis, New York Branch, and Société Generale (or one of its respective Affiliates) or any other Lender which has agreed to issue one or more Letters of Credit at the request of the Administrative Agent (which shall, at the Borrower’s request, notify the Borrower from time to time of the identity of such other Lender); provided that no Issuer without its consent shall be required to have outstanding at any time Letters of Credit issued by such Issuer having a Stated Amount of more than $30,000,000 in the aggregate.

Law ” means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, treaty, judgment, order, decree, permit, concession, franchise, license, agreement or other governmental restriction of the United States or any state or political subdivision or regulatory agency thereof or of any foreign country or any department, province or other political subdivision thereof, including without limitation Environmental Laws.

Lender Parties ” means the Administrative Agent, the Other Agents, the Issuers, the Lenders, the Approved Counterparties and their successors, transferees and assigns ( provided that with respect to Approved Counterparties, the successor, transferee or assign, as applicable, meets the requirements of the definition of “Approved Counterparty” herein); and “Lender Party” means any of them.

 

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Lenders ” is defined in the preamble hereto.

Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office, branch, or agency through which it funds its Eurodollar Loans; and, with respect to Administrative Agent, the office, branch, or agency through which it administers this Agreement.

Letter of Credit ” is defined in Section 2.11(a).

Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, relative to any Lender, such Lender’s obligation to issue (in the case of an Issuer) or participate in (in the case of all Lenders) Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.11.

Letter of Credit Commitment Amount ” means $30,000,000.

Letter of Credit Fee ” is defined in Section 2.5(c).

Letter of Credit Outstandings ” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate Stated Amount at such time of all Letters of Credit then outstanding and undrawn (as such aggregate Stated Amount shall be adjusted, from time to time, as a result of drawings, the issuance of Letters of Credit, or otherwise), plus (b) the then aggregate amount of all unpaid and outstanding Reimbursement Obligations.

Leverage Ratio ” means for any Person, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of

(a) Total Debt of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter

to

(b) EBITDAX for such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries computed for the period consisting of such Fiscal Quarter and each of the three immediately preceding Fiscal Quarters.

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

LIBOR Rate ” means, with respect to each particular Eurodollar Loan and the related Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters LIBOR01 page (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason

 

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such rate is not available, the term “LIBOR Rate” shall mean, for any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%). The LIBOR Rate determined by Administrative Agent with respect to a particular Eurodollar Loan shall be fixed at such rate for the duration of the associated Interest Period. If Administrative Agent is unable so to determine the LIBOR Rate for any Eurodollar Loan, Borrower shall be deemed not to have elected such Eurodollar Loan and Administrative Agent shall promptly provide written notice thereof to Borrower. The LIBOR Rate shall not be less than zero.

Lien ” means, with respect to any property or assets, any right or interest therein of a creditor to secure Liabilities owed to such creditor or any other arrangement with such creditor which provides for the payment of such Liabilities out of such property or assets or which allows such creditor to have such Liabilities satisfied out of such property or assets prior to the general creditors of any owner thereof, including any lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, deposit, production payment, rights of a vendor under any title retention or conditional sale agreement or lease substantially equivalent thereto, tax lien, mechanic’s or materialman’s lien, or any other charge or encumbrance for security purposes, whether arising by Law or agreement or otherwise, but excluding any right of offset which arises without agreement in the ordinary course of business. “Lien” also means any filed financing statement, any registration of a pledge (such as with an issuer of uncertificated securities), or any other arrangement or action which would serve to perfect a Lien described in the preceding sentence, regardless of whether such financing statement is filed, such registration is made, or such arrangement or action is undertaken before or after such Lien exists.

Liquidity ” means at any time the sum of Unrestricted Cash of the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries plus Facility Availability, all on a consolidated basis.

Loan ” means a Revolving Loan of any Type.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, all Letters of Credit, the Security Documents, and all other agreements, amendments, supplements or other modifications, certificates, documents, instruments and writings at any time delivered in connection herewith or therewith (exclusive of term sheets, commitment letters, correspondence and similar documents used in the negotiation hereof, except to the extent the same contain information about Borrower or its Affiliates, properties, business or prospects, but inclusive of any fee letters between any Restricted Person and any Arranger, Administrative Agent or Other Agent).

Majority Lenders ” means Lenders whose Aggregate Percentage Shares exceed fifty percent (50%); provided that the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Majority Lenders.

 

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Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that involves the payment of consideration by the Loan Parties equal to or in excess of the greater of (i) $75,000,000 and (ii) 7.5% of ACNTA.

Material Disposition ” means any disposition of property or a series of related dispositions of property that involves property with a value equal to or in excess of the greater of (i) $75,000,000 and (ii) 7.5% of ACNTA.

Material Adverse Change ” means a material adverse change in, or material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party or (c) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, any Other Agents, the Issuers or the Lenders thereunder.

Maturity Date ” means October 18, 2022 or if any Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $15,000,000 or the Third Lien Exchange Notes are outstanding after the Closing Date, the Maturity Date will be the date that is the earlier of (i) 4 years from the Closing Date or (ii) 6 months prior to the earliest maturity date of such Indebtedness for borrowed money (including the Third Lien Exchange Notes, if applicable).

Minority Interest ” means the percentage interest represented by any Capital Stock of a non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not owned by the Borrower or a Guarantor Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Mobile Home ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Manufactured Home” and “Mobile Home” in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation; provided that, in no event shall the term “Mobile Home” include platforms and other structures located in state or federal waters offshore of the United States or other areas that are not subject to Flood Insurance Regulation.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally-recognized rating agency.

Mortgaged Properties ” means all property of any Restricted Person as to which a mortgage lien, deed of trust lien or similar lien has been granted by such Restricted Person in favor of the Administrative Agent and/or a trustee pursuant to a deed of trust, mortgage or other similar instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in order to secure the Obligations, subject, however, to Section 10.14(d).

Net Cash Proceeds ” means, with respect to any sale or other disposition (including a Casualty Event), the cash proceeds (including cash equivalents and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) of such sale or other disposition (including a Casualty Event) received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary), net of all attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees and other customary expenses, fees and commissions actually incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and net of taxes paid as of the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds as a result of such sale or disposition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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Net Working Capital ” means (a) all current assets of the Borrower and its Guarantor Subsidiaries except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, less (b) all current liabilities of the Borrower and its Guarantor Subsidiaries except current liabilities included in Indebtedness and any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 815).

Non-Consenting Lender ” is defined in Section 10.1(a).

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Borrower designated as such on the Disclosure Schedule as of the Closing Date of this Agreement or which Borrower has designated in writing to Administrative Agent to be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.19.

Non-Recourse Debt ” means any Indebtedness of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, in each case in respect of which: (a) the holder or holders thereof (i) shall have recourse only to, and shall have the right to require the obligations of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to be performed, satisfied, and paid only out of, the property of such Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries (but only to the extent that such Subsidiaries are Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) and/or any other Person (other than Borrower and/or any other Restricted Person) and (ii) shall have no direct or indirect recourse (including by way of guaranty, support or indemnity) to the Borrower or any other Restricted Person or to any of the property of Borrower or any other Restricted Person, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise; and (b) the terms and conditions relating to the non-recourse nature of such Indebtedness are in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Note ” means a Revolving Loan Note.

1.5 Lien Credit Agreement ” means the Senior Secured 1.5 Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement dated September 7, 2016 in an aggregate original principal amount of $75,000,000 among the Borrower and the Restricted Persons party thereto, and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC as Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

1.5 Lien Notes ” means the notes issued pursuant to the 1.5 Lien Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

Obligations ” means all Liabilities from time to time owing by any Restricted Person to any Lender Party under or pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; provided that Obligations shall not include any Excluded Obligations in respect of a Hedging Contract.

Obligation ” means any part of the Obligations.

OFAC ” means the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

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Oil and Gas Properties ” shall mean Hydrocarbon Interests; the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests; all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, the lands covered thereby and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells (including those used for either environmental sampling or remedial purposes), structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

Other Agents ” means Société Generale and Natixis, New York Branch as Co-Syndication Agents, Morgan Stanley and ABN Amro, as Co-Documentation Agents, and TD Securities, SG Americas Securities, LLC, Natixis, New York Branch, Morgan Stanley and ABN Amro as Joint Lead Arrangers, and TD Securities, Société Generale and Natixis, New York Branch as Joint Bookrunners, and their successors and assigns in such capacities.

Operating Joint Venture ” means a Person other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) in which the Borrower and its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Non-guarantor Subsidiaries) own at least a ten (10%) of the Capital Stock, (ii) substantially all of the assets of such Person consist of Oil and Gas Properties, (iii) the Borrower or one of its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Non-guarantor Subsidiaries) is the operator of such Oil and Gas Properties or is the manager of such Person, (iv) such Person has no Indebtedness for borrowed money, (v) such Person is not bound by agreements, and does not have organizational document restrictions on, the ability of such Person to make dividends or other Distributions on its Capital Stock and (vi) the Capital Stock of such Person not owned by the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries has no preferential rights to dividends or other Distributions over the Capital Stock of such Person owned by the Borrower and the Guarantor Subsidiaries.

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes and any other excise, intangible, recording, filing, property or similar Taxes, charges or levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery, registration or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

Participant Register ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.6(a).

 

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Patriot Act ” is defined in Section 10.17.

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

Percentage Share ” means, as the context may require, any Aggregate Percentage Share or Revolving Loan Percentage Share, as the case may be.

Permian Basin ORRI ” means the overriding royalty interest in properties in Andrews, Dawson, Gaines and Martin counties Texas assigned to Diamondback E&P LLC.

Permitted Holders ” means Tracy W. Krohn, his spouse, Laurie P. Krohn, and their immediate family and descendants by blood or adoption.

Permitted Lien ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.2.

Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust or trustee thereof, estate or executor thereof, unincorporated organization or joint venture, Tribunal, or any other legally recognizable entity.

Platform ” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, DebtX or a substantially similar electronic system.

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest adopted by Administrative Agent as the reference rate for the determination of interest rates for loans of varying maturities in dollars to United States residents of varying degrees of creditworthiness and being quoted at such time by The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch as its “base rate” or “prime rate”.

Projected Oil Production ” means the projected production of oil (measured by volume unit, not sales price) for the term of the contracts or a particular month, as applicable, from properties and interests owned by any Restricted Person or by any Included Joint Ventures (to the extent that the properties and interests owned by such Included Joint Ventures are included in the Borrowing Base Properties) for thirty (30) days or more which are located in or offshore of the United States and which have attributable to them proved developed producing oil reserves, as such production is projected in the most recent report delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(d) of this Agreement, after deducting projected production from any properties or interests sold or under contract for sale that had been included in such report and after adding projected production from any properties or interests that had not been reflected in such report but that are reflected in a separate or supplemental reports meeting the requirements of Section 6.2(d) of this Agreement and otherwise are satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

Projected Gas Production ” means the projected production of gas (measured by BTU equivalent, not sales price) for the term of the contracts or a particular month, as applicable, from properties and interests owned by any Restricted Person or by any Included Joint Ventures (to the extent that the properties and interests owned by such Included Joint Ventures are included in the Borrowing Base Properties) for thirty (30) days or more which are located in or offshore of the United States and which have attributable to them proved developed producing gas reserves, as such production is projected in the most recent report delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(d) of this

 

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Agreement, after deducting projected production from any properties or interests sold or under contract for sale that had been included in such report and after adding projected production from any properties or interests that had not been reflected in such report but that are reflected in a separate or supplemental reports meeting the requirements of Section 6.2(d) of this Agreement and otherwise are satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

Proposed Change ” is defined in Section 10.1(a).

Public Lender ” is defined in Section 10.18(b).

Qualified ECP Credit Party ” shall mean, with respect to any Benefiting Restricted Person in respect of any Obligation in respect of a Hedging Contract, each Restricted Person that, at the time of the guaranty by such Benefiting Restricted Person of, or grant by such Benefiting Restricted Person of a security interest or other Lien securing, such Obligation in respect of a Hedging Contract is entered into or becomes effective with respect to, or at any other time such Benefiting Restricted Person is by virtue of such guaranty or grant of a security interest or other Lien otherwise deemed to enter into, such Obligation, constitutes an Eligible Contract Participant and can cause such Benefiting Restricted Person to qualify as an Eligible Contract Participant at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section la(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Rating Agency ” means either S&P or Moody’s.

Reference Eurodollar Rate ” means, as of any day, a rate of interest per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate (for a one-month Interest Period) on such day or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day.

Register ” is defined in Section 2.13.

Regulation D ” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors as from time to time in effect.

Reimbursement Obligations ” is defined in Section 2.11(f).

Release ” means the release, deposit, disposal or leakage of any Hazardous Material at, into, upon or under any land, water or air or otherwise into the environment, including, without limitation, by means of burial, disposal, discharge, emission, injection, leakage, seepage, dumping, pumping, pouring, escaping, emptying or placement.

Required Lenders ” means Lenders whose Aggregate Percentage Shares exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%); provided that , with respect to any increase in the Borrowing Base or with respect to any determination or redetermination of the Borrowing Base that would result in a new Borrowing Base that is greater than the Borrowing Base then in effect prior to such determination or redetermination, “Required Lenders” shall mean Lenders whose Aggregate Percentage Shares equal or exceed ninety-five (95%); and provided further that , the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Lenders.

 

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Required Percentage ” is defined in Section 6.15.

Requisite Lenders ” is defined in Section 10.1(a).

Reserve Percentage ” means, on any day with respect to each particular Eurodollar Loan, the maximum reserve requirement, as determined by Administrative Agent (including without limitation any basic, supplemental, marginal, emergency or similar reserves), expressed as a percentage and rounded to the next higher 0.01%, which would then apply under Regulation D with respect to “Eurocurrency liabilities”, as such term is defined in Regulation D. If such reserve requirement shall change after the date hereof, the Reserve Percentage shall be automatically increased or decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the effective time of each such change in such reserve requirement.

Restricted Person ” means any of Borrower and each Subsidiary of Borrower.

Revolving Credit Exposure ” means at any time the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans at such time plus the aggregate Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time.

Revolving Loan ” is defined in Section 2.1(c).

Revolving Loan Commitment ” means, relative to any Lender, such Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(c), as such Revolving Loan Commitment may be reduced, adjusted or terminated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The amount of each Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment as of the Closing Date is the amount set forth on Schedule 3 as such amount may be modified pursuant to Section 2.15 and as such Revolving Loan Commitment may be modified from time to time pursuant to any Assignment and Acceptance to which such Lender is a party.

Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date ” means the earliest to occur of (a) the Maturity Date, and (b) the date on which any Commitment Termination Event occurs.

Revolving Loan Lender ” is defined in Section 2.1(c).

Revolving Loan Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender, in the form of Exhibit A hereto (as such promissory note may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time), evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from outstanding Revolving Loans, and also means all other promissory notes accepted from time to time in substitution therefor or renewal thereof.

Revolving Loan Percentage Share ” means, at any time and with respect to any Revolving Loan Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender, by (b) the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments of all Revolving Loan Lenders. If the Revolving Loan Commitments have terminated or expired, the Revolving Loan Percentage Shares shall be determined using the Revolving Loan Commitments most recently set forth in the Register, giving effect to any assignments made in accordance with Section 10.6 or any increases or decreases in Revolving Loan Commitments made in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions (as of the Closing Date, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea).

Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

Sanctions ” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

SGAS ” means SG Americas Securities, LLC.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc.) and any successor thereto that is a nationally-recognized rating agency.

Second Lien Term Loan ” means the Borrower’s 9.00% Second Lien Term Loan due May 2020.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Exchange Notes ” means the Borrower’s 9%/10.75% Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to the Secured Exchange Notes Indenture, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

Secured Exchange Notes Indenture ” means the indenture dated September 7, 2016 for the Borrower’s Secured Exchange Notes, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

Security Documents ” means the instruments listed in the Security Schedule and all other security agreements, deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, pledges, guaranties, financing statements, continuation statements, extension agreements and other agreements or instruments now, heretofore, or hereafter delivered by any Restricted Person or any other Person to Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby to secure or guarantee the payment of any part of the Obligations or the performance of any Restricted Person’s other duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.

Security Schedule ” means Schedule 2(a) and Schedule 2(b) hereto, as such Schedule  2(a) and Schedule 2(b) may be amended or otherwise modified with the consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

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Security Termination ” shall mean the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations and (B) obligations and liabilities under Hedging Contracts constituting Loan Documents except in the case of the exercise of remedies and the application of proceeds under Section 3.1), the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuers shall have been made) and the termination of all Commitments.

Senior Second Lien Notes ” means the Borrower’s 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023, issued pursuant to the Senior Second Lien Notes Indenture.

Senior Second Lien Notes Indenture ” means the indenture dated October 18, 2018 for the Borrower’s Senior Second Lien Notes, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

Specified Additional Debt ” is defined in Section 7.1(h).

Specified Additional Debt Documents ” means one or more indentures, note purchase agreements, credit agreements or similar financing documents governing the issuance of any Specified Additional Debt and any other agreements, certificates, documents and instruments delivered in connection with the foregoing, and such corresponding agreements, certificates, documents and instruments for any refinancings of such Specified Additional Debt.

Stated Amount ” of each Letter of Credit means the face amount of such Letter of Credit or the “ Stated Amount ” of such Letter of Credit (as defined therein), in each case, as such amount is in effect on the issuance date thereof.

Stated Expiry Date ” is defined in Section 2.11(a).

Subject Sale ” is defined in Section 7.5.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, or other business or corporate entity, enterprise or organization which is directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries) controlled by or owned fifty percent or more by such Person.

Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any governmental authority, including any interest, penalties or additions to tax applicable thereto.

TD (Texas) ” means Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, and its successors and assigns.

Termination Event ” means (a) the occurrence with respect to any ERISA Plan of a reportable event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA other than a reportable event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation pursuant to a waiver by such corporation under Section 4043(a) of ERISA, or (b) the withdrawal of any ERISA Affiliate from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate any

 

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ERISA Plan or the treatment of any ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate any ERISA Plan by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (e) the withdrawal or partial withdrawal by any ERISA Affiliate from a “multiemployer plan” as that term is defined in Section 4001 of ERISA, or (f) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any ERISA Plan.

Third Lien Exchange Notes ” means the Borrower’s 8.50%/10.00% PIK Toggle Third Lien Exchange Notes due 2021 issued pursuant to the Third Lien Exchange Notes Indenture, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

Third Lien Exchange Notes Indenture ” means the indenture September 7, 2016 for the Borrower’s Third Lien Exchange Notes, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or refinanced.

Total Debt ” means the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) on a Consolidated basis.

Total Proved PV-10 ” means, as of any date of determination thereof with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties described in the most recent Engineering Report delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement, the net present value, determined using a discount rate of ten percent (10%) per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and the Guarantor Subsidiaries’ and the Included Joint Ventures’ (to the extent that such Included Joint Ventures’ Oil and Gas Properties are included in the Borrowing Base Properties) interest in such Oil and Gas Properties during the remaining expected economic lives of such Oil and Gas Properties. Each calculation of such expected future net revenues shall be made in accordance with the then existing standards of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, provided that in any event (a) appropriate deductions shall be made for severance and ad valorem taxes and for operating, gathering, transportation and marketing costs, required for the production and sale of hydrocarbons from such Oil and Gas Properties, (b) the pricing assumptions used in determining Total Proved PV-10 for any Oil and Gas Properties, on any date shall be based upon the most recent Bank Price Deck provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent adjusted as determined in good faith by the Borrower to reflect the Borrower’s and the other Guarantor Subsidiaries’ Hedging Contracts and (c) the cash-flows derived from the pricing assumptions set forth in clause (b) above shall be further adjusted to account for the historical basis differential in a manner determined in good faith by the Borrower. The amount of Total Proved PV-10 at any time shall be calculated on a pro forma basis for dispositions and acquisitions of Oil and Gas Properties consummated since the date of the Engineering Report most recently delivered pursuant hereto (provided that, in the case of any such acquisition or disposition, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent shall have received an Engineering Report evaluating the proved reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties subject thereto, which such Engineering Report may be prepared by the Borrower’s in-house petroleum staff or by an independent petroleum engineer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent).

Transactions ” means the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the 2018 Second Lien Notes and the documentation related thereto, and the repayment of the 1.5 Lien Notes, the outstanding Second Lien Term Loan, the outstanding Secured Exchange Notes, the outstanding Existing Senior Notes, and some or all of the Third Lien Exchange Notes of the Borrower in connection with the refinancing of its capital structure on the Closing Date.

 

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Tribunal ” means, in the case of all parties hereto, any government, any arbitration panel, any court or any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or any state, province, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, parish, town, township, village or municipality, whether now or hereafter constituted and/or existing, and, solely in the case of Lender Parties, any foreign governmental and supervisory authorities and central banks, whether now or hereafter constituted and/or existing.

Type ” means, with respect to any Loans, the characterization of such Loans as either ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans.

Undisclosed Administration ” means in relation to a Lender the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.

Unrestricted Cash ” means the cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Guarantor Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Guarantor Subsidiaries to the extent it is (i) held in an account subject to a Control Agreement and (ii) not subject of any other Lien other than (a) non-consensual Liens of the type described in the definition of Excepted Liens, (b) a Lien securing Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (m) of the definition of Indebtedness, or (c) a Lien securing the Obligations or other Indebtedness subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

Voting Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or classes of Capital Stock in such Person normally entitling the holders thereof to vote under ordinary circumstances in the election of members of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Person.

Wholly-owned Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Borrower, one hundred percent (100%) of the Voting Stock of which is directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries) owned by Borrower.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Section 1.2 Exhibits and Schedules; Additional Definitions . All Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement are a part hereof for all purposes. Reference is hereby made to the Security Schedule for the meaning of certain terms defined therein and used but not defined herein, which definitions are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Section 1.3 Amendment of Defined Instruments . Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise provided in the relevant defined term or unless otherwise provided herein the terms defined in this Agreement which refer to a particular agreement, instrument or document also refer to and include all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments and restatements of such agreement, instrument or document in accordance with the Loan Documents, provided that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to authorize or require any such renewal, extension, modification, amendment or restatement.

Section 1.4 References and Titles . All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Schedules, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the Exhibits, Schedules, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivisions are for convenience only and do not constitute any part of such subdivisions and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The words “this Agreement”, “this instrument”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereby”, “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The phrases “this section” and “this subsection” and similar phrases refer only to the sections or subsections hereof in which such phrases occur. The word “or” is not exclusive, and the word “including” (in its various forms) means “including without limitation”. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. All references to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, provided such successors and assigns are permitted by the Loan Documents.

Section 1.5 Calculations and Determinations . All calculations under the Loan Documents of interest chargeable with respect to Eurodollar Loans and of fees shall be made on the basis of actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last) and a year of 360 days. All other calculations of interest made under the Loan Documents shall be made on the basis of actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last) and a year of 365 or 366 days, as appropriate. Each determination by a Lender Party of amounts to be paid under any of Sections 2.11, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6 or any other matters which are to be determined hereunder by a Lender Party (such as any Eurodollar Rate, LIBOR Rate, Business Day, Interest Period, or Reserve Percentage) shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein or unless Required Lenders otherwise consent all financial statements and reports furnished to any Lender Party hereunder shall be prepared and all financial computations and determinations pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with GAAP.

Section 1.6 Accounting Terms . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (1) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein and (2) all obligations of any Person that are or would

 

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have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ASU”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Agreement (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations in the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01.

ARTICLE II - The Loans

Section 2.1 Commitments to Make Loans; Restrictions on Commitments or Issuance or Participation in Letters of Credit .

(a) [Reserved].

(b) [Reserved].

(c) Revolving Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender that has a Revolving Loan Commitment (herein referred to as a “ Revolving Loan Lender ”) severally agrees to make revolving loans to Borrower (herein called such Revolving Loan Lender’s “ Revolving Loans ”) upon Borrower’s request from time to time during the Commitment Period, provided that subject to Sections 3.3, 3.4 and 3.6, all Revolving Loan Lenders are requested to make Revolving Loans of the same Type (or participate in Letters of Credit) in accordance with their respective Revolving Loan Percentage Shares and as part of the same Borrowing. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Borrower may borrow, repay, and reborrow Revolving Loans hereunder.

(d) Restrictions on Credit Extensions . No Lender shall be permitted or required to

(i) make any Loan if, after giving effect thereto (A) the Facility Usage would exceed the lowest of (1) the Borrowing Base in effect as of the date on which the requested Loans are to be made, (2) the Aggregate Commitments or (3) the Facility Amount; and (B) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans of such Lender together with such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the aggregate Letter of Credit Outstandings would exceed such Lender’s Aggregate Percentage Share of the lowest of (1) the Borrowing Base in effect as of the date on which the requested Loan is to be made, (2) the Aggregate Commitments or (3) the Facility Amount; or

(ii) [Reserved]; or

(iii) [Reserved]; or

(iv) make any Revolving Loan if, after giving effect thereto (A) the Revolving Loan by such Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans then requested from all Lenders; and (B) the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans of such Lender together with such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the aggregate Letter of Credit Outstandings would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments of all Revolving Loan Lenders; or

 

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(v) issue (in the case of an Issuer) or participate in (in the case of a Lender) any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect thereto (A) the Facility Usage would exceed the lowest of (1) the Borrowing Base in effect as of the date on which the requested Letter of Credit is to be issued or extended, (2) the Aggregate Commitments or (3) the Facility Amount; (B) such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of all Letter of Credit Outstandings together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans of such Lender would exceed such Lender’s Aggregate Percentage Share of the lowest of (1) the Borrowing Base in effect as of the date on which the requested Letter of Credit is to be issued or extended, (2) the Aggregate Commitments or (3) the Facility Amount; (C) such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of all Letter of Credit Outstandings together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans of such Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments of all Lenders; or (D) all Letter of Credit Outstandings would exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment Amount; or

(vi) issue (in the case of an Issuer) any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect thereto, all Letter of Credit Outstandings of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuer and the other Issuers shall exceed $30,000,000.

(e) Minimum Borrowing Amounts . The aggregate amount of all Loans in any Borrowing of ABR Loans must be greater than or equal to $1,000,000 (any higher, in multiples of $1,000,000) or, if less, the remaining availability under the Borrowing Base. The aggregate amount of all Loans in any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans must be greater than or equal to $1,000,000 (any higher, in multiples of $1,000,000) or, if less, the remaining availability under the Borrowing Base. Borrower may have no more than ten (10) Borrowings of Eurodollar Loans outstanding at any time.

Section 2.2 Requests for New Loans . Borrower must give to Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of any requested Borrowing of new Loans to be advanced by Lenders. Each such notice constitutes a “Borrowing Notice” hereunder and must:

(a) specify (i) the aggregate amount of any such Borrowing of new ABR Loans and the Business Day on which such ABR Loans are to be advanced, (ii) the aggregate amount of any such Borrowing of new Eurodollar Loans, the Business Day on which such Eurodollar Loans are to be advanced (which shall be the first day of the Interest Period which is to apply thereto), and the length of the applicable Interest Period, and (iii) with respect to the Borrowing Notice delivered on or before the Closing Date, which Loans are to be advanced as Revolving Loans; and

 

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(b) be received by Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day on which any such ABR Loans are to be made, or (ii) the third Business Day preceding the Business Day on which any such Eurodollar Loans are to be made.

Each such written request or confirmation must be made in the form and substance of the “Borrowing Notice” attached hereto as Exhibit B , duly completed. Each telephonic request for a Borrowing shall be deemed a representation, warranty, acknowledgment and agreement by Borrower as to the matters which are required to be set out in such Borrowing Notice. Upon receipt of any such Borrowing Notice or telephonic notice, Administrative Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. Each Borrowing Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on Borrower. If all conditions precedent to such new Loans have been met, each Lender will on the date requested promptly remit to Administrative Agent at Administrative Agent’s office in New York, New York, the amount of such Lender’s new Loan in immediately available funds, and upon receipt of such funds, unless to its actual knowledge any conditions precedent to such Loans have been neither met nor waived as provided herein, Administrative Agent shall promptly make such Loans available to Borrower. Unless Administrative Agent shall have received prompt notice from a Lender that such Lender will not make available to Administrative Agent such Lender’s new Loan, Administrative Agent may in its discretion assume that such Lender has made such Loan available to Administrative Agent in accordance with this section and Administrative Agent may if it chooses, in reliance upon such assumption, make such Loan available to Borrower. If and to the extent such Lender shall not so make its new Loan available to Administrative Agent, such Lender and Borrower severally agree to pay or repay to Administrative Agent within three days after demand the amount of such Loan together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount was made available to Borrower until the date such amount is paid or repaid to Administrative Agent, with interest at (i) the Federal Funds Rate, if such Lender is making such payment and (ii) the interest rate applicable at the time to the other new Loans made on such date, if Borrower is making such repayment. If neither such Lender nor Borrower pay or repay to Administrative Agent such amount within such three-day period, Administrative Agent shall in addition to such amount be entitled to recover from such Lender and from Borrower, on demand, interest thereon at the Default Rate, calculated from the date such amount was made available to Borrower. The failure of any Lender to make any new Loan to be made by it hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder, if any, to make its new Loan, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any new Loan to be made by such other Lender.

Section 2.3 Continuations and Conversions of Outstanding Loans . Borrower may make the following elections with respect to Loans already outstanding: to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans, to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or to continue Eurodollar Loans beyond the expiration of such Interest Period by designating a new Interest Period to take effect at the time of such expiration. In making such elections, Borrower may combine existing Loans made pursuant to separate Borrowings into one new Borrowing or divide existing Loans made pursuant to one Borrowing into separate new Borrowings. To make any such election, Borrower must give to Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of any such conversion or continuation of existing Loans, with a separate notice given for each new Borrowing. Each such notice constitutes a “Continuation/Conversion Notice” hereunder and must:

 

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(a) specify the existing Loans which are to be continued or converted;

(b) specify (i) the aggregate amount of any Borrowing of ABR Loans into which such existing Loans are to be continued or converted and the date on which such continuation or conversion is to occur, or (ii) the aggregate amount of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans into which such existing Loans are to be continued or converted, the date on which such continuation or conversion is to occur (which shall be the first day of the Interest Period which is to apply to such Eurodollar Loans), and the length of the applicable Interest Period; and

(c) be received by Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the day on which any such continuation or conversion to ABR Loans is to occur, or (ii) the third Business Day preceding the day on which any such continuation or conversion to Eurodollar Loans is to occur.

Each such written request or confirmation must be made in the form and substance of the “Continuation/Conversion Notice” attached hereto as Exhibit C , duly completed. Each such telephonic request shall be deemed a representation, warranty, acknowledgment and agreement by Borrower as to the matters which are required to be set out in such Continuation/Conversion Notice. Upon receipt of any such Continuation/Conversion Notice or telephonic notice, Administrative Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. Each Continuation/Conversion Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on Borrower. During the continuance of any Default, Borrower may not make any election to convert existing Loans into Eurodollar Loans or continue existing Loans as Eurodollar Loans. If (due to the existence of a Default or for any other reason) Borrower fails to timely and properly give any notice of continuation or conversion with respect to a Borrowing of existing Eurodollar Loans at least three days prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, such Eurodollar Loans shall automatically be converted into ABR Loans at the end of such Interest Period. No new funds shall be repaid by Borrower or advanced by any Lender in connection with any continuation or conversion of existing Loans pursuant to this section, and no such continuation or conversion shall be deemed to be a new advance of funds for any purpose; such continuations and conversions merely constitute a change in the interest rate applicable to already outstanding Loans.

Section 2.4 Use of Proceeds . Borrower shall use all Loans to extend and renew and continue the Existing Notes and the corresponding loans under the Existing Credit Agreement, to repay the 1.5 Lien Notes, the Second Lien Term Loan, the Secured Exchange Notes, all or any portion of the Third Lien Exchange Notes (if applicable) and the Existing Senior Notes on the Closing Date, to acquire Oil and Gas Properties, to pay costs, fees and expenses in connection with the Transactions finance capital expenditures, and provide working capital for its operations and for other general business purposes, including the acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties and related assets. In no event shall the funds from any Loan be used directly or indirectly by any Person (a) for personal, family, household or agricultural purposes or (b) for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing, acquiring or carrying any “margin stock” or any “margin securities” (as such terms are defined respectively in Regulation T, U and X promulgated by the Board of Governors) or to extend credit to others directly or indirectly for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock or margin securities, (c) for the acquisition of any Person unless such acquisition has been approved by the board of directors, management committee or partners, as the case may be of such Person or (d) in violation of any Anti- Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions. Borrower represents and warrants that Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of Borrower’s important activities, in the business of extending credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying such margin stock or margin securities.

 

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Section 2.5 Fees .

(a) Commitment Fees . In consideration of each Revolving Loan Lender’s commitment to make Revolving Loans, Borrower will pay to Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Loan Lender (excluding any Defaulting Lenders) a commitment fee determined on a daily basis by applying the Commitment Fee Rate to such Revolving Loan Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the unused portion of the Borrowing Base that is available for Revolving Loans on each day during the Commitment Period. This commitment fee will be due and payable in arrears on each ABR Payment Date and at the end of the Commitment Period.

(b) Other Fees . In addition to all other amounts due to Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, Borrower will pay fees to Administrative Agent, TD Securities, Societe Generale and Natixis, New York Branch as described in a letter agreement dated as of September 28, 2018 among Administrative Agent, TD Securities, SGAS, Natixis, New York Branch and Borrower.

(c) Letter of Credit Stated Amount Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender (excluding any Defaulting Lenders), a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, for the period from and including the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit to (but not including) the date upon which such Letter of Credit expires, at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Margin on the Stated Amount (as such Stated Amount may be adjusted, from time to time, as a result of drawings thereunder) of such Letter of Credit, based on a year comprised of three-hundred and sixty (360) days (such participation fee, the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”). A prorated portion of such fee shall be payable by the Borrower in arrears on each ABR Payment Date, and at the end of the Commitment Period for any period then ending for which such fee shall not theretofore have been paid, commencing on the first such date after the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

(d) Letter of Credit Issuance Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to each Issuer for its own account an issuance fee for each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuer equal to the greater of (i) $500 or (ii) 0.25% of the Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit. Such fee shall be payable by the Borrower quarterly in arrears. The Borrower also agrees to pay such Issuer’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder, which fees shall be payable to such Issuer within ten (10) days after demand.

(e) Additional Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay each of the fees specified in any fee letters between any Restricted Person and any Arranger or the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.6 Optional Prepayments . Borrower may, upon one Business Day’s notice in the case of ABR Loans, or three Business Days’ notice in the case of Eurodollar Loans, to Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, from time to time and without premium or penalty prepay the Revolving Loans, in whole or in part, so long as the aggregate amounts of all

 

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partial prepayments of principal on such prepaid Loans equals $1,000,000 or any higher integral multiple of $1,000,000, so long as Borrower pays all breakage costs associated with the prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan as provided in Section 3.5, and so long as Borrower does not make any prepayments which would reduce the unpaid principal balance of any Loan to less than $1,000,000 without first either (a) terminating this Agreement or (b) providing assurance satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its discretion that Lenders’ legal rights under the Loan Documents are in no way affected by such reduction. Each prepayment of principal of a Eurodollar Loan under this section shall be accompanied by all interest then accrued and unpaid on the principal so prepaid. Any principal or interest prepaid pursuant to this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all payments otherwise required to be paid under the Loan Documents at the time of such prepayment.

Section 2.7 Mandatory Prepayments .

(a) If at any time the Facility Usage exceeds the Aggregate Commitments (whether due to a reduction or termination in any Commitments in accordance with this Agreement, or otherwise), Borrower shall immediately upon demand prepay the principal of the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit) in an amount at least equal to such excess in accordance with clause (g) below.

(b) If at any time the Facility Usage is less than the Aggregate Commitments but in excess of the Borrowing Base (such excess being herein called a “ Borrowing Base Deficiency ”), Borrower shall, within ten (10) Business Days after Administrative Agent gives notice of such fact to Borrower, either:

(i) prepay the principal of the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit) in accordance with clause (g) below in an aggregate amount at least equal to such Borrowing Base Deficiency; or

(ii) give notice to Administrative Agent electing to prepay the principal of the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral) in accordance with clause (g) below in up to five monthly installments in an aggregate amount at least equal to such Borrowing Base Deficiency, with each such installment equal to or in excess of one-fifth of such Borrowing Base Deficiency, and with the first such installment to be paid one month after the giving of such notice and the subsequent installments to be due and payable at one month intervals thereafter until such Borrowing Base Deficiency has been eliminated; or

(iii) give notice to Administrative Agent that Borrower desires to provide Administrative Agent with deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, security agreements, financing statements and other security documents in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, granting, confirming, and perfecting first and prior liens or security interests in collateral acceptable to Required Lenders, to the extent needed to allow Required Lenders to increase the Borrowing Base (as they in their reasonable discretion deem consistent with prudent oil and gas banking industry lending standards at the time) to an amount which eliminates such Borrowing Base Deficiency, and then provide such security

 

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documents within thirty days after Administrative Agent specifies such collateral to Borrower. If, prior to any such specification by Administrative Agent, Required Lenders determine that the giving of such security documents will not serve to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency, then, within five Business Days after receiving notice of such determination, Borrower will elect to make, and thereafter make, the prepayments specified in either of the preceding subsections (i) or (ii) of this subsection (b);

(iv) effect a combination of the foregoing (i), (ii) and (iii) sufficient to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency.

provided , however , that if a Borrowing Base Deficiency is existing as a result of any Subject Sale or other sale or existing as a result of the incurrence of Indebtedness as provided in Section 7.1(h), and the corresponding reduction of the Borrowing Base (including the Initial Availability Amount), pursuant to Section 7.1(h) or 7.5, as applicable, the Borrower shall instead immediately prepay the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit) in accordance with Section 7.1(h) or 7.5, as applicable, from the proceeds of such Subject Sale or sale, or incurrence of Indebtedness, as appropriate, to the extent of the Borrowing Base Deficiency that resulted from such reduction or such sale and reduction.

(c) [Reserved].

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Upon the occurrence of a Borrowing Base Deficiency resulting from a Casualty Event pursuant to Section 2.9 (subject to the Borrower’s and the applicable Subsidiaries’ rights contained in the second paragraph of Section 2.9), the Borrower will forthwith utilize the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event to prepay the principal of the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit) in an amount sufficient to cure such Deficiency in accordance with clause (g) below.

(f) The Borrower will prepay the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral) to the extent otherwise required by the other provisions of this Agreement.

(g) In the event that the Borrower is required to prepay the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral) pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (e) above, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans (and/or provide cash collateral) in the following order of priority: (i) first, to the prepayment of Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans and then to the prepayment of Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Loans, and (ii) second, to provide cash collateral to the applicable Issuer in the applicable amount in respect of any outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with the general provisions of Section 2.11(g);

(h) Each prepayment of principal of a Loan under this section shall be accompanied by all interest then accrued and unpaid on the principal so prepaid. Any principal or interest prepaid pursuant to this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all payments otherwise required to be paid under the Loan Documents at the time of such prepayment.

 

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Section 2.8 Initial Availability Amount . The parties hereto agree that the “Initial Availability Amount” shall be an amount equal to $250,000,000; provided that on the Closing Date the Initial Availability Amount will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis to the extent the outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Second Lien Notes plus any amounts outstanding under the Third Lien Exchange Notes, if any, exceeds $625,000,000 in the aggregate.

Section 2.9 Determinations of Borrowing Base .

(a) By each Evaluation Date (or in the case of an Evaluation Date pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of “Evaluation Date”, within thirty days after such Evaluation Date), Borrower shall furnish to each Lender all information, reports and data which Administrative Agent has then requested concerning the Borrowing Base Entities’ businesses and properties (including their Oil and Gas Properties and interests and the reserves and production relating thereto), together with the Engineering Report described in Section 6.2 which is then due, if any; provided that in the case of any “Evaluation Date” pursuant to clause (a) of the definition thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent an Engineering Report of the type described in Section 6.2(e) within thirty days after such Evaluation Date. Within thirty days after receiving such information, reports and data, Required Lenders shall agree upon an amount for the Borrowing Base, and Administrative Agent shall by notice to Borrower designate such amount as the new Borrowing Base available to Borrower hereunder, which designation shall take effect immediately on the date such notice is sent (herein called a “ Determination Date ”) and shall remain in effect until but not including the next date as of which the Borrowing Base is redetermined or adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If Borrower does not furnish all such information, reports and data by the date specified in the first sentence of this section, Administrative Agent may nonetheless designate the Borrowing Base at any amount which Required Lenders determine and may redesignate the Borrowing Base from time to time thereafter until each Revolving Loan Lender receives all such information, reports and data, whereupon Required Lenders shall designate a new Borrowing Base as described above. Required Lenders shall determine the amount of the Borrowing Base based upon the loan collateral value which they in their discretion assign to the various Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base Properties at the time in question and based upon such other credit factors (including without limitation the assets, liabilities, cash flow, hedged and unhedged exposure to price, foreign exchange rate, and interest rate changes, business, properties, prospects, management and ownership of Borrower and its Affiliates and Operating Joint Ventures) as they in their discretion deem significant. It is expressly understood that Required Lenders and Administrative Agent have no obligation to agree upon or designate the Borrowing Base at any particular amount, whether in relation to the Commitments or otherwise, and that Revolving Loan Lenders’ commitments to extend credit hereunder is determined by reference to the Borrowing Base from time to time in effect, which Borrowing Base shall be used to the extent permitted by Law and regulatory authorities, for the purposes of capital adequacy determination and reimbursements under Section 3.2. Should the last day for Required Lenders to redetermine the Borrowing Base in connection with a particular Evaluation Date be a day other than a Business Day, the period for such redetermination shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. Decisions regarding the amount of the Borrowing Base will be made by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in good faith in accordance with their respective usual and customary oil and gas lending criteria as they exist at the particular time. The amount of the Borrowing Base will be the largest amount approved by the Required Lenders in connection with the determination thereof.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, the following provisions shall apply with respect to any redetermination of the Borrowing Base that increases the Borrowing Base by an amount (the “ Increased Borrowing Base Amount ”) in excess of the Borrowing Base then in effect and one or more Lenders (each, a “ Non-increasing Lender ”) does not approve such increase, such Non-increasing Lender shall not be obligated to make Loans or participate in Letters of Credit to the extent of its Revolving Loan Percentage Share of such Increased Borrowing Base Amount and such new increased Borrowing Base shall be deemed immediately reduced on the Determination Date by an amount (the “ Reduction Amount ”) equal to the product of the Revolving Commitment Percentage Shares of all Non-increasing Lenders times such Increased Borrowing Base Amount; provided that the Borrowing Base shall not be deemed reduced if and to the extent one or more Eligible Transferees agrees to increase or establish, as applicable, its Revolving Loan Commitment in an amount equal to the Reduction Amount.

(c) In the event that a Casualty Event has occurred with respect to any properties or assets of any Restricted Person, to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Guarantor Subsidiaries with respect to such Casualty Event (together with all other Net Cash Proceeds received during such calendar year) exceeds 5% of the Borrowing Base then in effect and have not been applied or budgeted to be applied by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary to repair, restore or replace the property or asset affected by such Casualty Event within 180 days after the occurrence thereof, which actions the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall hereby be permitted to take, the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall have the right to reduce the Borrowing Base, in its reasonable discretion based on its review of such Casualty Event, by the Total Proved PV-10 of the property or asset so affected by such Casualty Event as set forth in the most recent Engineering Report; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (i) such repair, restoration or replacement may occur only with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent may, at the request of the Required Lenders, reduce the Borrowing Base in the manner set forth above without regard to the 180 day period referenced above and (iii) such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.7 to the extent required thereby. The Administrative Agent shall provide notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the reduction in the Borrowing Base, which reduction shall be effective as of the date of such notice.

Section 2.10 Maturity Date . Borrower shall repay in full in cash the unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans on the Maturity Date, or such earlier date as may be required in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.11 Letters of Credit . From time to time on any Business Day prior to the end of the Commitment Period, each Issuer will issue, and each Revolving Loan Lender will participate in, to the extent of each Revolving Loan Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share, the Letters of Credit, in accordance with the following terms:

(a) Issuance Requests . By delivering to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuer an Issuance Request on or before 11:00 a.m., Central time, the Borrower may request, from time to time during the Commitment Period and on not less than three (3) nor more than ten (10) Business Days’ notice, that such Issuer issue an irrevocable standby letter of credit in such form as may be mutually agreed to by the Borrower and such Issuer (each a “ Letter of

 

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Credit ”), in support of financial obligations of the Borrower incurred in the Borrower’s ordinary course of business and which are described in such Issuance Request. Upon receipt of an Issuance Request, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Loan Lenders thereof. Each Letter of Credit shall by its terms: (i) be issued in a Stated Amount which (A) together with all Letter of Credit Outstandings and all outstanding Revolving Loans does not exceed (or would not exceed) the lesser of (1) the then current Borrowing Base or (2) the Aggregate Commitment of all Revolving Loan Lenders or (B) together with all Letter of Credit Outstandings would not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment Amount; (ii) be stated to expire on a date (its “ Stated Expiry Date ”) no later than the earlier of (A) one year from its date of issuance and (B) five (5) Business Days prior to the end of the Commitment Period. So long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, by delivery to the applicable Issuer and the Administrative Agent of an Issuance Request at least three (3) but not more than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Stated Expiry Date of any Letter of Credit, the Borrower may request such Issuer to, at such Issuer’s option, extend the Stated Expiry Date of such Letter of Credit for an additional period not to exceed the earlier of (x) one year from its date of extension or (y) five (5) Business Days prior to the end of the Commitment Period.

No Issuer is under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if: (i) any order, judgment or decree of any government agency or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any requirement of applicable Law or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any government agency with jurisdiction over such Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the date hereof, or shall impose upon such Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the date hereof and which such Issuer in good faith deems material to it; (ii) one or more of the applicable conditions contained in Article IV is not then satisfied; (iii) the expiry date of any requested Letter of Credit is prior to the maturity date of any financial obligation to be supported by the requested Letter of Credit; (iv) any requested Letter of Credit does not provide for drafts, or is not otherwise in form and substance acceptable to such Issuer, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall violate any applicable policies of such Issuer; (v) any standby Letter of Credit is for the purpose of supporting the issuance of any letter of credit by any other Person; (vi) such Letter of Credit is in a face amount denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or (vii) as a result of such issuance, such Issuer together with the other Issuers shall have outstanding Letters of Credit having an aggregate Stated Amount of more than $30,000,000 in the aggregate. The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance of any Letter of Credit shall (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Letter of Credit) apply to all Letters of Credit.

(b) Issuances and Extensions . On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement (including Article IV ), the applicable Issuer shall issue Letters of Credit, and extend the Stated Expiry Dates of outstanding Letters of Credit, in accordance with the Issuance Requests made therefor. Each Issuer will make available the original of each Letter of Credit which it issues in accordance with the Issuance Request therefor to the beneficiary thereof (and will promptly provide each of the Revolving Loan Lenders and the Borrower with a copy of such Letter of Credit) and will notify the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit of any extension of the Stated Expiry Date thereof.

 

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(c) Existing Letter of Credit . The parties acknowledge and agree that each letter of credit issued by an Issuer under the Existing Credit Agreement identified on Schedule 2.11(c) shall be deemed to be a Letter of Credit issued hereunder on the Closing Date by an Issuer, as an Issuer hereunder, having the same face amount, maturity date and general terms.

(d) Other Revolving Loan Lenders’ Participation . Each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.11(b) shall, effective upon its issuance and without further action, be, and each Letter of Credit identified on Schedule 2.11(c) hereof, shall be deemed to be, issued on behalf of all Revolving Loan Lenders (including the Issuer thereof) pro rata according to their respective Revolving Loan Percentage Shares on the Closing Date. Each Revolving Loan Lender shall, to the extent of its Percentage Share, be deemed irrevocably to have participated in the issuance of such Letter of Credit and shall be responsible to reimburse promptly the Issuer thereof for Reimbursement Obligations which have not been reimbursed by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2. 11 (e), or which have been reimbursed by the Borrower but must be returned, restored or disgorged by such Issuer for any reason, and each Revolving Loan Lender shall, to the extent of its Revolving Loan Percentage Share, be entitled to receive from the Administrative Agent a ratable portion of the Letter of Credit Fee received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.5(c), with respect to each Letter of Credit. In the event that the Borrower shall fail to reimburse any Issuer, or if for any reason Loans shall not be made to fund any Reimbursement Obligation, all as provided in Section 2.11(e) and in an amount equal to the amount of any drawing honored by such Issuer under a Letter of Credit issued by it, or in the event such Issuer must for any reason return or disgorge such reimbursement, such Issuer shall promptly notify each Revolving Loan Lender of the unreimbursed amount of such drawing and of such Revolving Loan Lender’s respective participation therein. Each Revolving Loan Lender shall make available to such Issuer, whether or not any Default shall have occurred and be continuing, an amount equal to its respective participation in same day or immediately available funds at the office of such Issuer specified in such notice not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the Business Day (under the laws of the jurisdiction of such Issuer) after the date notified by such Issuer. In the event that any Revolving Loan Lender fails to make available to such Issuer the amount of such Revolving Loan Lender’s participation in such Letter of Credit as provided herein, such Issuer shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Loan Lender together with interest at the daily average Federal Funds Rate for three (3) Business Days (together with such other compensatory amounts as may be required to be paid by such Revolving Loan Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Rules for Interbank Compensation of the council on International Banking or the Clearinghouse Compensation Committee, as the case may be, as in effect from time to time) and thereafter at the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans plus two percent (2%). Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any Revolving Loan Lender to recover from any Issuer any amounts made available by such Revolving Loan Lender to such Issuer pursuant to this Section in the event that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment that the payment with respect to a Letter of Credit by such Issuer in respect of which payment was made by such Revolving Loan Lender constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuer. Each Issuer shall distribute to each other Revolving Loan Lender which has paid all amounts payable by it under this Section with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuer such other Revolving Loan Lender’s Percentage Share of all payments received by such Issuer from the Borrower in reimbursement of drawings honored by such Issuer under such Letter of Credit when such payments are received.

 

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(e) Disbursements . Each Issuer will notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly of the presentment for payment of any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuer, together with notice of the date (the “ Disbursement Date ”) such payment shall be made. Subject to the terms and provisions of such Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuer shall make such payment to the beneficiary (or its designee) of such Letter of Credit. Prior to 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the Disbursement Date (or 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the Business Day following the Disbursement Date if the Borrower shall have received such notice after 10:00 a.m. on the Disbursement Date), the Borrower will reimburse the applicable Issuer for all amounts which it has disbursed under or in respect of such Letter of Credit. In the event the applicable Issuer is not reimbursed by the Borrower on the Disbursement Date, or if such Issuer must for any reason return or disgorge such reimbursement, the Revolving Loan Lenders shall, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, fund the Reimbursement Obligation therefor by making, on the next Business Day, Revolving Loans which are ABR Loans as provided in Section 2.1 (the Borrower being deemed to have given a timely Borrowing Notice therefor for such amount); provided , however , for the purpose of determining the availability of the Revolving Loan Commitments to make Revolving Loans immediately prior to giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Revolving Loans, such Reimbursement Obligation shall be deemed not to be outstanding at such time. To the extent the applicable Issuer is not reimbursed in full in accordance with the preceding sentences, the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation shall accrue interest at a fluctuating rate determined by reference to the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans, plus a margin of two percent (2%) per annum, payable on demand.

(f) Reimbursement . The Borrower’s obligation (a “ Reimbursement Obligation ”) under Section 2.11(e) to reimburse an Issuer with respect to each Disbursement (including interest thereon), and each Revolving Loan Lender’s obligation to make participation payments in each drawing which has not been reimbursed by the Borrower, shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim, or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against any Revolving Loan Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, including any defense based upon the occurrence of any Default, any draft, demand or certificate or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient, the failure of any disbursement to conform to the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit (if, in the applicable Issuer’s good faith opinion, such disbursement is determined to be appropriate) or any non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of the proceeds of such disbursement, or the legality, validity, form, regularity, or enforceability of such Letter of Credit; provided , however , that nothing herein shall adversely affect the right of the Borrower or any Revolving Loan Lender to commence any proceeding against the applicable Issuer for any wrongful disbursement made by such Issuer under a Letter of Credit as a result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuer.

(g) Deemed Disbursements; Cash Collateral : (i) Upon either (1) the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.1(j) or the occurrence of the end of the Commitment Period or (2) the declaration by the Administrative Agent of all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and other Obligations

 

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to be due and payable and/or the commitments (if not theretofore terminated) to be terminated as provided in Section 8.1, an amount equal to that portion of Letter of Credit Outstandings attributable to outstanding and undrawn Letters of Credit shall, at the election of the applicable Issuer acting on instructions from the Required Lenders, and without demand upon or notice to the Borrower, be deemed to have been paid or disbursed by such Issuer under such Letters of Credit (notwithstanding that such amount may not in fact have been so paid or disbursed), and, upon notification by such Issuer to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of its obligations under this Section, the Borrower shall be immediately obligated to reimburse such Issuer the amount deemed to have been so paid or disbursed by such Issuer. (ii) Any amounts received by an Issuer from the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be held as collateral security for the repayment of the Borrower’s obligations in connection with the Letters of Credit. All amounts on deposit pursuant to this Section 2.11(g) shall, until their application to any Obligation or their return to the Borrower, as the case may be, at the Borrower’s written request, be invested in high grade short term liquid investments as such Issuer may choose in its sole discretion reasonably exercised, which interest shall be held by the applicable Issuer as additional collateral security for the repayment of the Borrower’s Obligations under and in connection with the Letters of Credit and all other Obligations. Any losses, net of earnings, and reasonable fees and expenses of such investments shall be charged against the principal amount invested. No Lender Party shall be liable for any loss resulting from any investment made by such Issuer at the Borrower’s request. No Issuer is obligated hereby, or by any other Loan Document, to make or maintain any investment, except upon written request of the Borrower. At any time when such Letters of Credit shall terminate and all Obligations to each Issuer are either terminated or paid or reimbursed to such Issuer in full, the Obligations of the Borrower under this Section shall be reduced accordingly (subject, however, to reinstatement in the event any payment in respect of such Letters of Credit is recovered in any manner from such Issuer), and such Issuer will return to the Borrower the excess, if any, of (A) the aggregate amount held by such Issuer and not theretofore applied by such Issuer to any Reimbursement Obligation over (B) the aggregate amount of all Reimbursement Obligations to such Issuer, as so adjusted. With respect to cash collateral delivered pursuant to Section 2.11(g)(i), at such time when all Events of Default shall have been cured or waived, if the end of the Commitment Period shall not have occurred for any reason and the Borrower would not have any obligation to deliver cash collateral to any Issuer pursuant to this Agreement, each Issuer shall return to the Borrower all amounts then on deposit with such Issuer pursuant to Section 2.11(g)(i). Borrower hereby assigns and grants to each Issuer a continuing security interest in all such collateral security paid by it to such Issuer, all investments purchased with such collateral security, and all proceeds thereof to secure its Obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan Documents, and Borrower agrees that collateral security and investments shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Security Documents. Borrower further agrees that such Issuer shall have all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in the State of New York with respect to such security interest and that an Event of Default under this Agreement shall constitute a default for purposes of such security interest.

(h) Nature of Reimbursement Obligations . The Borrower shall assume all risks of the acts, omissions, or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof. Neither any Issuer nor any Lender (except to the extent of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) shall be responsible for: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness, or legal effect of any Letter of Credit or any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for

 

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and issuance of a Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent, or forged; (ii) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness, or legal effect of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) failure of the beneficiary to comply fully with conditions required in order to demand payment under a Letter of Credit; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions, or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, facsimile or otherwise; (v) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document or draft required in order to make a Disbursement under a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vi) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit; (vii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Issuer (if other than a Lender or its Affiliates) or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Letter of Credit or any unrelated transaction; (viii) any payment by an Issuer under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of any Letter of Credit; or any payment made by an Issuer under any Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any insolvency proceeding; or (ix) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or a guarantor. None of the foregoing shall affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of any of the rights or powers granted any Issuer or any Lender hereunder. In furtherance and extension, and not in limitation or derogation, of any of the foregoing, any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Issuer in good faith shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not put such Issuer under any resulting liability to the Borrower.

(i) Increased Costs; Indemnity . If by reason of (i) any change in applicable law, regulation, rule, decree or regulatory requirement or any change in the interpretation or application by any judicial or regulatory authority of any law, regulation, rule, decree or regulatory requirement, or (ii) compliance by any Issuer or any Revolving Loan Lender with any direction, or requirement of any governmental or monetary authority, including, without limitation, Regulation D: (1) any Issuer or any Revolving Loan Lender shall be subject to any tax (other than Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes and Excluded Taxes), levy, charge or withholding of any nature or to any variation thereof or to any penalty with respect to the maintenance or fulfillment of its obligations under this Section 2.11, whether directly or by such being imposed on or suffered by such Issuer or such Revolving Loan Lender; (2) any reserve, deposit or similar requirement is or shall be applicable, increased, imposed or modified in respect of any Letters of Credit issued by any Issuer or participations therein purchased by any Revolving Loan Lender; or (3) there shall be imposed on any Issuer or any Revolving Loan Lender any other condition regarding this Section 2. 11, any Letter of Credit or any participation therein, and the result of the foregoing is directly to increase the cost to such Issuer or such Revolving Loan Lender of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or of purchasing or maintaining any participation therein, or to reduce any amount receivable in respect thereof by such Issuer or such Revolving Loan Lender, then and in any such case such Issuer or such Revolving Loan Lender may, at any time after the additional cost is

 

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incurred or the amount received is reduced, notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower thereof, and the Borrower shall pay within ten (10) days of demand such amounts as such Issuer or Revolving Loan Lender may in good faith specify to be necessary to compensate such Issuer or Revolving Loan Lender for such additional cost or reduced receipt, together with interest on such amount from the date demanded until payment in full thereof at a rate equal at all times to the Alternate Base Rate per annum; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by any Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued. The determination by such Issuer or Revolving Loan Lender, as the case may be, of any amount due pursuant to this Section, as set forth in a statement setting forth the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, shall be rebuttable presumptive evidence of such amounts.

In addition to amounts payable as elsewhere provided in this Section 2.11, the Borrower hereby indemnifies, exonerates and holds each Issuer, the Administrative Agent and each other Lender Party harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, losses, costs, liabilities and damages, and expenses incurred in connection therewith (irrespective of whether such Issuer, the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party is a party to the action for which indemnification is sought), including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, which such Issuer, the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of the issuance of the Letters of Credit, other than, as to each such indemnified party, as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnified party, as the case may be, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or the failure of such Issuer to honor a drawing under any Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or governmental authority.

(j) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuer shall be obligated to issue, renew or extend a Letter of Credit if such Issuer has a good faith belief that any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless such Issuer has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such Issuer with the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender to eliminate such Issuer’s risk with respect to such Defaulting Lender. If any Letter of Credit Outstandings exist at the time a Lender is an Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s portion of such Letter of Credit Outstandings in a manner reasonably satisfactory to such Issuer for so long as such Lender is an Defaulting Lender and such Letter of Credit Outstandings exist.

Section 2.12 Interest . So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all ABR Loans (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) from time to time outstanding shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Alternate Base Rate in effect on such day. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all ABR Loans (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) from time to time outstanding shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Default Rate in effect on such day. On each ABR Payment Date Borrower shall pay to the holder hereof all

 

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unpaid interest which has accrued on the ABR Loans to but not including such ABR Payment Date. So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Eurodollar Loan (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) shall bear interest on each day during the related Interest Period at the related Eurodollar Rate in effect on such day. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Eurodollar Loan (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) from time to time outstanding shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Default Rate in effect on such day. On each Eurodollar Rate Payment Date relating to such Eurodollar Loan, Borrower shall pay to the holder hereof all unpaid interest which has accrued on such Eurodollar Loan to but not including such Eurodollar Rate Payment Date. All past due principal of and past due interest on the Loans and all other past due Obligations shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Default Rate in effect on such day until repaid, and such interest shall be due and payable daily as it accrues.

Section 2.13 Register; Notes . The Register shall be maintained on the following terms.

(a) The Borrower hereby designates the Administrative Agent to serve as the Borrower’s agent, solely for the purpose of this clause, to maintain a register (the “ Register ”) on which the Administrative Agent will record each Lender’s Commitments, the Loans made by each Lender and each repayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans. The Administrative Agent shall retain a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.6. Failure to make any recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect any Restricted Person’s Obligations. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person in whose name a Loan is registered as the owner thereof for the purposes of all Loan Documents, notwithstanding notice or any provision herein to the contrary. Any assignment or transfer of a Commitment or the Loans made pursuant hereto shall be registered in the Register only upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of an Assignment and Acceptance that has been executed by the requisite parties pursuant to Section 10.6. No assignment or transfer of a Lender’s Commitment or Loans shall be effective unless such assignment or transfer shall have been recorded in the Register by the Administrative Agent as provided in this Section.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) [Reserved].

(d) The Borrower agrees that, upon the request of any Revolving Loan Lender, the Borrower will execute and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Loan Note evidencing the Revolving Loans made by, and payable to, such Revolving Loan Lender in a maximum principal amount equal to such Revolving Loan Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Share of the original aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes each Revolving Loan Lender to make (or cause to be made) appropriate notations on the grid attached to such Revolving Loan Lender’s Note (or on any continuation of such grid), which notations, if made, shall evidence, inter alia , the date of, the outstanding principal amount of, and the interest rate and Interest Period applicable to the Revolving Loans evidenced thereby. Such notations shall, to the extent not inconsistent with notations made by the Administrative Agent in the Register, be conclusive and binding on each Restricted Person absent manifest error; provided that, the failure of any Revolving Loan Lender to make any such notations shall not limit or otherwise affect any Obligations of any Restricted Person.

 

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(e) Interest on each Note shall accrue and be due and payable as provided herein and therein, with Eurodollar Loans bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate and ABR Loans bearing interest at the Alternate Base Rate (subject to the applicability of the Default Rate as provided for herein or in the Notes and limited by the provisions of Section 10.9).

Section 2.14 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.5(a);

(b) the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.1); provided, that Defaulting Lenders shall have the right to vote to the extent (and only to the extent) expressly stated in Section 10.1;

(c) if any Letter of Credit Outstandings exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(i) all or any part of the Letter of Credit Outstandings of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Percentage Shares but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), (y) such reallocation does not cause the Percentage Share of any non-Defaulting Lender in the Loans and Letter of Credit Outstandings to exceed such non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment and (z) of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Facility Usage plus such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender’s having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation;

(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize for the benefit of any Issuer only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.11(g) for so long as such Letter of Credit Outstandings are outstanding;

 

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(iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.5(c) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings is cash collateralized;

(iv) if the Letter of Credit Outstandings of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.5(a) and Section 2.5(c) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Percentage Shares; and

(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings are neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.5(c) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Outstandings shall be payable to such Issuer until and to the extent that such Letter of Credit Outstandings is reallocated and/or cash collateralized;

(d) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuer shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding Letter of Credit Outstandings will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.14(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.14(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein); and

(e) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article III or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.6 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuers hereunder on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing hereunder; third , to cash collateralize the Letter of Credit Outstandings with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.11(g); fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize any future Letter of Credit Outstandings with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 4.11(g); sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, or the Issuers as a result of any final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or any Issuer against such Defaulting Lender as a result of

 

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such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or Letter of Credit Outstandings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and Letter of Credit Outstandings owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or Letter of Credit Outstandings owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letter of Credit Outstandings are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Shares (without giving effect to Section 2.14(c)(i)). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Issuers each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

Section 2.15 Reduction of Aggregate Commitments .

(a) Scheduled Termination of Commitments . Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date. If at any time the Aggregate Commitments or the Borrowing Base is terminated or reduced to zero, then the Commitments shall terminate on the effective date of such termination or reduction.

(b) Optional Termination and Reduction of Aggregate Credit Amounts .

(i) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (A) any such reduction shall apply proportionately and permanently to reduce the Commitments of each of the Lenders, (B) each reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and (C) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.6 the Facility Usage shall exceed the lowest of (1) the Borrowing Base in effect as of the date on which the requested reduction is to be made, (2) the Aggregate Commitments or (3) the Facility Amount.

 

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(ii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments under Section 2.15(b)(i) at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.15(b)(ii) shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Aggregate Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Each reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with each Lender’s Revolving Loan Percentage Shares.

ARTICLE III - Payments to Lenders

Section 3.1 General Procedures . Unless otherwise expressly provided in a Loan Document, Borrower will make each payment which it owes under the Loan Documents to Administrative Agent at its New York office (in accordance with the then effective wire instructions provided by Administrative Agent to Borrower) for the account of the Lender Party to whom such payment is owed. Each such payment must be received by Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date such payment becomes due and payable, in lawful money of the United States of America, without set-off, deduction (except for any deduction for Taxes as described in Section 3.6(a)) or counterclaim, and in immediately available funds. Any payment received by Administrative Agent after such time will be deemed to have been made on the next following Business Day. Should any such payment become due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity of such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of a payment of principal or past due interest, interest shall accrue and be payable thereon for the period of such extension as provided in the Loan Document under which such payment is due. Each payment under a Loan Document shall be due and payable at the place provided therein and, if no specific place of payment is provided, shall be due and payable at the place of payment of Administrative Agent’s New York office or as otherwise directed by Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent shall promptly remit in same day funds to each Lender Party its share, if any, of such payments received by Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender Party. Administrative Agent may, and upon direction of the Required Lenders shall, apply all amounts received pursuant to any exercise of remedies under the Loan Documents (including from proceeds of collateral securing the Obligations) or under applicable law upon receipt thereof to the Obligations as follows:

(a) first, for the payment of all fees and expenses of Administrative Agent and its counsel which are then due until such amounts are paid in full (and, to the extent such amounts received are proceeds from the foreclosure or other sale of real property, for the payment of all fees and expenses of the trustee, if applicable);

 

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(b) then for the payment of all other Obligations which are then due (and if such money is insufficient to pay all such Obligations, first to any reimbursements due Administrative Agent under Section 6.9 or 10.4 until such amounts are paid in full, second to the payment of all interest on the Loans then due on a pro rata basis until such amounts are paid in full, third to the payment of all principal on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations or cash collateralization in respect of Letters of Credit and all Obligations owing to an Approved Counterparty under a Hedging Contract, on a pro rata basis until such amounts are paid in full, and fourth to the payment of all other Obligations then due in proportion to the amounts thereof, or as Lender Parties shall otherwise agree) until such amounts are paid in full;

(c) then for the prepayment of any other Obligations, if any until such amounts are paid in full; and

(d) last, to the Borrower or any other Person as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

All payments applied to principal or interest on any Loan shall be applied first to any interest then due and payable, then to principal then due and payable, and last to any prepayment of principal and interest in compliance with Sections 2.6 and 2.7. All distributions of amounts described in any of subsections (b), (c) or (d) above shall be made by Administrative Agent pro rata to each Lender Party then owed Obligations described in such subsection (or subclause thereof) in proportion to all amounts owed to all Lender Parties which are described in such subsection (or subclause thereof).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from the Borrower or any Restricted Person that is not an Eligible Contract Participant shall not be applied to any Excluded Obligations in respect of a Hedging Contract owing to any Approved Counterparty in respect of any Hedging Contract (it being understood, that in the event that any amount is applied to Obligations other than Excluded Obligations in respect of a Hedging Contract as a result of this clause, the Administrative Agent shall make such adjustments as it determines are appropriate to distributions pursuant to clause fourth above from amounts received from Eligible Contract Participants to ensure, as nearly as possible, that the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to Obligations described above by any Approved Counterparty that is the holder of any Excluded Obligations in respect of a Hedging Contract are the same as the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to other Obligations pursuant to clause (b) above).

Section 3.2 Capital Reimbursement . If either (a) the introduction or implementation of or the compliance with or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, or (b) the introduction or implementation of or the compliance with any request, directive or guideline from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of Law) affects or would affect the amount of capital or liquidity required or expected to be maintained by any Lender Party (or any assignee of such Lender Party) or any corporation controlling any Lender Party (or its assignee), then, upon demand by such Lender Party, Borrower will pay to Administrative Agent for the benefit of such Lender Party, from time to time as specified by such Lender Party, such additional amount or amounts which such Lender Party shall reasonably determine to be appropriate to compensate such Lender Party or any corporation controlling such Lender Party in light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender Party reasonably determines that the amount of any

 

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such capital would be increased or the rate of return on any such capital would be reduced by or in whole or in part based on the existence of the face amount of such Lender Party’s Loans or commitments under this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by any Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Section 3.3 Increased Cost of Eurodollar Loans . If any applicable Law (whether now in effect or hereinafter enacted or promulgated, including Regulation D) or any interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the force of Law) (“ Change in Law ”):

(a) shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender Party of any principal, interest, or other amounts attributable to any Eurodollar Loan or otherwise due under this Agreement in respect of any Eurodollar Loan (other than Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes and Excluded Taxes); or

(b) shall change, impose, modify, apply or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirements in respect of any Eurodollar Loan (excluding those for which such Lender Party is fully compensated pursuant to adjustments made in the definition of Eurodollar Rate) or against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, such Lender Party; or

(c) shall impose on any Lender Party or the interbank eurocurrency deposit market any other condition affecting any Eurodollar Loan, the result of which is to increase the cost to any Lender Party of funding or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum receivable by any Lender Party in respect of any Eurodollar Loan by an amount deemed by such Lender Party to be material,

then such Lender Party shall promptly notify Administrative Agent and Borrower in writing of the happening of such event and of the amount required to compensate such Lender Party for such event, whereupon (i) Borrower shall pay such amount to Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender Party and (ii) Borrower may elect, by giving to Administrative Agent and such Lender Party not less than three Business Days’ notice, to convert all (but not less than all) of any such Eurodollar Loans into ABR Loans; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by any Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

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Section 3.4 Availability . If (a) any change in applicable Laws, or in the interpretation or administration thereof or in any jurisdiction whatsoever, domestic or foreign, shall make it unlawful or impracticable for any Lender Party to fund or maintain Eurodollar Loans (or to participate in, issue or maintain any Letter of Credit), or shall materially restrict the authority of any Lender Party to purchase or take offshore deposits of dollars (i.e., “eurodollars”), or (b) any Lender Party determines that matching deposits appropriate to fund or maintain any Eurodollar Loan (or to participate in, issue or maintain any Letter of Credit) are not available to it, or (c) any Lender Party determines that the formula for calculating the Eurodollar Rate does not fairly reflect the cost to such Lender Party of making or maintaining Loans (or of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit) based on such rate, then, upon notice by such Lender Party to Borrower and Administrative Agent, Borrower’s right to elect Eurodollar Loans from such Lender Party shall be suspended to the extent and for the duration of such illegality, impracticability or restriction and all Eurodollar Loans (or participations in, issuances of or maintenance of any Letter of Credit) of such Lender Party which are then outstanding or are then the subject of any Borrowing Notice (or Issuance Request) and which cannot lawfully or practicably be maintained or funded shall immediately become or remain, or shall be funded as, ABR Loans of such Lender Party. Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender Party and hold it harmless against all costs, expenses, claims, penalties, liabilities and damages which may result from any such change in Law, interpretation or administration. Such indemnification shall be on an after-tax basis, taking into account any taxes imposed on the amounts paid as indemnity.

Section 3.5 Funding, Losses . In addition to its other obligations hereunder, Borrower will indemnify each Lender Party against, and reimburse each Lender Party on demand for, any loss or expense incurred or sustained by such Lender Party (including any loss or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by a Lender Party to fund or maintain Eurodollar Loans), as a result of (a) any payment or prepayment (whether authorized or required hereunder or otherwise) of all or a portion of a Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the day on which the applicable Interest Period ends, (b) any payment or prepayment, whether required hereunder or otherwise, of a Loan made after the delivery, but before the effective date, of a Continuation/Conversion Notice, if such payment or prepayment prevents such Continuation/Conversion Notice from becoming fully effective, (c) the failure of any Loan to be made or of any Continuation/Conversion Notice to become effective due to any condition precedent not being satisfied or due to any other action or inaction of any Restricted Person, or (d) any conversion (whether authorized or required hereunder or otherwise) of all or any portion of any Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan or into a different Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the day on which the applicable Interest Period ends. Such indemnification shall be on an after-tax basis, taking into account any taxes imposed on the amounts paid as indemnity.

Section 3.6 Taxes .

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law requires the deduction or withholding of any Taxes from such payments, then (i) in the case of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.6(a)), the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuer (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make all deductions required by applicable law and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuer within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Issuer, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant governmental authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or Issuer, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a governmental authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such governmental authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) a Foreign Lender, that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(A) each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the

 

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recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, or IRS Form W-8BEN-E a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.

(B) each Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

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(f) If the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuer determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.6, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.6 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuer and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant governmental authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender, or such Issuer agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant governmental authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such governmental authority.

(g) Each Lender agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower, an Issuer or Administrative Agent, as applicable, from any United States taxes, penalties, interest and other expenses, costs and losses incurred or payable by (i) the Administrative Agent as a result of such Lender’s failure to submit any form or certificate that it is required to provide pursuant to this Section 3.6 or (ii) the Borrower, an Issuer or the Administrative Agent as a result of their reliance on any such form or certificate which such Lender has provided to them pursuant to this Section 3.6.

(h) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (h), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(i) U.S. Lenders . Any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding Tax.

 

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Section 3.7 Change of Applicable Lending Office . Each Lender Party agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of any of Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6 with respect to such Lender Party, it will, if requested by Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender Party) to designate another Lending Office, provided that such designation is made on such terms that such Lender Party and its Lending Office suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such section. Nothing in this section shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of Borrower or the rights of any Lender Party provided in any of Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6.

Section 3.8 Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender Party seeks reimbursement for increased costs under any of Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6, or if any Lender Party becomes a Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to Section 10.1 or a Defaulting Lender, then within ninety days thereafter and provided no Event of Default then exists, Borrower shall have the right (unless such Lender Party withdraws its request for additional compensation or consents, as applicable) to replace such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender by requiring such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender to assign its Loans, Notes and its Commitments hereunder to an Eligible Transferee reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, the Issuers and to Borrower, provided that: (i) all Obligations of Borrower owing to such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender being replaced (including such increased costs, but excluding principal and accrued interest on the Notes being assigned) shall be paid in full to such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender concurrently with such assignment, and (ii) the replacement Eligible Transferee shall purchase the Loans, Notes and Commitments being assigned by paying to such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus applicable reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, if any, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. In connection with any such assignment Borrower, Administrative Agent, the Issuers, such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender and the replacement Eligible Transferee shall otherwise comply with Section 10.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing rights of Borrower under this section, however, Borrower may not replace any Lender Party which seeks reimbursement for increased costs under any of Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6, or which is a Non-Consenting Lender unless Borrower is at the same time replacing all Lender Parties which are then seeking such compensation or which are Non-Consenting Lenders, as applicable. In connection with any such replacement of a Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, Borrower shall pay all outstanding and unpaid costs and expenses due to such Lender Party, Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender hereunder (including costs and expenses that would have been due to such Lender Party pursuant to Section 3.5 if such Lender Party’s, Non-Consenting Lender’s or Defaulting Lender’s Loans had been prepaid) at the time of such replacement.

Section 3.9 Participants . If a Lender has assigned a participation in its Loans or commitment hereunder to another Person in accordance with Section 10.6, any amount otherwise payable by Borrower to such Lender under Section 3.3 through 3.6 (in this section called “ Increased Costs ”), shall include that portion of the Increased Costs determined by such Lender to be allocable to the amount of any interest or participation transferred by such Lender in such Lender’s Loan or commitments under this Agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of the Increased Costs shall not exceed the amount that would be due if such Lender had not assigned any participation.

 

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ARTICLE IV - Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness and to Lending

Section 4.1 Closing Date . This Agreement and the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuers to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.1):

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received:

(A) This Agreement and any other Loan Documents that the Restricted Persons are to execute in connection herewith.

(B) For each Lender requesting a Note, a Note payable to the order of such Lender.

(C) Each Security Document listed on Schedule 2(b) provided that (i) any real property mortgages or amendments to any real property mortgages required pursuant to this clause  (C) may be delivered no later than sixty (60) days following the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to the pledge of Capital Stock of any Included Joint Venture that cannot pledge its Capital Stock pursuant to a contractual restriction in effect on the Closing Date, the Borrower will have sixty (60) days following the Closing Date to obtain a waiver of such restriction and pledge such Capital Stock, provided that if the Borrower fails to pledge any such Capital Stock within sixty (60) days of the Closing Date, the Required Lenders shall be entitled, but not obligated, to redetermine the Borrowing Base. (in each case with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), subject to extension with the Administrative Agent’s reasonable consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(D) Certain certificates of Borrower including:

(1) An “Omnibus Certificate” of the Borrower, which shall contain the names and signatures of the officers of Borrower authorized to execute Loan Documents and which shall certify to the truth, correctness and completeness of the following, which shall be exhibits attached thereto or (other than with respect to the resolutions) were attached to a certificate previously delivered to the Administrative Agent: (1) a copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Borrower and in full force and effect at the time this Agreement is entered into, authorizing the execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, (2) a copy of the charter documents of Borrower and all amendments thereto, certified by the appropriate official of Borrower’s state of organization, and (3) a copy of any bylaws of Borrower;

(2) A “Compliance Certificate” delivered by the Borrower, of even date with such Loan, in which the officers signatory thereto certify (i) to the satisfaction of the conditions set out in Section 4.1 and subsections (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Section 4.2 and (ii) that after giving effect to the delivery and filing of the Security Documents listed on Schedule  2(b) , the Mortgaged Properties will constitute at least the Required Percentage of the Total Proved PV-10 of the proved oil and gas reserves included in the Borrowing Base Properties; and

 

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(3) A Perfection Certificate (as such term is defined in the Guarantor Security Agreement) dated as of the Closing Date.

(E) A certificate (or certificates) of the due formation, valid existence and good standing of Borrower in its state of organization, issued by the appropriate authorities of such jurisdiction, and certificates of Borrower’s good standing and due qualification to do business, issued by appropriate officials in any states in which Borrower owns property subject to Security Documents.

(F) Documents similar to those specified in subsections (D)(1) and (E) of this section with respect to each other Restricted Person that is a party to the Loan Documents and the execution by it of such Loan Document.

(G) A favorable opinion of (i) Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., special New York and Texas counsel for Restricted Persons, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, as to customary matters, including without limitation, due incorporation, due authorization, execution and delivery, enforceability, compliance with applicable laws, non-contravention, perfection, and investment company act matters and (ii) of local counsel for the Borrower in form of substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, as to customary matters, for each jurisdiction where Security Documents are to be recorded or filed; provided that the local counsel opinions specified in this clause (ii) shall be delivered contemporaneously with the delivery of the real property mortgages or amendments to the real property mortgages, as the case may be, required by Section 4.1(a)(C).

(H) The Initial Engineering Report(s).

(I) Certificates or binders evidencing insurance for each of the Restricted Persons in effect on the Closing Date in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent together with the Insurance Schedule.

(J) Favorable title information and environmental reports, in scope and with results reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent provided that any real property mortgages and title due diligence required pursuant to this clause  (J) may be delivered no later than sixty (60) days following the Closing Date (subject to extension with the Administrative Agent’s reasonable consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(K) Solvency certificates executed by the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower, as to the Solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on a consolidated basis.

 

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(L) All documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act (at least three business days prior to the Closing Date) that has been requested in writing at least ten (10) business days prior to the Closing Date.

(M) [Reserved].

(N) Certified copies of UCC Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11), or a similar search report certified by a party reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, dated a date reasonably near to the Closing Date, listing all effective financing statements that name any Restricted Person that is a party to a Loan Document (under its present name and any previous names) as the debtor, together with copies of such financing statements, evidence a Lien on any collateral described in any Loan Document.

(O) A completed Disclosure Schedule and a completed Insurance Schedule, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(P) Uniform Commercial Code Form UCC-3 termination statements, if any, necessary to release all Liens and other rights of any Person (other than the Administrative Agent or any Lender) in any Collateral described in any Security Agreement previously granted by any Person, together with such other Uniform Commercial Code UCC-3 termination statements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) Administrative Agent and Arrangers shall have received payment of all commitment, facility, agency and other fees and expenses required to be paid to any Lender Party pursuant to any Loan Documents or any commitment or fee letters between or among the Borrower and any of the Administrative Agent or Arrangers heretofore entered into and all fees and disbursements of their counsel then due such counsel to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least one (1) business day prior to the Closing Date

(d) No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred to, and no event or circumstance shall have occurred that could cause a Material Adverse Change to, Borrower’s Consolidated financial condition or businesses since December 31, 2017.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) Evidence that the Borrower shall have received at least $500,000,000 (less customary and reasonable underwriting costs and transaction expenses and less the outstanding principal amount of any Third Lien Exchange Notes on the Closing Date) from the sale of Senior Second Lien Notes, which notes have terms reasonably acceptable to the Joint Lead Arrangers.

 

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(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a schedule of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ existing commodity and interest rate hedges.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received financial projections for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared on a quarterly basis for the period through December 31, 2020, and on an annual basis for the five years ending December 31, 2023.

(i) Customary intercreditor agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (or joinders and supplements to existing intercreditor agreements) shall have been executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the Administrative Agent and representatives of the holders of the Senior Second Lien Notes and, if applicable, the Third Lien Exchange Notes.

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate setting forth the pro forma capitalization of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and sources and uses of funds giving effect to the Transactions.

(k) After giving effect to the Transactions, Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have no outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $15,000,000 or preferred stock other than (a) the Loans and Letters of Credit under this Agreement, (b) the Senior Second Lien Notes, (c) the Third Lien Exchange Notes and (d) such other Indebtedness approved by the Joint Lead Arrangers in their reasonable discretion.

(l) It is a condition to the initial Loan under this Agreement and to the effectiveness of this Agreement and the occurrence of the Closing Date and consummation of the Transactions that the aggregate principal amount of Loans plus the Letter of Credit Outstandings shall not exceed either (i) if the Borrower has not less than $10,000,000 of Unrestricted Cash in hand, $135,000,000 or (ii) $125,000,000 (the “ Maximum Initial Loan Amount ”) provided that in the event that on the Closing Date the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Second Lien Notes and any amounts outstanding under the Third Lien Exchange Notes, if any, is in excess of $625,000,000, the Maximum Initial Loan Amount shall be reduced automatically on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount of such excess.

(m) The Administrative Agent shall have received releases of mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, and assignments of as-extracted collateral including any collateral held by or for the benefit of the holders of the 1.5 Lien Notes, the Second Lien Term Loan, the Secured Exchange Notes and, if applicable, the Third Lien Exchange Notes.

(n) If the Borrower or any Guarantor qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230, the Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, shall have delivered a FinCEN certification of beneficial ownership form.

Section 4.2 Additional Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letters of Credit . No Lender has any obligation to make any Loan (including its first) and no Issuer has any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit (including its first), unless the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

(a) All representations and warranties made by any Restricted Person in any Loan Document shall be true on and as of the date of such Loan or the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit (except to the extent that the facts upon which such representations are based have been changed by the extension of credit hereunder) as if such representations and warranties had been made as of the date of such Loan or the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit.

 

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(b) No Default shall exist at the date of such Loan or the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit.

(c) No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred to, and no event or circumstance shall have occurred that could cause a Material Adverse Change to, Borrower’s Consolidated financial condition or businesses since December 31, 2017.

(d) Each Restricted Person shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements and conditions required in the Loan Documents to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the date of such Loan or the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit.

(e) The making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit shall not be prohibited by any Law and shall not subject any Lender or any Issuer to any penalty or other onerous condition under or pursuant to any such Law.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by an officer of the Borrower certifying that (i) the Loan(s) to be made, Letter(s) of Credit to be issued, or both, constitute Priority Lien Obligations (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and (ii) after giving effect to such Loan(s) to be made, Letter(s) of Credit to be issued, or both, the Priority Lien Debt does not exceed the Priority Lien Cap (as such terms are defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).

ARTICLE V - Representations and Warranties

To confirm each Lender Party’s understanding concerning Restricted Persons and Restricted Persons’ businesses, properties and obligations and to induce each Lender Party to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit hereunder, Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender Party that:

Section 5.1 No Default . No Restricted Person is in default in the performance of any of the covenants and agreements contained in any Loan Document. No event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a Default.

Section 5.2 Organization and Good Standing . Each Restricted Person is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, having all powers and governmental approvals required to carry on its business and enter into and carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Restricted Person is duly qualified, in good standing, and authorized to do business in all other jurisdictions within the United States wherein the character of the properties owned or held by it or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary. Each Restricted Person has taken all actions and procedures customarily taken in order to enter, for the purpose of conducting business or owning property, each jurisdiction outside the United States wherein the character of the properties owned or held by it or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such actions and procedures desirable.

 

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Section 5.3 Authorization . Each Restricted Person has duly taken all action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to authorize the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and the performance of its obligations thereunder. Borrower is duly authorized to borrow funds hereunder.

Section 5.4 No Conflicts or Consents . The execution and delivery by the various Restricted Persons of the Loan Documents to which each is a party, the performance by each of its obligations under such Loan Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the various Loan Documents, do not and will not (a) conflict with any provision of (i) any Law, (ii) the organizational documents of any Restricted Person, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, license, order or permit applicable to or binding upon any Restricted Person other than, in the case of (i) and (iii), such conflicts that could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, (b) result in the acceleration of any Indebtedness owed by any Restricted Person, or (c) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon any assets or properties of any Restricted Person except as expressly contemplated in the Loan Documents. Except for those which have already been obtained or as expressly contemplated in the Loan Documents, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no notice to or filing with, any Tribunal or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Restricted Person of any Loan Document or to consummate any transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

Section 5.5 Enforceable Obligations . This Agreement is, and the other Loan Documents when duly executed and delivered will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Restricted Person which is a party hereto or thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws of general application relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights.

Section 5.6 Initial Financial Statements . Borrower has heretofore delivered to each Lender Party true, correct and complete copies of the Initial Financial Statements. The Initial Financial Statements fairly present Borrower’s Consolidated financial position at the respective dates thereof and the Consolidated results of Borrower’s operations and Borrower’s Consolidated cash flows for the respective periods thereof. Since the date of the audited Initial Financial Statements no Material Adverse Change has occurred, except as reflected in the quarterly financial statements or in the Disclosure Schedule. All Initial Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Section 5.7 Other Obligations and Restrictions . No Restricted Person has any outstanding Liabilities of any kind (including contingent obligations, tax assessments, and unusual forward or long-term commitments) which is, in the aggregate, material to Borrower or material with respect to Borrower’s Consolidated financial condition and not shown in the Initial Financial Statements or disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report. Except as shown in the Initial Financial Statements or disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report, no Restricted Person is subject to or restricted by any franchise, contract, deed, charter restriction, or other instrument or restriction which could cause a Material Adverse Change.

 

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Section 5.8 Full Disclosure . No certificate, statement or other information delivered herewith or heretofore by any Restricted Person to any Lender Party in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact known to any Restricted Person (other than industry-wide risks normally associated with the types of businesses conducted by Restricted Persons) necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in any material respect as of the date made or deemed made. There is no fact known to any Restricted Person (other than industry-wide risks normally associated with the types of businesses conducted by Restricted Persons) that has not been disclosed to each Lender Party in writing which could cause a Material Adverse Change. There are no statements or conclusions in any Engineering Report which are based upon or include misleading information or fail to take into account material information regarding the matters reported therein, it being understood that each Engineering Report is necessarily based upon professional opinions, estimates and projections and that Borrower does not warrant that such opinions, estimates and projections will ultimately prove to have been accurate. Borrower has heretofore delivered to each Lender Party true, correct and complete copies of the Initial Engineering Reports.

Section 5.9 Litigation . Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in the Disclosure Schedule: (a) there are no actions, suits or legal, equitable, arbitrative or administrative proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of any Restricted Person threatened, against any Restricted Person before any Tribunal which could cause a Material Adverse Change, and (b) there are no outstanding judgments, injunctions, writs, rulings or orders by any such Tribunal against any Restricted Person or any Restricted Person’s stockholders, partners, directors or officers which could cause a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.10 Labor Disputes and Acts of God . Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report, neither the business nor the properties of any Restricted Person has been affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance), which could cause a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.11 ERISA Plans and Liabilities . Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report, no Termination Event has occurred with respect to any ERISA Plan and all ERISA Affiliates are in compliance with ERISA except for any non-compliance that would not cause a Material Adverse Change. No ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute to, or has any other absolute or contingent liability in respect of, any “multiemployer plan,” as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA, which could cause a Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report: (i) no “waived funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) exists with respect to any ERISA Plan, and (ii) the current value of each ERISA Plan’s benefits does not exceed the current value of such ERISA Plan’s assets available for the payment of such benefits by more than $2,000,000.

Section 5.12 Environmental Matters . Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in the Disclosure Schedule or that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change: (a) Restricted Persons are conducting their businesses in

 

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compliance with all Environmental Laws, and have and are in compliance with all material licenses and permits required under any such Environmental Laws; (b) none of the Restricted Persons has received express notice that any of their operations or properties is the subject of a pending Environmental Claim and to the best of Borrower’s knowledge no Environmental Claims have been threatened; (c) no Restricted Person (and to the best knowledge of Borrower, no other Person) has filed any notice under any Environmental Law that any Restricted Person improperly Released, or improperly stored or disposed, of any Hazardous Materials or that any Hazardous Materials have been improperly Released, or are improperly stored or disposed of, upon any real property of any Restricted Person which alleged improper matter referenced in such notice has not been fully resolved consistent with Environmental Laws; (d) no Restricted Person has transported or arranged for the transportation of any Hazardous Material to any location which to the knowledge of Borrower is (i) listed on the National Priorities List (“Superfund List”) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or listed on any analogous state Superfund List; and (e) no Restricted Person otherwise has any known contingent liability under any Environmental Laws or as a result of a Release of any Hazardous Materials.

Section 5.13 Names and Places of Business and State of Incorporation or Formation . No Restricted Person has, during the preceding five years, had, been known by, or used any other trade or fictitious name, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule. Except as otherwise indicated in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report, the chief executive office and principal place of business of each Restricted Person are (and for the preceding five years have been) located at the address of Borrower set out in Section 10.3. Except as indicated in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report, no Restricted Person has any other office or place of business. The Disclosure Schedule identifies the true and correct states of incorporation or formation of each Restricted Person.

Section 5.14 Borrower s Subsidiaries . Borrower does not presently have any Subsidiary or own any Capital Stock in any other Person, except those listed in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report (which shall identify whether or not a Subsidiary is a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and shall identify the Investment Percentage owed in such Person). Neither Borrower nor any Restricted Person is a member of any general or limited partnership, joint venture or association of any type whatsoever except those listed in the Disclosure Schedule or a Disclosure Report. Except as otherwise revealed in a Disclosure Report, Borrower owns, directly or indirectly, the equity interest in each of its Subsidiaries which is indicated in the Disclosure Schedule. All Subsidiaries of Borrower as of the Closing Date of this Agreement and the Investment Percentage owed in such Person are identified in the Disclosure Schedule and all Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of Borrower as of the Closing Date of this Agreement are specified as such in the Disclosure Schedule.

Section 5.15 Title to Properties; Licenses . Each Restricted Person and each Included Joint Venture has good and defensible title to all of its material properties and assets, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens and of all material impediments to the use of such properties and assets in such Person’s business, except that no representation or warranty is made with respect to any oil, gas or mineral property or interest to which no proved oil or gas reserves are properly attributed. Each Restricted Person, and if applicable, each Included Joint Venture possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names, and other intellectual property (or otherwise possesses the right to use such intellectual property without violation of the rights of any other Person) which are necessary to carry out its business as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted hereafter, and no Restricted Person and if applicable, no Included Joint Venture is in violation in any material respect of the terms under which it possesses such intellectual property or the right to use such intellectual property.

 

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Section 5.16 Government Regulation . Neither Borrower nor any other Restricted Person owing Obligations is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as any of the preceding acts have been amended) or any other Law which regulates the incurring by such Person of Indebtedness, including Laws relating to common contract carriers or the sale of electricity, gas, steam, water or other public utility services.

Section 5.17 Insider . No Restricted Person, nor any Person having “control” (as that term is defined in 12 U.S.C. § 375b(9) or in regulations promulgated pursuant thereto) of any Restricted Person, is a “director” or an “executive officer” or “principal shareholder” (as those terms are defined in 12 U.S.C. § 375b(8) or (9) or in regulations promulgated pursuant thereto) of any Lender Party, of a bank holding company of which any Lender Party is a Subsidiary or of any Subsidiary of a bank holding company of which any Lender Party is a Subsidiary.

Section 5.18 Insurance . Each Restricted Person and if applicable, each Included Joint Venture is keeping and will keep or cause to be kept insured by financially sound and reputable insurers its property at all times covering such risks and in such amounts as are customarily carried, or self-insured, by businesses similarly situated.

Section 5.19 Solvency . (A) On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the execution of the Loan Documents by Borrower, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the making of each Loan, the issuance or deemed issuance of each Letter of Credit and the consummation of the transactions to occur pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and (B) on any other date on which a Loan is made or a Letter of Credit is issued and after giving effect to the borrowing of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit: (i) the sum of the debt (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and the Restricted Persons, does not exceed the fair value or the present fair saleable value (in each case, on a going-concern basis) of the assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Persons, on a consolidated basis; (ii) the Borrower and the Restricted Persons, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts, as they become due in the ordinary course of business, (iii) the Borrower and the Restricted Persons, on a consolidated basis, do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts (including current obligations and contingent liabilities) beyond their ability to pay such debt as they mature in the ordinary course of business and (iv) the Borrower and the Restricted Persons, taken as a whole, do not have (and do not have reason to believe that they will have) unreasonably small capital for the conduct of the business in which they are engaged. For purposes hereof, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Section 5.20 Taxes . The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed by it and has paid all taxes due and owing and has paid all taxes shown to be due on any assessment received to the extent that such taxes have become due and payable (except any such taxes that are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books), except where the failure to file any such returns or reports or to pay any such taxes would not give rise to a Material Adverse Change.

 

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Section 5.21 Gas Imbalances, Prepayments . Except as set forth on Item 5.21 of the Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the most recently delivered Engineering Report, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments that would require the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any Included Joint Venture to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from their respective Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor exceeding five percent (5%) of the aggregate volumes of Hydrocarbons (on an Mcf equivalent basis) listed in the most recent Engineering Report.

Section 5.22 Marketing of Production . Except for contracts listed and in effect on the date hereof on Item 5.22 of the Disclosure Schedule, and thereafter either disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent or included in the most recently delivered Engineering Report (with respect to all of which contracts the Borrower represents that it or the Subsidiaries or if applicable, the Included Joint Ventures are receiving a price for all production sold thereunder that is computed substantially in accordance with the terms of the relevant contract and are not having deliveries curtailed substantially below the subject Property’s production delivery capacity except as set forth on Item 5.22 of the Disclosure Schedule or the most recently delivered Engineering Report), no material agreements exist that are not cancelable on 60 days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment for the sale of production from the Borrower’s or the Subsidiaries’ or if applicable, the Included Joint Ventures’ Hydrocarbons (including, without limitation, calls on or other rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same are currently being exercised) and that (a) pertain to the sale of production at a fixed price and (b) have a maturity or expiry date of longer than six (6) months from the date hereof.

Section 5.23 Hedging Transactions . Item 5.23 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all Hedging Contracts (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied) and the counterparty to each such agreement.

Section 5.24 Restriction on Liens . Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any material agreement or arrangement or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, that either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or in respect of their Properties to secure the Obligations and the Loan Documents.

Section 5.25 Maintenance of Properties . Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, the Oil and Gas Properties (and properties unitized therewith) have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws and all rules, regulations and orders of all duly constituted authorities having jurisdiction and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other

 

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contracts and agreements forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties; specifically in this connection, except for those as could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) after the Closing Date, no Oil and Gas Property is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) prior to the Closing Date and (ii) none of the wells comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized therewith) owned by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, the Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties) owned by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries.

Section 5.26 Compliance with Laws and Agreements . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and each Included Joint Venture is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority (except for Environmental Laws covered under Section 5.12) applicable to it or its property and all material obligations it is required to perform under the terms of each indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, lease, franchise, agreement, contract or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, in all material respects.

Section 5.27 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions . The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and Included Joint Ventures has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by such Person, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and Included Joint Ventures and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of each such Person its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and Included Joint Ventures or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and Included Joint Ventures or any of their respective Subsidiaries that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate Anti- Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

ARTICLE VI - Affirmative Covenants of Borrower

To conform with the terms and conditions under which each Lender Party is willing to have credit outstanding to Borrower, and to induce each Lender Party to enter into this Agreement and extend credit hereunder, Borrower warrants, covenants and agrees to the following (and Borrower agrees to cause all of its Subsidiaries to comply with the following) until Security Termination, unless Required Lenders have previously agreed otherwise:

Section 6.1 Payment and Performance . Each Restricted Person will pay all amounts due under the Loan Documents in accordance with the terms thereof and will observe, perform and comply with every covenant, term and condition expressed or implied in the Loan Documents. Borrower will cause each other Restricted Person to observe, perform and comply with every such term, covenant and condition applicable to such Restricted Person.

 

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Section 6.2 Books Financial Statements and Reports . Each Restricted Person will at all times maintain full and accurate books of account and records. Borrower will maintain and will cause its Subsidiaries to maintain a standard system of accounting, will maintain its Fiscal Year, and will furnish the following statements and reports to Administrative Agent (with sufficient copies for each Lender Party or otherwise in a format suitable for posting on the Electronic Platform) at Borrower’s expense:

(a) As soon as available, and in any event by the ninetieth (90th) day after the end of each Fiscal Year, complete Consolidated financial statements of Borrower together with all notes thereto, prepared in reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP, together with an unqualified opinion, based on an audit using generally accepted auditing standards, by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent certified public accountants selected by Borrower and acceptable to Administrative Agent, stating that such Consolidated financial statements have been so prepared. These financial statements shall contain Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Year and Consolidated statements of earnings, of cash flows, and of changes in owners’ equity for such Fiscal Year, each setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year. Together with such financial statements, Borrower will furnish a report signed by such accountants (i) stating that they have read this Agreement, and (ii) further stating that in making their examination and reporting on the Consolidated financial statements described above they did not conclude that any Default existed at the end of such Fiscal Year or at the time of their report, or, if they did conclude that a Default existed, specifying its nature and period of existence. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under this Section 6.2(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth as of the last Business Day of such Fiscal Year, a true and complete list of all Hedging Contracts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date, notional amounts or volumes, and the counterparty to each such Hedging Contract). Concurrently with the furnishing of Consolidated financial statements under this Section 6.2(a), Borrower will deliver an environmental report pursuant to the terms of Section 6.12(e).

(b) As soon as available, and in any event by the earlier of the forty-fifth (45th) day after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters in each Fiscal Year, Borrower’s Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and Consolidated statements of Borrower’s earnings and cash flows for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the preceding Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments. In addition Borrower will, together with each such set of financial statements and each set of financial statements furnished under subsection (a) of this section, furnish (i) a certificate in the form of Exhibit D signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower stating that such financial statements are accurate and complete (subject to normal year-end adjustments), stating that he has reviewed the Loan Documents, specifying the ratios at the end of such Fiscal Quarter required pursuant to Sections 7.11 and 7.12, and stating that no Default exists at the end of such Fiscal Quarter or at the time of such certificate or specifying the nature and period of existence of any such Default, together with a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower to be delivered to the Administrative Agent setting forth the calculations of such foregoing ratios in detail acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably), (ii) notice of

 

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any new Hedging Contracts entered into after the Closing Date of this Agreement by the Borrower pursuant to Section 7.3 and a summary of the material terms thereof in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (iii) notice of the formation of, or acquisition of, or Investment in, any Subsidiary (other than, with respect to Investments only, in any Guarantor Subsidiary) or any Person (including an Operating Joint Venture) that is not a Subsidiary.

(c) Promptly upon their becoming available, copies of all financial statements, reports, notices and proxy statements sent by any Restricted Person to its stockholders and all registration statements, periodic reports and other statements and schedules filed by any Restricted Person with any securities exchange, the SEC or any similar governmental authority.

(d) By March 1 of each year, commencing on March 1, 2019, an engineering report dated as of January 1 of such year, prepared by Netherland Sewell and Associates, Inc., or other independent petroleum engineers chosen by Borrower and acceptable to the Required Lenders, concerning all Oil and Gas Properties and interests owned by any Borrowing Base Entity which are located in or offshore of the United States and which have attributable to them proved oil or gas reserves. This report shall be satisfactory to Administrative Agent, shall take into account any “over-produced” status under gas balancing arrangements, and shall contain information and analysis comparable in scope to that contained in the Initial Engineering Report. This report shall explicitly distinguish (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from an appropriate officer of Borrower which explicitly distinguishes) those properties treated in the report which are Collateral from those properties treated in the report which are not Collateral and to the extent any such Oil and Gas Properties or interests are owed by an Operating Joint Venture, such report shall explicitly distinguish (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from any appropriate officer of the Borrower which explicitly distinguishes) those properties owned by a Person that is an Operating Joint Venture. This report shall explicitly indicate (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Borrower which explicitly indicates) which of the Borrowing Base Entities owns each particular interest identified in such report and if more than one Borrowing Base Entity owns an interest in a particular property, such report shall indicate the respective ownership interest of each such Borrowing Base Entity in such property.

(e) By September 1 of each year, an engineering report dated as of July 1 of such year, prepared by Borrower’s in-house petroleum engineering staff, concerning all Oil and Gas Properties and interests owned by any Borrowing Base Entity which are located in or offshore of the United States and which have attributable to them proved oil or gas reserves. This report shall be satisfactory to Administrative Agent, shall take into account any “over-produced” status under gas balancing arrangements, and shall contain information and analysis comparable in scope to that contained in the Initial Engineering Report. This report shall explicitly distinguish (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from an appropriate officer of Borrower which explicitly distinguishes) those properties treated in the report which are Collateral from those properties treated in the report which are not Collateral and to the extent any such Oil and Gas Properties or interests are owed by a person that is not a Restricted Person, such report shall explicitly distinguish (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from any appropriate officer of the Borrower which explicitly distinguishes) those properties owned by a Person that is not a Restricted Person. This report shall indicate (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Borrower which explicitly indicates) which of the Borrowing Base Entities owns each particular interest identified in such report and if more than one Borrowing Base Entity owns an interest in a particular property, such report shall indicate the respective ownership interest of each such Borrowing Base Entity in such property.

 

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(f) With the delivery of each Engineering Report, the Borrower shall provide to each Lender Party, a certificate from the president or chief financial officer of Borrower certifying that, to the best of his or her knowledge and in all material respects: (i) the information contained in such Engineering Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct, (ii) Borrower and the Restricted Persons or, if applicable, the Included Joint Ventures identified in such certificate own good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Engineering Report (in this section called the “ Covered Properties ”) and are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 7.2, (iii) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Engineering Report (other than those permitted by the Security Documents) which would require Borrower or such Subsidiary or, if applicable, such Included Joint Venture, to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (iv) none of the Covered Properties has been sold since the date of the last Borrowing Base determination except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all of such properties sold and in such detail as reasonably required by Administrative Agent, (v) attached to the certificate is a list of all Persons disbursing proceeds to Borrower or such Subsidiary or such Included Joint Venture from its Oil and Gas Properties, and (vi) set forth on a schedule attached to the certificate is the Total Proved PV-10 of all Covered Properties that are part of the Mortgaged Properties, (vii) the Mortgaged Properties comprise at least eighty five percent (85%) of the Total Proved PV-10 of the proved reserves of the Oil and Gas Properties which are included within the Borrowing Base Properties; provided that with respect to clause (vii) above, to the extent that the Borrower cannot make the certifications in (vii) above and provided that the Borrower in good faith believed that it was not in breach of Section 6.15 immediately prior to receiving a copy of such Engineering Report, the Borrower shall have a period of thirty (30) days following the delivery of such Engineering Report to provide such additional mortgages, deeds of trust and other security instruments so that it can make such certifications, and the Borrower shall provide a certificate to Administrative Agent making such certifications upon delivering all such additional mortgages, deeds of trust and other security instruments.

(g) The Borrower shall have the right to exclude some or all of the Oil and Gas Properties owed by an Operating Joint Venture from such Engineering Report and the right to designate in a certificate executed by an Authorized Officer delivered with an Engineering Report specific Oil and Gas Properties owned by Operating Joint Ventures and included in such Engineering Report which are not to be included in the determination of the Borrowing Base. To the extent that the Borrower cannot make the certification in the foregoing (f)(vii) above because of the inclusion of Oil and Gas Properties owed by one or more Operating Joint Ventures in such Engineering Report, and provided that the Borrower in good faith believed that it was not in breach of Section  6.15 immediately prior to receiving a copy of such Engineering Report, the Borrower shall have a period of ten (10) days following delivery of such Engineering Report to designate in a certificate executed by an Authorized Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders specific Oil and Gas Properties owed by Operating Joint Ventures included in such Engineering Report which are not to be included in the determination of the Borrowing Base.

 

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(h) [Reserved].

(i) As soon as possible and in any event within fifteen (15) days after Borrower or any other Restricted Person or any of their Subsidiaries becomes aware or could reasonably have become aware of (i) the occurrence of any adverse development with respect to any litigation, action, proceeding, or labor controversy described in Section  5.9 or (ii) the commencement of any labor controversy, litigation, action or proceeding that is of the type described in Section  5.9 , notice thereof and copies of all documentation relating thereto.

(j) At least fifteen (15) business days prior to the formation or acquisition thereof, notice of the formation or acquisition of any Subsidiary or any Equity Investment in a Person that is not a Subsidiary.

Section 6.3 Other Information and Inspections . Each Restricted Person will furnish to Administrative Agent (with sufficient copies for each Lender Party or otherwise in suitable form for posting onto the Electronic Platform) any information which Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request in writing concerning any covenant, provision or condition of the Loan Documents (including any information as may be required under the Patriot Act) or any matter in connection with Restricted Persons’ businesses and operations.

Each Restricted Person will permit representatives appointed by Administrative Agent (including independent accountants, auditors, agents, attorneys, appraisers and any other Persons) to visit and inspect during normal business hours any of such Restricted Person’s property, including its books of account, other books and records, and any facilities or other business assets, and to make extra copies therefrom and photocopies and photographs thereof, and to write down and record any information such representatives obtain, and each Restricted Person shall permit Administrative Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of the information furnished to Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the Loan Documents and to discuss all such matters with its officers, employees and representatives.

Section 6.4 Notice of Material Events and Change of Address . Borrower will promptly notify Administrative Agent in writing (with sufficient copies for each Lender Party or otherwise in suitable form for posting onto the Electronic Platform), stating that such notice is being given pursuant to this Agreement, of:

(a) the occurrence of any Material Adverse Change,

(b) the occurrence of any Default,

(c) the acceleration of the maturity of any Indebtedness owed by any Restricted Person or of any default by any Restricted Person under any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract or other instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties is bound, if such acceleration or default could cause a Material Adverse Change,

(d) the occurrence of any Termination Event,

(e) any matter for which notice is required under Section 6.12(d),

 

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(f) the filing of any suit or proceeding against any Restricted Person in which an adverse decision could cause a Material Adverse Change, and

(g) the occurrence of any material change or disruption under or with respect to any material contract of Borrower which could cause a Material Adverse Change.

Upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing Restricted Persons will take all necessary or appropriate steps to remedy promptly any such Material Adverse Change, Default, acceleration, default or Termination Event, to protect against any such adverse claim, to defend any such suit or proceeding, and to resolve all controversies on account of any of the foregoing. Borrower will also notify Administrative Agent and Administrative Agent’s counsel in writing at least twenty Business Days prior to the date that any Restricted Person changes its name or the location of its chief executive office or principal place of business or the place where it keeps its books and records concerning the Collateral, furnishing with such notice any necessary financing statement amendments or requesting Administrative Agent and its counsel to prepare the same.

Section 6.5 Maintenance of Properties . Each Restricted Person will maintain, preserve, protect, and keep all Collateral and all other property used or useful in the conduct of its business in good condition in accordance with oil and gas industry standards and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and will from time to time make all repairs, renewals and replacements needed to enable the business and operations carried on in connection therewith to be promptly and advantageously conducted at all times.

Section 6.6 Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications . Except as otherwise permitted in Section 7.4, each Restricted Person will maintain and preserve its existence and its rights and franchises in full force and effect and will qualify to do business in all states or jurisdictions where required by applicable Law, except where the failure so to qualify will not cause a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.7 Payment of Trade Liabilities, Taxes, etc . Each Restricted Person will (a) timely file all required tax returns; (b) timely pay all taxes, assessments, and other governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income, profits or property; (c) timely pay in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practices all Liabilities owed by it on ordinary trade terms to vendors, suppliers and other Persons providing goods and services used by it in the ordinary course of its business; (d) pay and discharge when due all other Liabilities now or hereafter owed by it; and (e) maintain appropriate accruals and reserves for all of the foregoing in accordance with GAAP. Each Restricted Person may, however, delay paying or discharging any of the foregoing so long as it is in good faith contesting the validity thereof by appropriate proceedings (promptly instituted and diligently concluded) and has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor, or to the extent any such failure to pay or discharge any of the foregoing would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.8 Insurance . Each Restricted Person will keep or cause to be kept insured by financially sound and reputable insurers its property in accordance with the Insurance Schedule and will at all times maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering such risks as are customarily carried, or self-insured, by businesses similarly situated. All loss payable clauses or provisions in all policies of insurance maintained by the Borrower described in the Insurance Schedule shall be

 

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endorsed in favor of and made payable to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lender Parties, as their interests may appear. In addition, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties shall be named (a) as additional insured with a waiver of subrogation on all of the Restricted Persons’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Borrower with respect to all or any portion of the Collateral, and (b) as loss payee on all of the Restricted Persons’ casualty and property insurance policies covering all or any portion of the Collateral. Except as provided in the immediately following sentence or as provided in Section 2.7 or 2.9 or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any and all monies that may become payable to the Administrative Agent as loss payee by reason of a Casualty Event shall be made available by Administrative Agent to the Borrower for the purpose of repairing, restoring or otherwise replacing the affected property or asset. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent (i) shall have the right, for the benefit of the Lender Parties, to retain, and the Borrower hereby assigns to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Parties, any and all monies that may become payable under any such policies of insurance by reason of damage, loss or destruction of any Collateral for the Obligations or any part thereof, and (ii) may, at its election, either apply for the benefit of the Lender Parties all or any part of the sums so collected in accordance with the Loan Documents toward payment of the Obligations, whether or not such Obligations are then due and payable, in such manner as the Administrative Agent may elect, or release same to the applicable Restricted Person.

Section 6.9 Performance on Borrower s Behalf . If any Restricted Person fails to pay any taxes, insurance premiums, expenses, attorneys’ fees or other amounts it is required to pay under any Loan Document, Administrative Agent may (but is not obligated to) pay the same. Borrower shall immediately reimburse Administrative Agent for any such payments and each amount paid by Administrative Agent shall constitute an Obligation owed hereunder which is due and payable on the date such amount is paid by Administrative Agent.

Section 6.10 [Reserved].

Section 6.11 Compliance with Agreements and Law . Each Restricted Person will perform all obligations it is required to perform under the terms of each indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, lease, franchise, agreement, contract or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, in all respects, except where the failure so to perform could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Each Restricted Person will conduct its business and affairs in compliance with all Laws applicable thereto, in all material respects, except where the failure so to conduct business and affairs could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.12 Environmental Matters; Environmental Reviews .

(a) Each Restricted Person will comply and Borrower will cause each Included Joint Venture to comply in all material respects with all Environmental Laws now or hereafter applicable to such Restricted Person or Included Joint Venture and shall obtain, at or prior to the time required by applicable Environmental Laws, all environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required under Environmental Laws and necessary for its operations and will maintain such authorizations as necessary in full force and effect, whereby the failure to comply could reasonably be expected to result in liability in excess of $20,000,000.

 

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(b) The Restricted Persons and the Included Joint Ventures will not Release any Hazardous Materials on, under or from any of their real properties, or permit others to Release any Hazardous Materials on, under or from any of their real properties, in a manner that could reasonably be expected to result in liability in excess of $20,000,000 under Environmental Laws.

(c) The Borrower will promptly, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, notify the Administrative Agent in writing of Borrower’s initial written receipt of a citation, civil or criminal penalty assessment or compliance order from any Tribunal or of a lawsuit from any Person with respect to an alleged violation of Environmental Law or an alleged violation of a permit, license or other authorizations required under Environmental Law by the Restricted Persons or any Included Joint Venture for their respective businesses or with respect to an alleged Release of Hazardous Materials arising out of the operations of any of the Restricted Persons and Included Joint Ventures (including any costs to investigate or remediate such Release) if the Borrower reasonably anticipates that any of such actions will result in liability to the Restricted Persons of $20,000,000 or more, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles.

(d) The Borrower will provide to Administrative Agent environmental assessments and tests in accordance with the most current version of applicable American Society of Testing Materials standards upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent upon an Event of Default under this Agreement (or as otherwise required to be obtained by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any Tribunal), in connection with any material real properties of the Restricted Persons.

(e) Concurrent with the furnishing of financial statements pursuant to Section 6.2(a), Borrower will furnish to Administrative Agent a reasonably detailed written description of all material: (i) citations, civil or criminal penalty assessments, or compliance orders with respect to violations of Environmental Laws for which the Borrower reasonably anticipates will result in liability to the Restricted Persons of $20,000,000 or more, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles; and (ii) lawsuits with respect to an alleged Release of Hazardous Materials arising out of the operations of any of the Restricted Persons (including any costs to investigate or remediate such Release) if the Borrower reasonably anticipates that any of such actions will result in liability to the Restricted Persons of $20,000,000 or more, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles.

Section 6.13 Evidence of Compliance . Each Restricted Person will furnish to each Administrative Agent (with sufficient copies for each relevant Lender Party or otherwise in suitable form for posting onto the Electronic Platform) at such Restricted Person’s or Borrower’s expense all evidence which Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party from time to time reasonably requests in writing as to the accuracy and validity of or compliance in all material respects with all representations, warranties and covenants made by any Restricted Person in the Loan Documents, the satisfaction of all conditions contained therein, and all other matters pertaining thereto.

Section 6.14 Hedging Program . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, the Borrower shall not assign, terminate or unwind any of the Hedging Contracts reflected in the hedging positions set forth on a certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(a) or sell any of such Hedging Contracts if the effect of such action (when taken together with any other Hedging Contracts

 

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executed contemporaneously with the taking of such action) would have the effect of canceling its positions under such Hedging Contracts unless such actions (a) are undertaken (i) with prior written notice to and approval from (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) the Administrative Agent and (ii) for the purpose of repositioning volumes for later or earlier months, for the purpose of eliminating production obligations in anticipation of temporary production shutdowns due to storms or other force majeure events, for the purpose of eliminating production obligations while maintaining hedge volumes and minimum prices for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for the purpose of placing such obligations under other Hedging Contracts that provide higher minimum prices for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (b) are in compliance with the restrictions set forth in Section  7.3 . As of the date of any determination or redetermination of the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall maintain hedging positions that are acceptable to the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably. Within 45 days of the Closing Date, but subject to Section  7.3 , Borrower shall have hedges in place with Approved Counterparties for a minimum of 50% of Projected Production from Borrower’s and the Guarantor Subsidiaries’ and the Included Joint Ventures’ (to the extent of the Borrower’s direct or indirect Investment Percentage in such Person and to the extent such Included Joint Ventures’ interest is included in the Borrowing Base) proved developed producing reserves for a period of 18 months from the date of entering into such hedge, with crude oil accounting for at least 75% of the hedged volumes at minimum average prices on a volume-weighted basis of at least 90% of the prices set forth in Schedule 4 hereto during the years set forth in Schedule 4, which hedges can be option based subject to minimum average prices on a volume-weighted basis of at least 90% of the prices set forth in Schedule 4 hereto during the years set forth in Schedule 4, provided that if the Borrower fails to have such hedges in place within 45 days of the Closing Date, the Required Lenders shall be entitled, but not obligated, to redetermine the Borrowing Base.

Section 6.15 Maintenance of Liens on Properties . The Mortgaged Properties shall constitute at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Total Proved PV-10 of the oil and gas reserves included in the Borrowing Base Properties (the “ Required Percentage ”); provided that if, immediately following the delivery of an Engineering Report and only to the extent that the Borrower in good faith believed that it was not in breach of this Section 6.15 immediately prior to receiving a copy of such Engineering Report, Borrower shall determine that the Mortgaged Properties do not constitute the Required Percentage of proved oil and gas reserves as required in this Section 6.15, Borrower shall have the thirty (30) day period described in Section 6.2(f) to execute and deliver documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, granting to Administrative Agent first perfected Liens subject to Permitted Liens on Oil and Gas Properties that are not then part of the Mortgaged Properties, sufficient to cause the Mortgaged Properties to include the Required Percentage. In addition, Borrower will furnish to Administrative Agent title due diligence in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and will furnish all other documents and information relating to such properties as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

Section 6.16 Perfection and Protection of Security Interests and Liens . Borrower will from time to time deliver, and will cause each other Restricted Person from time to time to deliver, to Administrative Agent any financing statements, continuation statements, extension agreements, control agreements and other documents, properly completed and executed (and acknowledged when required) by Restricted Persons in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, which Administrative Agent requests for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, or protecting any

 

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Liens or other rights in Collateral securing any Obligations. At the time of recording of the Security Documents, counsel for Borrower shall conduct searches of the lien, judgment, litigation and UCC records of the counties and offices where such documents are filed and promptly upon receipt thereof from such offices forward such searches to Administrative Agent’s counsel together with the original recorded Security Documents and file stamped copies of the related financing statements.

Section 6.17 Bank Accounts; Offset . To secure the repayment of the Obligations Borrower hereby grants to each Lender Party a security interest, a lien, and a right of offset, each of which shall be in addition to all other interests, liens, and rights of any Lender Party at common law, under the Loan Documents, or otherwise, and each of which shall be upon and against (a) any and all moneys, securities or other property (and the proceeds therefrom) of Borrower now or hereafter held or received by or in transit to any Lender Party from or for the account of Borrower, whether for safekeeping, custody, pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise, (b) any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of Borrower with any Lender Party, and (c) any other credits and claims of Borrower at any time existing against any Lender Party, including claims under certificates of deposit. At any time and from time to time after the occurrence of any Default, each Lender Party is hereby authorized to foreclose upon, or to offset against the Obligations then due and payable (in either case without notice to Borrower), any and all items herein above referred to. The remedies of foreclosure and offset are separate and cumulative, and either may be exercised independently of the other without regard to procedures or restrictions applicable to the other.

Section 6.18 Production Proceeds . Notwithstanding that, by the terms of the various Security Documents, the grantors thereunder are and will be assigning to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Parties all of the “Production Proceeds” (as defined therein and in this section collectively called “ Proceeds ”) accruing to the property covered thereby, so long as no Default has occurred such Persons may continue to receive from the purchasers of production all such Proceeds, subject, however, to the Liens created under the Security Documents, which Liens are hereby affirmed and ratified. Upon the occurrence of a Default, Administrative Agent and Lenders may exercise all rights and remedies granted under the Security Documents, including the right to obtain possession of all Proceeds then held by Restricted Persons or to receive directly from the purchasers of production all other Proceeds. In no case shall any failure, whether purposed or inadvertent, by Administrative Agent or Lenders to collect directly any such Proceeds constitute in any way a waiver, remission or release of any of their rights under the Security Documents, nor shall any release of any Proceeds by Administrative Agent or Lenders to Restricted Persons constitute a waiver, remission, or release of any other Proceeds or of any rights of Administrative Agent or Lenders to collect other Proceeds thereafter.

Section 6.19 Guaranties of Borrower s Subsidiaries; Joinder; Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries . (a) Each Subsidiary of Borrower (other than a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) shall, promptly upon request by Administrative Agent, execute and deliver to Administrative Agent an absolute and unconditional guaranty of the timely repayment of the Obligations and the due and punctual performance of the obligations of Borrower hereunder, which guaranty shall be satisfactory to Administrative Agent in form and substance. Borrower will cause each of its Subsidiaries to deliver to Administrative Agent, simultaneously with its delivery of such a guaranty, written evidence satisfactory to Administrative Agent and its counsel that such Subsidiary has taken

 

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all action necessary to duly approve and authorize its execution, delivery and performance of such guaranty and any other documents which it is required to execute and to cause each of its Subsidiaries (other than Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) to execute a joinder to the Subsidiary Security Agreement (as defined in the Security Schedule) or otherwise provide a security agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(b) No Subsidiary of Borrower shall be a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary unless it is designated as such in the Disclosure Schedule as of the Closing Date of this Agreement or otherwise designated as such in a written notice by Borrower to Administrative Agent in compliance with Section 6.19(b). Borrower may designate by written notification thereof to the Administrative Agent, any Subsidiary, including a newly formed or newly acquired Subsidiary, as a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary if (i) prior, and after giving effect, to such designation, neither a Default nor a Borrowing Base Deficiency would exist, and (ii) such Subsidiary has assets of less than $5,000,000 as of the later to occur of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter and the date such Subsidiary was acquired or formed by Borrower. Borrower shall not permit the aggregate principal amount of all Non-Recourse Debt of all Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries outstanding at any one time to exceed $50,000,000. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the other Loan Documents to the contrary, Liens granted in any collateral by any Restricted Person shall not secure any obligation in respect of any Excluded Obligations in respect of a Hedging Contract.

Section 6.20 Casualty and Condemnation . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent promptly, and in any event within fifteen (15) Business Days, after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower becoming aware of the occurrence, written notice of any Casualty Event to any Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or any part thereof or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding, to the extent the Total Proved PV-10 of such Collateral so affected, when aggregated with the Total Proved PV-10 of all other Collateral so affected by a Casualty Event occurring in the same calendar year, exceeds 5% of the Borrowing Base then in effect.

Section 6.21 ERISA Information . As soon as available, and in any event, within 10 days after the Borrower obtains knowledge of any of the following, the Borrower will furnish and will cause each ERISA Affiliate to promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies to the Lenders (a) a written notice signed by an Authorized Officer describing the occurrence of any Termination Event in connection with any ERISA Plan or any trust created thereunder, and specifying what action the Borrower or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto, (b) copies of any notice of the PBGC’s institution of proceedings to terminate or to have a trustee appointed to administer any ERISA Plan and (c) a written notice of the Borrower’s or an ERISA Affiliate’s participation in a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA.

Section 6.22 Keepwell . (a) The Borrower and each Restricted Person that is a Qualified ECP Credit Party hereby jointly and severally guarantees the payment and performance of all Obligations of each Restricted Person (other than such Restricted Person) and absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed

 

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from time to time by each Benefitting Restricted Person in order for such Benefitting Restricted Person to honor its obligations under any Security Document including obligations with respect to Hedging Contracts (provided, however, that the Borrower or a Restricted Person shall only be liable under this Section 6.22 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 6.22, or otherwise under this Agreement or any Loan Document, as it relates to such Benefitting Restricted Person, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of the Borrower and the other Restricted Persons under this Section 6.22 shall remain in full force and effect until all Obligations are paid in full to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all Issuers, and all of the Lenders’ Commitments are terminated. The Borrower and the other Restricted Persons intend that this Section 6.22 constitute, and this Section 6.22 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Benefitting Restricted Person for all purposes of Section la(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Obligations guaranteed by any Restricted Person, or secured by the grant of any Lien by any Restricted Person under any Security Instrument, shall exclude all Excluded Obligations in respect of a Hedging Contract with respect to such Restricted Person.

Section 6.23 Depository Bank s. The Borrower shall and shall cause each Restricted Person to maintain all of its operating accounts, Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts (as those terms are defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code) with the Administrative Agent or with a Lender or with a bank or other institution consented to by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and shall cause such operating accounts, Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts at all times to be subject of a Control Agreement; provided , however , in the event the depositary bank ceases to be the Administrative Agent or a Lender, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each Restricted Persons to close any such operating account, Deposit Account or Securities Account within forty-five (45) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its sole discretion) of the date such Person ceases to be a Lender or the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Restricted Person to open any operating account or other Deposit Account or Securities Account unless concurrently with the opening of such account the Borrower or such Restricted Person, as applicable, shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Control Agreement in respect of such account; provided , however , in the event the Borrower or any Restricted Person acquires a Deposit Account or Securities Account pursuant to an acquisition, the Borrower and each Restricted Person shall have forty-five (45) days from the date of such acquisition (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion) to (i) close any such acquired Deposit Account or Securities Account in the event such account is not held with the Administrative Agent or a Lender, and (ii) subject any such acquired Deposit Account or Securities Account to a Control Agreement. The requirements of this Section 6.23 shall not apply to Excluded Accounts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not direct disbursements from such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts or prohibit the Borrower from making disbursements from such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

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ARTICLE VII - Negative Covenants of Borrower

To conform with the terms and conditions under which each Lender Party is willing to have credit outstanding to Borrower, and to induce each Lender Party to enter into this Agreement and extend credit hereunder, Borrower warrants, covenants and agrees to the following (and Borrower agrees to cause all of its Subsidiaries to comply with the following) until Security Termination, unless Required Lenders have previously agreed otherwise:

Section 7.1 Indebtedness. No Restricted Person will in any manner owe or be liable for Indebtedness except:

(a) the Obligations;

(b) unsecured Indebtedness among the Restricted Persons (other than any Restricted Person that is a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary);

(c) Indebtedness outstanding under the instruments and agreements described on the Disclosure Schedule, and any renewals or extensions thereof or refinancing thereof provided that the amount of such Liabilities is not increased nor the terms thereof changed in any manner which is less favorable to such Restricted Person than the original terms of such Liabilities;

(d) Indebtedness arising under Hedging Contracts that are permitted under Section 6.14 or 7.3;

(e) obligations arising with respect to sale and lease-back transactions and operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of such Restricted Person’s business in arm’s length transactions at competitive market rates under competitive terms and conditions in all respects, provided that the obligations required to be paid in any Fiscal Year under or with respect to such sale and lease-back transactions and any such operating leases do not in the aggregate exceed $100,000,000 for all Restricted Persons;

(f) accounts payable and accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, from time to time incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not greater than sixty (60) days past the date of invoice or delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(g) [Reserved];

(h) (i) Senior unsecured and unsecured senior subordinated Indebtedness incurred after the Closing Date and any refinancing thereof (the “ Specified Additional Debt ”) and (ii) the refinancing of the Senior Second Lien Notes and, if applicable, the Third Lien Exchange Notes; provided , that, (A) the terms of such Indebtedness described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the 180th day after the Maturity Date as in effect on the date of determination (other than customary offers to purchase upon a change of control, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), (B) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other terms of which (other than interest rate, fees, funding discounts and

 

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redemption or prepayment premiums and other pricing terms determined by the Borrower to be “market” rates, fees, discounts and premiums and other terms at the time of issuance or incurrence of any such indebtedness), taken as a whole, are determined by the Borrower to be “market” terms on the date of issuance or incurrence and in any event that are not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders, taken as a whole, and do not require the maintenance or achievement of any financial performance standards other than as a condition to taking specified actions, (C) if such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, the terms of such Indebtedness provide for customary subordination of such Indebtedness to the Obligations, (D) no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Subsidiary that is a guarantor pursuant to the Security Documents) is an obligor under such Indebtedness, (E) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom, (F) to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a refinancing, the amount of such refinancing Indebtedness from such issuance or incurrence shall not exceed the amount of Indebtedness being refinanced plus accrued interest, fees, expenses and premiums), (G) in the case of Specified Additional Debt only, (x) other than refinancings thereof, (i) after giving effect to the incurrence or issuance thereof and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Borrower’s Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than 2.75 to 1.00 and (ii) the Borrowing Base automatically and simultaneously shall be reduced by $0.25 for every $1.00 of such Specified Additional Debt, and (y) any refinancings of such Specified Additional Debt shall be unsecured, (H) if a secured refinancing of the Senior Second Lien Notes or the Third Lien Exchange Notes (x) such refinancing Indebtedness of the Senior Second Lien Notes must be pursuant to a Second Lien Substitute Facility (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and (y) any refinancing Indebtedness of the Third Lien Exchange Notes must be pursuant to a Third Lien Substitute Facility (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement and (I) the Borrower shall deliver notice to the Administrative Agent of the incurrence of such Indebtedness or entry into such guarantee, as the case may be, within five (5) Business Days of incurring such Indebtedness or entering into such guarantee;

(i) unsecured Indebtedness and related guarantees thereof not described in subsections (a) through (h) above arising after the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 for all Restricted Persons;

(j) Non-Recourse Debt of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries not exceeding at any time outstanding $50,000,000;

(k) Non-Recourse Debt not to exceed $65,000,000 in the aggregate incurred within 90 days of the Closing Date secured by a Lien on the Income Tax Refund Claim, which Non-Recourse Debt may be secured by a Lien as described in Clause (i) of the definition of Excepted Liens; and

(l) [Reserved]

(m) Indebtedness in respect of the Third Lien Exchange Notes and the Senior Second Lien Notes which Indebtedness (and any secured refinancing of such Indebtedness) is at all times subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement).

Section 7.2 Limitation on Liens . No Restricted Person will create, assume or permit to exist any Lien upon any of the properties or assets which it now owns or hereafter acquires, except, to the extent not otherwise forbidden by the Security Documents the following (“ Permitted Liens ”):

(a) Liens which secure Obligations;

 

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(b) statutory Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies, provided such Liens secure only obligations (i) which are not delinquent or (ii) which are being contested as provided in Section 6.7 and which do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all Restricted Persons;

(c) as to property which is Collateral, any Liens expressly permitted to encumber such Collateral under any Security Document covering such Collateral;

(d) purchase money security interests in equipment acquired by the Restricted Persons, provided that such security interests secure only the Indebtedness incurred for the purchase of such equipment and such security interests encumber only the equipment acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;

(e) [Reserved];

(f) Liens existing on the Closing Date that are disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule;

(g) Excepted Liens;

(h) [Reserved];

(i) Liens on assets not constituting Borrowing Base Properties in an amount not to exceed $60,000,000 in the aggregate; and

(j) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.1(m), provided that such Liens are at all times subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 7.3 Hedging Contracts . No Restricted Person will be a party to or in any manner be liable on any Hedging Contract other than Hedging Contracts with Approved Counterparties required pursuant to Section 6.14, except:

(a) Any Restricted Person may enter into contracts for the purpose and effect of fixing prices on oil or gas which is expected to be produced by Restricted Persons or which the Restricted Persons are legally obligated to purchase under purchase contracts then in effect, provided that at all times: (i) the aggregate monthly oil production covered by all such contracts (determined, in the case of contracts that are not settled on a monthly basis, by a monthly proration acceptable to Administrative Agent) for any single month does not in the aggregate exceed the sum of seventy-five percent (75%) of Projected Oil Production anticipated to be sold in the ordinary course of Restricted Persons’ businesses for such month, (ii) the aggregate monthly gas production covered by all such contracts (determined, in the case of contracts that are not settled on a monthly basis, by a monthly proration acceptable to Administrative Agent) for any single month does not in the aggregate exceed the sum of seventy-five percent (75%) of Projected Gas Production anticipated to be sold in the ordinary course of Restricted Persons’ businesses for such month, (iii) no such contract requires any Restricted Person to put up money, assets, letters of credit (unless the Indebtedness arising with respect thereto is permitted under Section 7.1(f)), or

 

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other security against the event of its nonperformance prior to actual default by such Restricted Person in performing its obligations thereunder (except that any such contract that is with an Approved Counterparty may be secured pursuant to the Security Documents and entitled to the benefits of Security Documents and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral in accordance with Section 10.14), and (iv) each such contract is with a counterparty or has a guarantor of the obligation of the counterparty who (unless at the time the contract is made such counterparty is an Approved Counterparty) at the time the contract is made has long-term obligations rated BBB- or Baa3 or better, respectively, by either Rating Agency or is an investment grade-rated industry participant; and

(b) Any Restricted Person may enter into contracts for the purpose and effect of fixing interest rates on a principal amount of indebtedness of such Restricted Person that is accruing interest at a variable rate, provided that each such contract is with a counterparty or has a guarantor of the obligation of the counterparty who (unless at the time the contract is made such counterparty is an Approved Counterparty) at the time the contract is made has long-term obligations rated BBB- or Baa3 or better, respectively, by either Rating Agency or is an investment grade-rated industry participant.

Section 7.4 Limitation on Mergers, Issuances of Securities . Except as expressly provided in this subsection no Restricted Person will merge or consolidate with or into any other business entity. Provided that no Default is existing or shall occur as a result thereof, (a) any Subsidiary of Borrower may, however, be merged into or consolidated with (i) another Subsidiary of Borrower so long as if a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall merge with a Subsidiary that is a Guarantor Subsidiary , the Guarantor Subsidiary is the surviving business entity, or (ii) Borrower, so long as Borrower is the surviving business entity; and (b) Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person so long as the Borrower is the surviving business entity. Borrower will not issue any securities other than shares of its common stock, preferred stock and any options or warrants giving the holders thereof only the right to acquire such shares or debt securities permitted to be incurred under Section 7.1; provided , however , that the net proceeds of any such issuance shall first be applied as a mandatory prepayment of the Loans under Section 2.7, if, at the time of such issuance, the Facility Usage exceeds the Borrowing Base. No Subsidiary of Borrower will issue any additional shares of its Capital Stock or other securities or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire such additional shares or other securities except to Borrower.

Section 7.5 Limitation on Sales of Property . No Restricted Person will sell, transfer, lease, exchange, alienate or dispose of any of its material assets or properties or any material interest therein except, to the extent not otherwise forbidden under the Security Documents and no Included Joint Venture will sell, transfer, lease, exchange, alienate or dispose of any Oil and Gas Property included in the Borrowing Base except, in each case:

(a) farmouts of undeveloped acreage and transfers of interest in Oil and Gas Properties, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and upon customary industry terms and assignments in connection with such farmouts;

(b) equipment which is worthless or obsolete or which is replaced by equipment of equal suitability and value;

 

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(c) inventory (including oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids or Hydrocarbons or mineral products and seismic data) which is sold in the ordinary course of business on ordinary trade terms;

(d) interests in Oil and Gas Properties, or portions thereof, that are sold for fair consideration; provided that Borrower shall notify Administrative Agent in writing (including notice by email) at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which any such interests are expected to be sold, and if the aggregate consideration for such sale made pursuant to this subsection (d), together with the aggregate consideration of all other sales (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Permian Basin ORRI) made (i) if prior to the initial Determination Date, since the Closing Date or (ii) if on or after the initial Determination Date, since the most recent Determination Date, exceeds $50,000,000 net of reasonably-estimated future plugging and abandonment costs (any sale that causes the aggregate consideration of all sales made since the Closing Date (if prior to the initial Determination Date) or since the most recent Determination Date (if on or after the initial Determination Date), as the case may be, exceeds $50,000,000 net of reasonably-estimated future plugging and abandonment costs, and any sale occurring after such sale that causes such excess, herein a “Subject Sale”), the Borrowing Base shall automatically reduce in connection with each such Subject Sale by the Total Proved PV-10 attributable to the property (net of any asset retirement obligation relieved as a result of the Subject Sale) in the Borrowing Base so sold pursuant to such Subject Sale, such reduced Borrowing Base to be effective upon the date of each such Subject Sale (and the Borrower shall immediately repay or prepay the Loans and/or cash collateralize all Letters of Credit to the extent of any Borrowing Base Deficiency caused as a result of such Subject Sale and subsequent reduction from the proceeds of such Subject Sale);

(e) other property (excluding Oil and Gas Properties, or portions thereof) which is sold for fair consideration not in the aggregate in excess of $15,000,000 in any Fiscal Year; and

(f) the sale or other disposition of the Income Tax Refund Claim.

Neither Borrower nor any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries will sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of Capital Stock of any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries except that subject to Section 7.4 any Subsidiary of Borrower may sell or issue its own Capital Stock to the extent not otherwise prohibited hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Borrower may sell the Capital Stock or all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary if as to each and all such sales, each of the following conditions is satisfied as determined by Administrative Agent: (i) the consideration received in connection with any such sale shall be at least equal to the fair market value of such Capital Stock or assets (as the case may be), (ii) such sale shall be on commercially reasonable prices and terms in a bona fide arm’s length transaction, (iii) subject to clause (iv) below, not less than seventy-five (75%) percent of the consideration received by the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Person for such sale shall be in cash or Cash Equivalents, (iv) in the event of the sale of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of Borrower which is a Restricted Person or an Included Joint Venture, or in the event of the sale by any Restricted Person or an Included Joint Venture of its assets as provided above, if the Total Proved PV-10 of any applicable property being sold and/or transferred in connection with such transaction has been included in the Borrowing Base, the Borrowing Base shall automatically be reduced by the Total Proved PV-10 of such property or assets so sold or transferred attributed to them in the then current Borrowing Base (as determined

 

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by the Required Lenders), and the Borrower shall forthwith repay or prepay the Loans and/or cash collateralize all Letters of Credit to the extent of any Borrowing Base Deficiency caused thereby from the proceeds of such sale, (v) Administrative Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) Business Days prior written notice of any such sale of assets or Capital Stock, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail satisfactory to Administrative Agent, the parties to such sale, the consideration to be paid for the sale of such assets or Capital Stock, the terms and manner of the payment of such consideration, the assets or Capital Stock to be sold the liabilities being assumed by the purchaser pursuant to such sale, and such other information with respect thereto as Administrative Agent may request, and (vi) as of the date of such sale and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and remain continuing.

No Restricted Person will discount, sell, pledge or assign any notes payable to it, accounts receivable or future income except to the extent expressly permitted under the Loan Documents.

Section 7.6 Limitation on Distributions; Redemptions and Prepayments of Indebtedness . No Restricted Person will make any Distribution or will redeem, purchase, retire, prepay, repay or defease any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) prior to the original maturity thereof, except:

(a) Distributions by Subsidiaries of Borrower without limitation to Borrower,

(b) that, so long as (1) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (2) no Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (w) the Borrower may pay interest on the Specified Additional Debt, the Senior Second Lien Notes, and the Third Lien Exchange Notes on the stated, scheduled dates for payment of interest set forth in the Senior Second Lien Notes Indenture, the Third Lien Exchange Notes Indenture, or the Specified Additional Debt Documents, as applicable; and (x) the Borrower may redeem, repurchase, prepay or defease the Specified Additional Debt, the Third Lien Exchange Notes or the Senior Second Lien Notes (i) on the scheduled maturity date for the Specified Additional Debt, the Senior Second Lien Notes or the Third Lien Exchange Notes, as applicable, in the principal amount that is required to be repaid or prepaid under the Senior Second Lien Notes Indenture, the Third Lien Exchange Notes Indenture or the Specified Additional Debt Documents, as applicable, on each stated, scheduled date for repayment or prepayment of principal thereunder or (ii) in connection with a refinancing; provided that with respect to clause (ii), any such refinancing shall be subject to Section  7.1(h) ;

(c) Dividends or distributions on, or redemptions of, in respect of the Borrower’s Capital Stock, and pre-payment or purchase of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement), without limit, to the extent that after giving pro forma effect thereto, (A) there is no continuing Default or Event of Default, (B) the Borrower shall have a maximum Leverage Ratio of not more than 2.75 to 1.0 and (C) Borrower shall have availability under the Borrowing Base of not less than 20% of the Borrowing Base.

 

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Section 7.7 Limitation on Investments and New Businesses . No Restricted Person will:

(a) make any expenditure or commitment or incur any obligation or enter into or engage in any transaction except in the ordinary course of business or except as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder,

(b) engage directly or indirectly in any business or conduct any operations except the exploration, development and production of oil and gas,

(c) make any acquisitions of or Investments in any Person, except (i) Investments in Cash Equivalents and Investments in Wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) of Borrower or (ii) subject to Section  6.19(b) Investments in a Person other than a Guarantor Subsidiary, to the extent that immediately after giving pro forma effect thereto (A) there is no continuing Default or Event of Default, (B) the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with Section  7.11 and 7.12 and (C) the Borrower shall have pro forma availability under the Borrowing Base of not less than 10% of the Borrowing Base; provided that to the extent such Investment is in the form of a sale, transfer or exchange of Oil and Gas Properties, such Investment will be subject to, and deemed to be a Subject Sale for the purposes of, the limitation on sales in Section  7.5(d) .

(d) make any significant acquisition of or Investments in any properties except Oil and Gas Properties;

provided that this Section 7.7 shall not apply to any Restricted Person’s entry into operating agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, farm-out agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, area of mutual interest agreements, production sharing 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 on customary industry terms, excluding, however, Investments in other Persons.

Section 7.8 Limitation on Credit Extensions . Except for Investments permitted by Section 7.7, no Restricted Person will extend credit, make advances or make loans other than (a) normal and prudent extensions of credit to customers buying goods and services in the ordinary course of business, which extensions shall not be for longer periods than those extended by similar businesses operated in a normal and prudent manner, and (b) loans to other Restricted Persons (other than Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries), so long as no Default, Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency exists at the time such loan is made.

Section 7.9 Transactions with Affiliates; Creation and Dissolution of Subsidiaries . No Restricted Person will (a) engage in any material transaction with any of its Affiliates on terms which are less favorable to it than those which would have been obtainable at the time in arm’s-length dealing with Persons other than such Affiliates; or (b) except as permitted under Section 7.7(c) and provided that the Borrower shall have complied with, or caused the relevant Restricted Person to comply with, Section 6.19, create or acquire any Subsidiary after the date hereof. Any Restricted Person (other than the Borrower) may wind up, liquidate or dissolve, and the Borrower may cause any Restricted Person (other than itself) to wind up, liquidate or dissolve, in connection with any merger or consolidation to the extent permitted under Section 7.4 hereof; or, with the

 

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consent of the Administrative Agent, so long as (i) such winding up, liquidation or dissolution shall not result in or give rise to any obligation, liability or Indebtedness of any Restricted Person, (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and remain continuing as a result of, and after giving effect to, such transaction, (iii) all properties of such Restricted Person has been duly transferred to another Restricted Person to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, and (iv) the required Mortgaged Properties remain encumbered in accordance with Section 6.15.

Section 7.10 Certain Contracts; Amendments; Multiemployer ERISA Plans . Except as expressly provided for in the Loan Documents, no Restricted Person will, directly or indirectly, enter into, create, or otherwise allow to exist any contractual or other consensual restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of Borrower to: (a) pay dividends or make other distributions to Borrower, (b) redeem equity interests held in it by Borrower, (c) repay loans and other indebtedness owing by it to Borrower, (d) transfer any of its assets to Borrower or (e) grant any Liens on its properties, revenues or assets in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, the Issuers and the counterparties to Hedging Contracts. No Restricted Person will enter into any “take-or-pay” contract or other contract or arrangement for the purchase of goods or services which obligates it to pay for such goods or service regardless of whether they are delivered or furnished to it. No Restricted Person will amend or permit any amendment to any other contract or lease which releases, qualifies, limits, makes contingent or otherwise detrimentally affects the rights and benefits of Administrative Agent or any Lender under or acquired pursuant to any Security Documents. No ERISA Affiliate will incur any obligation to contribute to any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA which could cause a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consent to any amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification of, or enter into any forbearance from exercising any rights with respect to the terms or provisions contained in any Specified Additional Debt or in any Specified Additional Debt Document that results or causes or has the effect of doing any of the following: (i) contravening the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) increasing the interest, premium or the yield on such Specified Additional Debt, beyond the interest, yield or premium currently specified in such Specified Additional Debt Document, as of the effective date of such Specified Additional Debt Document, (iii) providing for dates for payment of principal, interest, premium (if any), yield or fees which are earlier than the dates specified in such Specified Additional Debt Document, as in effect on the effective date of such Specified Additional Debt Document, (iv) providing for any covenant or event of default which is materially more restrictive on any Restricted Person than that set forth in such Specified Additional Debt Document, as in effect on the effective date of such Specified Additional Debt Document, (v) providing for redemption, prepayment or defeasance provisions that are more burdensome on any Restricted Person than those set forth in such Specified Additional Debt Document, as in effect on the effective date of such Specified Additional Debt Document, (vi) providing for collateral securing Indebtedness under such Specified Additional Debt apart from, or in addition to, the collateral securing the Obligations, (vii) providing Liens ranking pari passu with, or higher in priority than, the Liens securing the Obligations or (viii) increasing the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or conferring any additional rights on any holder of such Specified Additional Debt, than those set forth in such Specified Additional Debt Document, as in effect on the effective date of such Specified Additional Debt Document, as applicable, which could reasonably be expected to be adverse to the Lender Parties.

 

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Section 7.11 Current Ratio . The ratio of Borrower’s Consolidated current assets to Borrower’s Consolidated current liabilities at the last day of any Fiscal Quarter will not be less than 1.0 to 1.0. For purposes of this section, (i) Borrower’s Consolidated current assets will include any unused portion of the Borrowing Base which is then available for borrowing, and Borrower’s Consolidated current liabilities will be calculated without including any payments of principal on the Notes which are required to be repaid within one year from the time of calculation and (ii) the calculation of the Borrower’s Consolidated current assets and Consolidated current liabilities for purposes of this Section  7.11 shall exclude any non-cash assets or liabilities described in, and calculated pursuant to, FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topics 410 (Asset Retirement Obligations) and 815 (Hedge Accounting), each as amended ( provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such calculation shall include any current assets or current liabilities in respect of the termination of any Hedging Contract).

Section 7.12 Leverage Ratio . The Borrower will not permit its Leverage Ratio as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter to be greater than (i) 3.5 to 1.0, on the last day of the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, (ii) 3.25 to 1.00 on the last day of the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019 and (iii) 3.00 to 1.00 on the last day of the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2019 and on the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries consummate a Material Acquisition on the last day of the first and second Fiscal Quarters following such Material Acquisition, the Borrower shall maintain a maximum Leverage Ratio not to exceed 3.50 to 1.00.

Section 7.13 Fiscal Year . No Restricted Person will change its fiscal year.

Section 7.14 Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions . No Restricted Person nor any director, officer, employee or agent acting on behalf of any Restricted Person shall (i) use any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) offer, pay , give, promise to pay, authorize the payment of, or take any action in furtherance of the payment of anything of value directly or indirectly to a Government Official or any other person to improperly influence the recipient’s action or omission, violate any anti-corruption laws. No Restricted Person shall, nor shall any Restricted Person authorize any other Person to, directly or indirectly, use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available, all or any part of the proceeds of any Loan or other transactions(s) contemplated by this Agreement to fund any trade, business or other activities (i) involving or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person, or (ii) in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in any Restricted Party or any Lender being in breach of any sanctions (if and to the extent applicable to either of them) or becoming a Sanctioned Person.

Section 7.15 Division of Limited Liability Companies . No Restricted Person that is a Delaware limited liability company shall, nor shall any Restricted Person permit any of its Subsidiaries that is a Delaware limited liability company to, divide into two or more limited liability companies.

 

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ARTICLE VIII - Events of Default and Remedies

Section 8.1 Events of Default . Each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default under this Agreement:

(a) Any Restricted Person fails to pay the principal component of any Obligation when due and payable, whether at a date for the payment of a fixed installment or as a contingent or other payment becomes due and payable or as a result of acceleration or otherwise;

(b) Any Restricted Person fails to pay any Obligation (other than the Obligations in clause (a) above) when due and payable, whether at a date for the payment of a fixed installment or as a contingent or other payment becomes due and payable or as a result of acceleration or otherwise, within three Business Days after the same becomes due;

(c) [Reserved];

(d) Any Restricted Person fails to duly observe, perform or comply with any covenant, agreement or provision of Section  6.4 or Article VII ;

(e) Any Restricted Person fails (other than as referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c) or (d) above) to duly observe, perform or comply with any covenant, agreement, condition or provision of any Loan Document, and such failure remains unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice of such failure is given by Administrative Agent to Borrower;

(f) Any representation or warranty previously, presently or hereafter made in writing by or on behalf of any Restricted Person in connection with any Loan Document shall prove to have been false, misleading or incorrect in any material respect on any date on or as of which made, or any Loan Document at any time ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable as warranted in Section  5.5 for any reason other than its release or subordination by Administrative Agent;

(g) [Reserved];

(h) Any Restricted Person (i) fails to pay any portion, when such portion is due, of any of its Indebtedness having a principal or stated amount or termination payment amount in excess of $5,000,000, or (ii) breaches or defaults in the performance of any agreement or instrument by which any such Indebtedness is issued, evidenced, governed, or secured, and any such failure, breach or default continues beyond any applicable period of grace provided therefor;

(i) Either (i) any “waived funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) in excess of $1,000,000 exists with respect to any ERISA Plan, (ii) any Termination Event occurs with respect to any ERISA Plan and the then current value of such ERISA Plan’s benefit liabilities exceeds the then current value of such ERISA Plan’s assets available for the payment of such benefit liabilities by more than $2,000,000 (or in the case of a Termination Event involving the withdrawal of a substantial employer, the withdrawing employer’s proportionate share of such excess exceeds such amount) or (iii) any Termination Event occurs with respect to a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA) which results in any ERISA Affiliate being assessed withdrawal liability in excess of $2,000,000;

 

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(j) Any Restricted Person:

(i) suffers the entry against it of a judgment, decree or order for relief by a Tribunal of competent jurisdiction in an involuntary proceeding commenced under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar Law of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect, including the federal Bankruptcy Code, as from time to time amended, or has any such proceeding commenced against it which remains undismissed for a period of thirty days; or

(ii) commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Law now or hereafter in effect, including the federal Bankruptcy Code, as from time to time amended; or applies for or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such Law; or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or fails generally to pay (or admits in writing its inability to pay) its debts as such debts become due; or takes corporate or other action to authorize any of the foregoing; or

(iii) suffers the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of all or a substantial part of its assets or of any part of the Collateral in a proceeding brought against or initiated by it, and such appointment or taking possession is neither made ineffective nor discharged within thirty days after the making thereof, or such appointment or taking possession is at any time consented to, requested by, or acquiesced to by it; or

(iv) suffers the entry against it of a final judgment (including with respect to any Environmental Claim) for the payment of money individually or in the aggregate in excess of $25,000,000 (not covered by insurance satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its discretion), unless the same is discharged within sixty days after the date of entry thereof or an appeal or appropriate proceeding for review thereof is taken within such period and a stay of execution pending such appeal is obtained; or

(v) suffers a writ or warrant of attachment or any similar process to be issued by any Tribunal against all or any substantial part of its assets or any part of the Collateral, and such writ or warrant of attachment or any similar process is not stayed or released within thirty days after the entry or levy thereof or after any stay is vacated or set aside;

(k) [Reserved];

(l) Any Change in Control occurs;

(m) [Reserved]

 

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(n) Any Loan Document or any Lien created thereby shall be invalid, or any Restricted Person shall have asserted that such Loan Document or Lien is invalid.

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in subsection (j)(i), (j)(ii) or (j)(iii) of this section with respect to Borrower, all of the Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without demand, presentment, notice of demand or of dishonor and nonpayment, protest, notice of protest, notice of intention to accelerate, declaration or notice of acceleration, or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower and each Restricted Person who at any time ratifies or approves this Agreement. Upon any such acceleration, any obligation of any Lender to make any further Loans hereunder and any obligation of any Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall be permanently terminated. During the continuance of any other Event of Default, Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time may (and upon written instructions from Required Lenders, Administrative Agent shall), without notice to Borrower or any other Restricted Person, do either or both of the following: (1) terminate any obligation of Lender to make Loans hereunder and any obligation of any Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, and (2) declare any or all of the Obligations immediately due and payable, and all such Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without demand, presentment, notice of demand or of dishonor and nonpayment, protest, notice of protest, notice of intention to accelerate, declaration or notice of acceleration, or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower and each Restricted Person who at any time ratifies or approves this Agreement.

Section 8.2 Remedies . If any Default shall occur and be continuing, each Lender Party may protect and enforce its rights under the Loan Documents by any appropriate proceedings, including proceedings for specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document, and each Lender Party may enforce the payment of any Obligations due it or enforce any other legal or equitable right which it may have. All rights, remedies and powers conferred upon Lender Parties under the Loan Documents shall be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or powers available under the Loan Documents or at Law or in equity.

ARTICLE IX - Administrative Agent and Issuers

Section 9.1 Appointment and Authority of Administrative Agent . Each Lender Party hereby irrevocably authorizes Administrative Agent, and Administrative Agent hereby undertakes, to receive payments of principal, interest and other amounts due hereunder as specified herein and to take all other actions and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with all other powers reasonably incidental thereto. The relationship of Administrative Agent to the other Lender Parties is only that of one commercial lender acting as Administrative Agent for others, and nothing in the Loan Documents shall be construed to constitute Administrative Agent, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a trustee or other fiduciary for any Lender Party or holder of any of the Notes or of any participation therein nor to impose on Administrative Agent duties and obligations other than those expressly provided for in the Loan Documents. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuers, and neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the

 

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term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties. With respect to any matters not expressly provided for in the Loan Documents and any matters which the Loan Documents place within the discretion of Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, and it may request instructions from Lenders with respect to any such matter, in which case it shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected and free from liability to all Lender Parties in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of Required Lenders (including itself), provided , however , that Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes it to a risk of personal liability that it considers unreasonable or which is contrary to the Loan Documents or to applicable Law including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law.

The Administrative Agent shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Upon receipt by Administrative Agent from Borrower of any communication calling for action on the part of Lenders or upon notice from any other Lender Party to Administrative Agent of any Default or Event of Default, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each other Lender Party thereof.

Section 9.2 Exculpation, Administrative Agent s Reliance, Etc . (a) Neither Administrative Agent nor any Issuer nor any of their directors, officers, agents, attorneys, or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with the Loan Documents, INCLUDING THEIR NEGLIGENCE OF ANY KIND , except that each shall be liable for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent and Issuers (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof until Administrative Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof in accordance with this Agreement, signed by such payee and in form satisfactory to Administrative Agent; (b) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any other Lender Party and shall not be responsible to any other Lender Party for any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Documents; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of the Loan Documents on the part of any Restricted Person or any Operating Joint Venture or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture; (e) shall not be responsible to any other Lender Party for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, existence, sufficiency or Total Proved PV-10 of any Loan Document or any instrument or document furnished in connection therewith or any Collateral; (f) may rely upon the representations and warranties of each Restricted Person and Operating Joint Venture and the Lender Parties in exercising its powers hereunder without independent investigation; (g) shall incur no liability under or in respect of the Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (including any telecopy) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons.

 

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(b) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Issuer shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith or (iii) the agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than in the case of the Administrative Agent to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Issuer shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent or the Issuer, as applicable, in writing by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuer.

(c) The Administrative Agent and each Issuer shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent and each Issuer also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuer, the Administrative Agent and each Issuer may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuer unless the Administrative Agent or the Issuer, as applicable, shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

Section 9.3 Credit Decisions . (a) Each Lender Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Issuer any Other Agents or any other Lender Party or any of its Affiliates and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each Lender Party also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Other Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party or any of their Affiliates and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

(b) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Issuer shall be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or any other document referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the properties or books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries. Except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Issuer shall have any

 

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duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Borrower (or any of its Affiliates) which may come into the possession of such Administrative Agent or any of their Affiliates. Each Lender Party acknowledges that Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is acting in this transaction as special counsel to the Administrative Agent only. Each other party hereto will consult with its own legal counsel to the extent that it deems necessary in connection with the Loan Documents and the matters contemplated therein.

Section 9.4 Indemnification . Each Lender agrees to indemnify Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower within ten (10) days after demand) from and against such Lender’s Aggregate Percentage Share of any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines, actions, judgments, suits, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements (including reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants, experts and advisors) of any kind or nature whatsoever (in this section collectively called “ liabilities and costs ”) which to any extent (in whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Administrative Agent growing out of, resulting from or in any other way associated with any of the Collateral, the Loan Documents and the transactions and events (including the enforcement thereof) at any time associated therewith or contemplated therein (including any Environmental Claims or violation or noncompliance with any Environmental Laws by any Person or any liabilities or duties of any Person with respect to the presence or Release of Hazardous Materials found in or released into the environment). Each Lender agrees to indemnify Issuers (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower within ten (10) days after demand) from and against such Lender’s Aggregate Percentage Share of any and all liabilities and costs which to any extent (in whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Issuer growing out of, resulting from or in any other way associated with the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable to any Approved Counterparty for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under any Loan Document, or in connection therewith; the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for any recitals or warranties herein or under any Loan Document, nor for the effectiveness, enforceability, validity or due execution of any Loan Document, nor for the creation, perfection or priority of any Liens purported to be created by any of the Loan Documents, or the validity, genuineness, enforceability, existence, value or sufficiency of any collateral security. Each Approved Counterparty agrees to indemnify Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower within ten (10) days after demand) from and against such Approved Counterparty’s pro rata share of any and all liabilities and costs arising from or in connection with the circumstances described in the foregoing sentence.

THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY, OR ARE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ISSUER,

provided only that no Lender shall be obligated under this section to indemnify Administrative Agent and any Issuer for that portion, if any, of any liabilities and costs which is proximately caused by Administrative Agent’s or such Issuer’s own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment. Cumulative of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse Administrative Agent and such Issuer promptly upon demand for such Lender’s

 

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Aggregate Percentage Share of any costs and expenses to be paid to Administrative Agent or such Issuer by Borrower under Section  10.4(a) to the extent that Administrative Agent or such Issuer is not timely reimbursed for such expenses by Borrower as provided in such section. As used in this section the terms “Administrative Agent” and “Issuer” shall refer not only to the Person designated as such in Section  1.1 but also to each director, officer, agent, attorney, employee, representative and Affiliate of such Person.

Section 9.5 Rights as Lender . In its capacity as a Lender, Administrative Agent and each Issuer shall have the same rights, powers, and obligations as any Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not Administrative Agent or Issuer, as applicable. Administrative Agent or any Issuer and their Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as Trustee under indentures of, lend money to, own securities of, act as financial advisor to, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture or their Affiliates, all as if it were not Administrative Agent or an Issuer hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender.

Section 9.6 Sharing of Set-Offs and Other Payments . Each Lender Party agrees that if it shall, whether through the exercise of rights under Security Documents or rights of banker’s lien, set off, or counterclaim against Borrower or otherwise, obtain payment of a portion of the aggregate Obligations owed to it which, taking into account all distributions made by Administrative Agent under Section  3.1 , causes such Lender Party to have received more than it would have received had such payment been received by Administrative Agent and distributed pursuant to Section  3.1 , then (a) it shall be deemed to have simultaneously purchased and shall be obligated to purchase interests in the Obligations as necessary to cause all Lender Parties to share all payments as provided for in Section  3.1 , and (b) such other adjustments shall be made from time to time as shall be equitable to ensure that Administrative Agent and all Lender Parties share all payments of Obligations as provided in Section  3.1 provided , however , that nothing herein contained shall in any way affect the right of any Lender Party to obtain payment (whether by exercise of rights of banker’s lien, set-off or counterclaim or otherwise) of indebtedness other than the Obligations. Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees that any holder of any such interest or other participation in the Obligations, whether or not acquired pursuant to the foregoing arrangements, may to the fullest extent permitted by Law exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, set-off, or counterclaim as fully as if such holder were a holder of the Obligations in the amount of such interest or other participation. If all or any part of any funds transferred pursuant to this section is thereafter recovered from the seller under this section which received the same, the purchase provided for in this section shall be deemed to have been rescinded to the extent of such recovery, together with interest, if any, if interest is required pursuant to Tribunal order to be paid on account of the possession of such funds prior to such recovery.

Section 9.7 Investments . Whenever Administrative Agent in good faith determines that it is uncertain about how to distribute to Lender Parties any funds which it has received, or whenever Administrative Agent in good faith determines that there is any dispute among Lender Parties about how such funds should be distributed, Administrative Agent may choose to defer distribution of the funds which are the subject of such uncertainty or dispute. If Administrative Agent in good faith believes that the uncertainty or dispute will not be promptly resolved, or if Administrative Agent is otherwise required to invest funds pending distribution to Lender Parties, Administrative Agent shall invest such funds pending distribution, and all interest on any such investment shall be

 

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distributed upon the distribution of such investment and in the same proportion and to the same Persons as such investment; provided that Administrative Agent shall not be liable to Lender Parties for any loss on such investment except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct ( BUT INCLUDING FOR ITS NEGLIGENCE ), as determined in a final judgment. All moneys received by Administrative Agent for distribution to Lender Parties (other than to the Person who is Administrative Agent in its separate capacity as a Lender) shall be held by Administrative Agent pending such distribution solely as Administrative Agent for such Lender Parties, and Administrative Agent shall have no equitable title to any portion thereof.

Section 9.8 Benefit of Article IX . The provisions of this Article (other than the following Section 9.9) are intended solely for the benefit of Lender Parties, and no Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture shall be entitled to rely on any such provision or assert any such provision in a claim or defense against any Lender Party. Lender Parties may waive or amend such provisions as they desire without any notice to or consent of Borrower or any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture.

Section 9.9 Resignation . Administrative Agent or any Issuer may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrower. Each such notice shall set forth the date of such resignation. Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent or, if such resigning Issuer is the sole issuer hereunder, Issuer. A successor must be appointed for any retiring Administrative Agent (or a retiring Issuer if such Issuer is the sole Issuer hereunder), and such Administrative Agent’s (or Issuer’s) resignation shall become effective when such successor accepts such appointment. If, within thirty days after the date of the retiring Administrative Agent’s (or Issuer’s) resignation, no successor Administrative Agent (or Issuer, if such Issuer is the sole Issuer hereunder) has been appointed and has accepted such appointment, then the retiring Administrative Agent (or Issuer) may appoint a successor Administrative Agent (or Issuer), which shall be a financial institution organized under the Laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent or Issuer hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent or Issuer, the retiring Administrative Agent or Issuer shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s or Issuer’s resignation hereunder the provisions of this Article IX shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent or Issuer under the Loan Documents.

Section 9.10 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more subagents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such subagent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such subagent and to the Affiliates of the Administrative Agent and any such subagent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with syndication as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any subagents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such subagents.

 

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Section 9.11 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or Letter of Credit Outstandings shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Outstandings and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Article III, Section 10.4 and any other provisions under the Loan Documents regarding indemnification by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Article III, Section 10.4 and any other provisions under the Loan Documents regarding indemnification by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 9.12 Intercreditor Agreement . Each Lender, each Issuer and each other Lender Party hereunder hereby (i) instructs and authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreement and any amendments, modifications, supplements, joinders thereto on its behalf, (ii) authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to exercise all of the Administrative Agent’s rights and to comply with all of its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) agrees that the Administrative Agent may take actions on its behalf as is contemplated by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, and (iv) understands, acknowledges and agrees that at all times following the execution and delivery of the Intercreditor Agreement such Lender, Issuer and other Lender Party (and each of their respective successors and assigns) shall be bound by the terms thereof.

ARTICLE X - Miscellaneous

Section 10.1 Waivers and Amendments; Acknowledgments .

(a) Waivers and Amendments . No failure or delay (whether by course of conduct or otherwise) by any Lender Party in exercising any right, power or remedy which such Lender Party may have under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other right, power or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Lender Party of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of

 

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any other right, power or remedy. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document (other than any Hedging Contract, which may be amended pursuant to the terms thereof) and no consent to any departure therefrom shall ever be effective unless it is in writing and signed as provided below in this section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instances and for the purposes for which given and to the extent specified in such writing. No notice to or demand on any Restricted Person shall in any case of itself entitle any Restricted Person to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents set forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated herein and therein and supersede all prior discussions and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and no waiver, consent, release, modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be valid or effective against any party hereto unless the same is in writing and signed by (i) if such party is Borrower, by Borrower, (ii) if such party is Administrative Agent, by such party, (iii) if such party is a Lender, by such Lender or by Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders with the written consent of Majority Lenders (which consent has already been given as to the termination of the Loan Documents as provided in Section 10.14 and which consent shall be deemed given by any Lender that executes any such waiver, consent, release, modification or amendment) and (iv) if such party is an Issuer, by such Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, Administrative Agent shall not, without the prior consent of the affected Lender, execute and deliver on behalf of such Lender any waiver or amendment which would: (1) waive any of the conditions specified in Article IV ( provided that Administrative Agent may in its discretion withdraw any request it has made under Section 4.2(e)), (2) increase or extend the Commitment of such Lender or subject such Lender to any additional obligations, (3) reduce any fees payable to such Lender or Issuer hereunder, or the principal of, or interest on, such Lender’s Note, (4) postpone any date fixed for any payment of any such fees, principal or interest payable to such Lender or Issuer, (5) increase the Facility Amount or the Aggregate Commitments of the Lenders to an amount in either case in excess of $750,000,000 or increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loan Commitments or amend the definition herein of “Majority Lenders” or “Required Lenders” or otherwise change the aggregate amount of applicable Percentage Shares which is required for Administrative Agent, Lenders or any of them to take any particular action under the Loan Documents, (6) release Borrower from its obligation to pay such Lender’s Note, (7) release all or substantially all of the value of the Security Documents that constitute guaranties or the Collateral (it being agreed that releases described in this clause (7) adversely affect each Lender) or (8) amend this Section 10.1, or (9) amend Section 9.6 or Section 3.1 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) to the extent that the Borrower or any Restricted Person transfers, sells or otherwise assigns any Collateral in accordance with the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is authorized to release the Administrative Agent’s and Lender Parties’ Liens on such Collateral without any further consent by any of the Lender Parties; (B) any amendment of the definition of “Initial Availability Amount” or any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination of any provision with respect to any determination or redetermination of the Borrowing Base, or in connection with any matter directly relating to the Borrowing Base (including matters in respect of any Borrowing Base Deficiency and in respect of the relevant provisions of Section 7.5 relating to the Borrowing Base), shall only require the consent of the Revolving Loan Lenders whose

 

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Revolving Loan Percentage Shares equal or exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) (except that any amendment that increases the Initial Availability Amount or then current Borrowing Base shall require the consent of the Revolving Loan Lenders whose Revolving Loan Percentage Shares equal or exceed ninety-five percent (95%) (the “ Requisite Lenders ”)); (C) no waiver, consent, release, modification or amendment of or supplement to any Hedging Contract, fee letter between any Restricted Person or any Arranger or Administrative Agent, or any letter of credit application shall be valid or effective against any party thereto without the consent of such party, and any such documents may be waived, consented to, released, modified or amended in accordance with the terms of such documents; and (D) in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver, termination or Borrowing Base redetermination (a “ Proposed Change ”) requiring greater than Majority Lender consent, if the consent of Majority Lenders is obtained, but the consent of the other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained being referred to as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then so long as the Administrative Agent is not a Non-Consenting Lender, at the Borrower’s request the Administrative Agent, or one or more Eligible Transferees, shall have the right (but not the obligation and in each case with the Administrative Agent’s and each Issuer’s consent and in the Administrative Agent’s and Issuers’ sole discretion) to purchase from such Non-Consenting Lenders, and such Non-Consenting Lenders agree that they shall, upon the Administrative Agent’s request, sell and assign to the Administrative Agent or such Person, all of the Loans, Notes and Commitments of such Non-Consenting Lenders in accordance with Section 3.8, such purchase and sale to be consummated pursuant to an executed Assignment and Acceptance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have

any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that any such amendment or waiver (A) that would increase or extend the term of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender, extend the date fixed for the payment of principal or interest owing to such Defaulting Lender hereunder, reduce the principal amount of any obligation owing to such Defaulting Lender, reduce the amount of or the rate or amount of interest on any amount owing to such Defaulting Lender or of any fee payable to such Defaulting Lender hereunder, or alter the terms of this proviso, will require the consent of such Defaulting Lender or (B) requiring the consent of all Lenders or each adversely affected Lender that affects such Defaulting Lender differently than all other Lenders or all other adversely affected Lenders, as the case may be, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

(b) Acknowledgments and Admissions . Borrower hereby represents, warrants, acknowledges and admits that (i) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (ii) it has made an independent decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, without reliance on any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking by Administrative Agent or any Lender Party, whether written, oral or implicit, other than as expressly set out in this Agreement or in another Loan Document delivered on or after the date hereof, (iii) there are no representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings or agreements by any Lender Party as to the Loan Documents except as expressly set out in this Agreement or in another Loan Document delivered on or after the date hereof, (iv) no Lender Party has any fiduciary obligation toward Borrower or any other Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture with respect to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated thereby, (v) the relationship pursuant to the Loan Documents between Borrower and the other Restricted Persons and Operating Joint Ventures, on one hand, and each Lender Party, on the other hand, is and shall be solely that of debtor and creditor, respectively, (vi) no partnership or joint venture exists with respect to the Loan Documents between any Restricted

 

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Person or Operating Joint Venture and any Lender Party, (vii) Administrative Agent is not Borrower’s Administrative Agent, but Administrative Agent for the Lender Parties in the capacity described in the second sentence of Section 9.1, (viii) should an Event of Default or Default occur or exist, each Lender Party will determine in its sole discretion and for its own reasons what remedies and actions it will or will not exercise or take at that time, (ix) without limiting any of the foregoing, Borrower is not relying upon any representation or covenant by any Lender Party, or any representative thereof, and no such representation or covenant has been made, that any Lender Party will, at the time of an Event of Default or Default, or at any other time, waive, negotiate, discuss, or take or refrain from taking any action permitted under the Loan Documents with respect to any such Event of Default or Default or any other provision of the Loan Documents, and (x) all Lender Parties have relied upon the truthfulness of the acknowledgments in this section in deciding to execute and deliver this Agreement and to become obligated hereunder.

(c) Representation by Lenders . Each Lender hereby represents that it will acquire its Note for its own account in the ordinary course of its commercial lending business; however, the disposition of such Lender’s property shall at all times be and remain within its control and, in particular and without limitation, such Lender may sell or otherwise transfer its Notes, Loans, Letters of Credit and Commitments, any participation interest or other interest in its Notes, Loans, Letters of Credit or Commitments, or any of its other rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, but subject to the terms and provisions hereof, including Section 10.6.

(d) Joint Acknowledgment . THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.

THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

Section 10.2 Survival of Agreements; Cumulative Nature . All of Restricted Persons’ various representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in the Loan Documents shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the performance hereof and thereof, including the making or granting of the Loans and the delivery of the Notes and the other Loan Documents, and shall further survive until all of the Obligations are paid in full to each Lender Party and all of Lender Parties’ obligations to Borrower are terminated. All statements and agreements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by any Restricted Person to any Lender Party under any Loan Document shall be deemed representations and warranties by Borrower or agreements and covenants of Borrower under this Agreement. The representations, warranties, indemnities, and covenants made by Restricted Persons in the Loan Documents, and the rights, powers, and privileges granted to Lender Parties in the Loan Documents, are cumulative, and, except for expressly specified waivers and consents, no Loan Document shall be construed in the context of another to diminish, nullify, or otherwise reduce the benefit to any Lender Party of any such representation, warranty, indemnity, covenant, right, power or privilege. In particular and without limitation, no exception set out in this Agreement to any representation, warranty, indemnity, or covenant herein contained shall apply to any similar representation, warranty, indemnity, or covenant contained in any other Loan Document, and each such similar representation, warranty, indemnity, or covenant shall be subject only to those exceptions which are expressly made applicable to it by the terms of the various Loan Documents.

 

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Section 10.3 Notices . All notices, requests, consents, demands and other communications required or permitted under any Loan Document shall be in writing, unless otherwise specifically provided in such Loan Document ( provided that Administrative Agent may give telephonic notices to the other Lender Parties), and shall be deemed sufficiently given or furnished if delivered by personal delivery, by telecopy, by electronic transmissions, by delivery service with proof of delivery, or by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, to Borrower at the address of Borrower specified on the signature pages hereto and to each Lender Party at its address specified in the Lenders Schedule as its lending offices for ABR Loans (unless changed by similar notice in writing given by the particular Person whose address is to be changed). Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given (a) in the case of personal delivery or delivery service, as of the date of first attempted delivery during normal business hours at the address provided herein, (b) in the case of telecopy, upon receipt, or (c) in the case of registered or certified United States mail, three days after deposit in the mail; provided, however, that no Borrowing Notice shall become effective until actually received by Administrative Agent.

Section 10.4 Payment of Expenses; Indemnity .

(a) Payment of Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, Borrower will promptly (and in any event, within 30 days after any invoice or other statement or notice) pay: (i) all transfer, stamp, mortgage, documentary or other similar taxes, assessments or charges levied by any governmental or revenue authority in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any other document referred to herein or therein, (ii) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of Administrative Agent (including attorneys’ fees, consultants’ fees and engineering fees, travel costs and miscellaneous expenses) in connection with (1) the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, and any and all consents, waivers, amendments or modifications or other documents or instruments relating thereto, but subject to the provisions of the letter dated September 28, 2018 among the Borrower and the Joint Lead Arrangers (2) the filing, recording, refiling and re-recording of any Loan Documents and any other documents or instruments or further assurances required to be filed or recorded or refiled or re-recorded by the terms of any Loan Document, (3) the borrowings hereunder and other action reasonably required in the course of administration hereof, (4) monitoring or confirming (or preparation or negotiation of any document related to) Borrower’s compliance with any covenants or conditions contained in this Agreement or in any Loan Document, and (iii) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Lender Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, consultants’ fees and accounting fees) in connection with the defense or enforcement of any of the Loan Documents (including this section and including proceedings in bankruptcy) or the defense of any Lender Party’s exercise of its rights thereunder (including proceedings in bankruptcy). In addition to the foregoing, until all Obligations have been paid in full, Borrower will also pay or reimburse Administrative Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Administrative Agent or its agents or employees in connection with the continuing administration of the Loans and the related due diligence of Administrative Agent, including travel and miscellaneous expenses and fees and expenses of Administrative Agent’s outside counsel, reserve engineers and consultants engaged in connection with the Loan Documents.

 

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(b) Indemnity . Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender Party, upon demand, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines, actions, judgments, suits, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements (including reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants, experts and advisors) of any kind or nature whatsoever (in this section collectively called “liabilities and costs”) which to any extent (in whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Lender Party by the Borrower or any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture or by any third party growing out of, resulting from or in any other way associated with any of the Collateral, the Loan Documents and the transactions and events (including the enforcement or defense thereof) at any time associated therewith or contemplated therein (including any Environmental Claims or violation or noncompliance with any Environmental Laws by any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture or any liabilities or duties of any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture or any Lender Party with respect to the presence or Release of Hazardous Materials found in or released into the environment). For the avoidance of doubt, any indemnification relating to Taxes shall be covered exclusively by Section 3.6 and shall not be covered by this Section 10.4.

THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY, OR ARE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY LENDER PARTY,

provided only that no Lender Party shall be entitled under this section to receive indemnification for that portion, if any, of any liabilities and costs which is proximately caused by its own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment. If any Person (including Borrower or any of its Affiliates) ever alleges such gross negligence or willful misconduct by any Lender Party, the indemnification provided for in this section shall nonetheless be paid upon demand, subject to later adjustment or reimbursement, until such time as a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final judgment as to the extent and effect of the alleged gross negligence or willful misconduct. As used in this section the term “Lender Parties” shall refer not only to the Persons designated as such in Section 1.1 but also to each director, officer, agent, attorney, employee, representative and Affiliate of such Persons.

Section 10.5 Joint and Several Liability; Parties in Interest . All Obligations which are incurred by two or more Restricted Persons shall be their joint and several obligations and liabilities. All grants, covenants and agreements contained in the Loan Documents shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided however , that no Restricted Person may assign or transfer any of its rights or delegate any of its duties or obligations under any Loan Document without the prior consent of all Lenders. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Borrower nor any Affiliates of Borrower shall directly or indirectly purchase or otherwise retire any Obligations owed to any Lender nor will any Lender accept any offer to do so, unless each Lender shall have received substantially the same offer with respect to the same Aggregate Percentage Share of the Obligations owed to it. If Borrower or any Affiliate of Borrower at any time purchases some but less than all of the Obligations owed to all Lender Parties, such purchaser shall not be entitled to any rights of any Lender Party under the Loan Documents unless and until Borrower or its Affiliates have purchased all of the Obligations.

 

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Section 10.6 Assignments .

(a) Participations .

(A) Any Lender may sell a participation interest in its commitments hereunder or any of its rights under its Loans or under the Loan Documents to any Person, provided that the agreement between such Lender and such participant must at all times provide: (i) that such participation exists only as a result of the agreement between such participant and such Lender and that such transfer does not give such participant any right to vote as a Lender or any other direct claims or rights against any Person other than such Lender, (ii) that such participant is not entitled to payment from any Restricted Person under any of Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6 of amounts in excess of those payable to such Lender under such sections (determined without regard to the sale of such participation), and (iii) unless such participant is an Affiliate of such Lender, that such participant shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take any action under any Loan Document or to obtain the consent of such participant prior to taking any action under any Loan Document, except for any amendment that increases the then current Borrowing Base (to the extent such amendment would require the consent of Lenders whose Revolving Loan Percentage Shares equal or exceed ninety-five percent (95%); under the next-to-last sentence of subsection (a) of Section 10.1). No Lender selling such a participation shall, as between the other parties hereto and such Lender, be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of the sale of such participation. Each Lender which sells any such participation to any Person (other than an Affiliate of such Lender) shall give prompt notice thereof to Administrative Agent and Borrower.

(B) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. Unless otherwise required by the Internal Revenue Service, any disclosure required by the foregoing sentence shall be made by the relevant Lender directly and solely to the Internal Revenue Service. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

(b) Assignments . Except for sales of participations under the immediately preceding subsection (a), no Lender shall make any assignment or transfer of any kind of its commitments or obligations to participate in Letters of Credit or any of its rights under its Loans or under the Loan Documents, except for assignments to an Eligible Transferee, and then only if such assignment is made in accordance with the following requirements:

 

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(i) In the case of an assignment of Revolving Loans and Revolving Loan Commitments, (1) each such assignment shall apply to all Revolving Loans and commitments to participate in Letters of Credit owing to and commitments to participate in Letters of Credit by the assignor and to the unused portion of the assignor Revolving Loan Commitments and (2) immediately after giving effect to such assignment, the assignor’s Revolving Loan Commitment shall not be less than $5,000,000 and the assignee’s Revolving Loan Commitment shall equal or exceed $5,000,000 (unless such assignor is assigning all of its Revolving Loan Commitments and Revolving Loans or unless such assignment is to an Affiliate of such assignor or an Approved Fund administered or managed by such assignor or an Affiliate of such assignor); provided that the foregoing requirements (1) and (2) may be waived by a writing signed by the Administrative Agent, each Issuer and (so long as no Default or Event of Default is continuing) the Borrower.

(ii) The parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, appropriately completed, together with the Note subject to such assignment and a processing fee payable to Administrative Agent of $3,500. Upon such execution, delivery, and payment and upon the satisfaction of the conditions set out in such Assignment and Acceptance, then (A) Borrower shall, if requested by the assignor and/or assignee, issue new Revolving Loan Notes, to such assignor and assignee in exchange for the return of the old Notes to Borrower, and (B) as of the “Effective Date” specified in such Assignment and Acceptance the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and a Lender hereunder and Administrative Agent shall thereafter deliver or make available to Borrower and each Lender one or more schedules showing the revised Percentage Shares of all other Lenders.

(iii) Each assignee Lender shall (to the extent it has not already done so) provide Administrative Agent and Borrower with the documentation referred to in Section 3.6(e).

(iv) No Assignment to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (iv).

(v) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural Person.

 

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(vi) Certain Additional Payments . In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, each Issuer and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit in accordance with its Percentage Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall prevent or prohibit any Lender from assigning or pledging all or any portion of its Loans and Note to any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank or to any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender or to one of its Affiliates or as otherwise required by applicable Law; provided that no such assignment or pledge shall relieve such Lender from its obligations hereunder.

(d) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, each assignee Lender thereunder will be confirming to and agreeing with Borrower, Administrative Agents, each Issuer and each other Lender hereunder that such assignee understands and agrees to the terms hereof, including Article IX hereof.

(e) Subject to acceptance thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (b)(ii) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.4 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section.

 

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Section 10.7 Confidentiality . Each Lender Party agrees that it will follow its customary procedures to keep confidential any proprietary information given to it by any Restricted Person, provided , however , that this restriction shall not apply to information which (a) has at the time in question entered the public domain, (b) is required to be disclosed by Law (whether valid or invalid) of any Tribunal or is disclosed pursuant to Section 10.18, (c) is disclosed to any Lender Party’s Affiliates, auditors, attorneys, agents or to any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (d) is furnished to any other Lender Party or to any purchaser or prospective purchaser of participations or other interests in any Loan or Loan Document or to any direct, indirect, actual or prospective counterparty (and its advisor) to any swap, derivative or securitization transaction related to the obligations under this Agreement ( provided each such purchaser, prospective purchaser, counterparty or prospective counterparty first agrees to hold such information in confidence on the terms provided in this section), (e) is furnished to S&P or Moody’s or any similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender Party or with respect to any Restricted Person, (f) is disclosed in the course of enforcing its rights and remedies during the existence of an Event of Default or (g) is disclosed with the consent of the Borrower; provided , however , that this obligation of confidence shall not apply to, and each of Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties (and each Person employed or retained by them who are or are expected to become engaged in evaluating, approving, structuring or administering the Loans) may disclose to any Tribunal, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) related thereto that are or have been provided to the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party relating to such tax treatment or tax structure. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Section 10.8 Governing Law; Submission to Process . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING FOR SUCH PURPOSES SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK). Except to the extent that the law of another jurisdiction is expressly elected in a Loan Document, the Loan Documents shall be deemed contracts and instruments made under and governed by the laws of the State of New York (including for such purposes Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York). In any legal proceeding relating to the Loan Documents or the Obligations, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits itself to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Harris County, Texas and agrees and consents that service of process may be made upon it in any legal proceeding relating to the Loan Documents or the Obligations by any means allowed under applicable Law.

Section 10.9 Limitation on Interest . Lender Parties, Restricted Persons and any other parties to the Loan Documents intend to contract in strict compliance with applicable usury Law from time to time in effect. In furtherance thereof such Persons stipulate and agree that none of the terms and provisions contained in the Loan Documents shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay, for the use, forbearance or detention of money, interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest permitted to be charged by applicable Law from time to time in effect. Neither any

 

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Restricted Person nor any present or future guarantors, endorsers, or other Persons hereafter becoming liable for payment of any Obligation shall ever be liable for unearned interest thereon or shall ever be required to pay interest thereon in excess of the maximum amount that may be lawfully charged under applicable Law from time to time in effect, and the provisions of this section shall control over all other provisions of the Loan Documents which may be in conflict or apparent conflict herewith. Lender Parties expressly disavow any intention to charge or collect excessive unearned interest or finance charges in the event the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated. If (a) the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated for any reason, (b) any Obligation is prepaid and as a result any amounts held to constitute interest are determined to be in excess of the legal maximum, or (c) any Lender or any other holder of any or all of the Obligations shall otherwise collect moneys which are determined to constitute interest which would otherwise increase the interest on any or all of the Obligations to an amount in excess of that permitted to be charged by applicable Law then in effect, then all sums determined to constitute interest in excess of such legal limit shall, without penalty, be promptly applied to reduce the then outstanding principal of the related Obligations or, at such Lender’s or holder’s option, promptly returned to Borrower or the other payor thereof upon such determination. In determining whether or not the interest paid or payable, under any specific circumstance, exceeds the maximum amount permitted under applicable Law, Lender Parties and Restricted Persons (and any other payors thereof) shall to the greatest extent permitted under applicable Law, characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest, exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread the total amount of interest throughout the entire contemplated term of the instruments evidencing the Obligations in accordance with the amounts outstanding from time to time thereunder and the maximum legal rate of interest from time to time in effect under applicable Law in order to lawfully charge the maximum amount of interest permitted under applicable Law. As used in this section the term “applicable Law” means the Laws of the State of New York or the Laws of the United States of America, whichever Laws allow the greater interest, as such Laws now exist or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future.

Section 10.10 Termination; Limited Survival . Limited Survival. In its sole and absolute discretion Borrower may at any time that no Obligations are owing elect in a written notice delivered to Administrative Agent to terminate this Agreement. Upon receipt by Administrative Agent of such a notice, if no Obligations are then owing this Agreement and all other Loan Documents shall thereupon be terminated and the parties thereto released from all prospective obligations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, any waivers or admissions made by any Restricted Person in any Loan Document, any Obligations under any of Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6, and any obligations which any Person may have to indemnify or compensate any Lender Party shall survive any termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. At the request and expense of Borrower, Administrative Agent shall prepare and execute all necessary instruments to reflect and effect such termination of the Loan Documents. Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to execute all such instruments on behalf of all Lenders, without the joinder of or further action by any Lender.

Section 10.11 Severability . If any term or provision of any Loan Document shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable all other terms and provisions of the Loan Documents shall nevertheless remain effective and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

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Section 10.12 Counterparts; Electronic Execution of Assignments . This Agreement may be separately executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 10.13 Waiver of Jury Trial, Punitive Damages, etc . Borrower and each Lender Party hereby knowingly, voluntarily, intentionally, and irrevocably (a) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation based hereon, or directly or indirectly at any time arising out of, under or in connection with the Loan Documents or any transaction contemplated thereby or associated therewith, before or after maturity; (b) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any such litigation any “Special Damages”, as defined below, (c) certifies that no party hereto nor any representative or agent or counsel for any party hereto has represented, expressly or otherwise, or implied that such party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers, and (d) acknowledges that it has been induced to enter into this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications contained in this section. As used in this section, “Special Damages” includes all special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages (regardless of how named), but does not include any payments or funds which any party hereto has expressly promised to pay or deliver to any other party hereto.

Section 10.14 Release of Collateral; Collateral Matters; Hedging .

(a) The Lender Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

(i) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (x) upon Security Termination or (y) subject to Section 10. 1, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders; and

(ii) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.1(e); and

(b) Administrative Agent and each Lender Party hereby agree that so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Administrative Agent shall release from the Security Documents, upon written request by Borrower and at Borrower’s expense, interests in Oil and Gas Properties sold or otherwise transferred by any Restricted Person in compliance with Section 7.5, upon receipt of the indefeasible prepayment of the Loans and Letter of Credit Outstandings required in connection with such sale, if any. Upon request by the

 

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Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Restricted Person from its obligations under the Security Documents pursuant to this Section 10.14.

(c) The benefit of the Security Documents and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral shall also extend to and be available on a pro rata basis to each Approved Counterparty in respect of any obligations in respect of transactions under a Hedging Contract with any Restricted Person; provided that such Hedging Contract was entered into (i) while such Approved Counterparty was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, (ii) prior to the Closing Date with a Person that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement was an Approved Counterparty of the type described in clause (c) of the definition of Approved Counterparty or (iii) with a Designated Approved Counterparty and the Borrower provides written notice of such Hedging Contract in accordance with the proviso in the definition of Approved Counterparty. For the avoidance of doubt, the benefits of the Security Documents and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents will not extend to Hedging Contracts entered into between a Restricted Person and a counterparty if such counterparty was not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging Contract was consummated ( provided that, Hedging Contracts and transactions thereunder consummated prior to the Closing Date with a Person that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement became an Approved Counterparty shall be extended the benefits of the Security Documents and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) or to transactions entered into with such Approved Counterparty under such Hedging Contract after such Approved Counterparty or its Affiliate ceases to be a Lender under this Agreement or, in the case of Designated Approved Counterparties, such Hedging Contracts or transactions thereunder of which the Borrower failed to notify the Administrative Agent pursuant to the definition of Approved Counterparty. No Approved Counterparty shall have any voting or consent right under any Loan Document as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under a Hedging Contract.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event is any Building or Mobile Home included in the definition of “Mortgaged Properties” or the definition of “Collateral” and no Building or Mobile Home is hereby encumbered by any security interest or lien granted pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. As used herein, “Flood Insurance Regulations” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq .), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time and (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Section 10.15 Amendment and Restatement . On the Closing Date, this Agreement shall be deemed to restate and amend the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety, whereupon all of the terms and provisions hereof shall supersede the terms and conditions thereof. The parties hereto further agree that, on the Closing Date, this Agreement and the Notes shall serve to extend, renew and continue, but not to extinguish or novate, the Existing Notes and the corresponding loans and to amend, restate and supersede, but not to extinguish or cause to be novated the Indebtedness under, the Existing Credit Agreement. Borrower hereby agrees that, on the Closing Date, (a) the

 

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Loans outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and (b) all accrued and unpaid fees under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be outstanding under and payable by this Agreement; provided that changes in the Percentage Shares, interest rates, or fee rates shall not change the amounts then accrued and owing to each Lender Party under the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Closing Date.

Section 10.16 Other Agents . None of the Persons identified in this Agreement as the “Arrangers”; the “Joint Lead Arranger” or “Bookrunners” or “Co-Documentation Agents,” or the “Co-Syndication Agents” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than (a) except in the case of the Arrangers, those applicable to all Lenders as such or (b) as expressly provided for herein or therein. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Other Agents shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Restricted Person or any Lender Party. Each of the Lender Parties and Borrower, on behalf of itself and the other Restricted Persons, acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Other Agents or any of the other Lender Parties in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking any action hereunder or under the Loan Documents.

Section 10.17 USA Patriot Act Notice . The Administrative Agent hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and its partners, which includes the names and addresses of the Borrower and its partners and other information that will allow the Administrative Agent to identify the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and partners in accordance with the Patriot Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the Patriot Act and is effective as to Administrative Agent and each Lender Party.

Section 10.18 Posting of Approved Electronic Communications . (a) In addition to providing the Administrative Agent with all originals or copies of all Communications (as defined below) in the manner specified by Section 10.3, Borrower hereby also agrees, unless directed otherwise by the Administrative Agent or unless the electronic mail address referred to below has not been provided by the Administrative Agent to Borrower, that it will, or will cause its Subsidiaries to, provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent or to the Lender Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents, including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials (all such communications being referred to herein collectively as “ Communications ”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium that is properly identified in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to an electronic mail address as directed by the Administrative Agent.

(b) Borrower further agrees that (i) the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lender Parties by posting the Communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “ Electronic Platform ”) and (ii) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders ( i.e. , Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”). Borrower hereby agrees that (A) all Communications that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean

 

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that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (B) by marking Communications “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party to treat such Communications as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Restricted Persons or their securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws; (C) all Communications marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Electronic Platform designated “Public Investor” or other similar designation; and (D) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Communications that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Electronic Platform not designated “Public Investor” or otherwise not designated as public.

(c) THE ELECTRONIC PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE LENDER PARTIES DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS IS MADE BY THE LENDER PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LENDER PARTIES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY RESTRICTED PERSON, ANY OTHER LENDER PARTY OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER OR NOT BASED ON STRICT LIABILITY AND INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY RESTRICTED PERSON’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY LENDER PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL RULING BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH LENDER PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

(d) The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender Party agrees that receipt of notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender Party for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender Party agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender Party’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

(e) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

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Section 10.19 Amendment and Restatement .

Each of the Existing Lenders, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed among themselves, in consultation with the Borrower, to effectuate an assignment and assumption with respect to the Existing Lenders’ (a) rights and obligations in their capacity as Existing Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to all or any of such outstanding rights and obligations of such Existing Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement (including any letters of credit and guarantees included in such facility) and (b) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Existing Lender (in their capacity as an Existing Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (a)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (a)  and (b) above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interests ”) in order to, among other things, to reallocate the Commitments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, the “ Existing Commitments ”) and the Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, the “ Existing Loans ”) to the Lenders under this Agreement. The parties hereto hereby consent to the Existing Lenders’ assignment of the Assigned Interests to the Lenders and the assumption by the Lenders of such Assigned Interests and the reallocation of the Existing Commitments and the Existing Loans in accordance with this Section  10.19 . On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the assignments and assumptions of the Assigned Interests and the reallocation of the Existing Loans and the Existing Commitments pursuant to this Section  10.19 , the Commitment of each Lender shall be as set forth on Schedule  1.3 . With respect to such Commitment, each Lender shall be deemed to have acquired the Assigned Interests allocated to it from the Existing Lenders or assigned the Assigned Interests to the other Lenders pursuant to the terms of the Assignment and Acceptance attached to the Existing Credit Agreement as Exhibit  E as if each such Lender, each Existing Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Issuers and the Borrower, as applicable, had executed an Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such allocation. In connection with the assignment and assumption of Assigned Interests contemplated in this Section  10.19 and for the purposes of such assignment and assumption only, the parties hereto, as applicable, hereby agree to waive the processing and recordation fees required under Section  9 of the Existing Credit Agreement.

Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, each of the Existing Lenders which is not listed on Schedule 3.3 shall automatically cease to be Lenders under this Agreement ( provided that those provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document that, by their terms continue to apply to any former Lender after such Lender no longer has a Commitment under the Existing Credit Agreement or is no longer a lender party hereto shall continue to apply to such former lender in accordance with the Existing Credit Agreement or such other Loan Documents). For the avoidance of doubt the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Liens created by the mortgages and deeds of trust securing the Existing Credit Agreement and the Security Instruments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall be carried forward to secure the Obligations and evidenced by the Security Instruments and have not been released or impaired in any way.

 

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Each Lender hereby authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to enter into each Loan Document listed on Schedule 2(b) attached hereto.

Section 10.20 Hedging Arrangements . To the extent any party to a Hedging Contract with Borrower or any Restricted Person is (i) an Affiliate of a Lender or (ii) a Designated Approved Counterparty, such Affiliate or Designated Approved Counterparty, as the case may be, shall be deemed to appoint the Administrative Agent its nominee and agent, to act for and on behalf of such Affiliate in connection with the Security Documents and to be bound by Article IX and this Article X.

Section 10.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

Section 10.22 LIBOR Successor Rate . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(ii) the administrator of the LIBOR Rate or a governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “ Scheduled Unavailability Date ”), or

 

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(iii) syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the LIBOR Rate or similar metric,

then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice , as applicable, the Administrative Agent may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBOR Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein), giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks (any such proposed rate, a “ LIBOR Successor Rate ”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate conforming amendments and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the LIBOR Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Alternate Base Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for ABR Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of LIBOR Successor Rate shall provide that in no event shall such LIBOR Successor Rate be less than zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the date first written above.

 

BORROWER:
W&T OFFSHORE, INC.

 

        By:  

/s/ Janet Yang

Name: Janet Yang

Title: Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

            Address:   Nine Greenway Plaza
  Suite 300  
  Houston, TX 70046  
            Telephone:   (713) 624-7393  
            Fax:   (713) 624-7324  
            Attn:    

 

S-1


TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS) LLC, as
  Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Alice Mare

  Name: Alice Mare
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

S-2


TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS) LLC, as
Lender
By:  

/s/ Alice Mare

  Name: Alice Mare
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

S-3


THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK,

NEW YORK BRANCH, as Issuer

By:  

/s/ Alice Mare

  Name: Alice Mare
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

S-4


MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Michael King

  Name: Michael King
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

S-5


NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH as Lender
By:  

/s/ Leila Zomorrodian

  Name: Leila Zomorrodian
  Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Vikram Nath

  Name: Vikram Nath
  Title: Director

 

S-6


NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Leila Zomorrodian

  Name: Leila Zomorrodian
  Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Vikram Nath

  Name: Vikram Nath
  Title: Director

 

S-7


SOCIÉTÉ GENERALE, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Hallie Ransone

  Name: Hallie Ransone
  Title: Director

 

S-8


SOCIÉTÉ GENERALE, as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Hallie Ransone

  Name: Hallie Ransone
  Title: Director

 

S-9


ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. DBA AMEGY BANK, as Lender
By:  

/s/ G. Scott Collins

  Name: G. Scott Collins
  Title: Executive Vice President

 

S-10


ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Darrell Holley

  Name: Darrell Holley
  Title: Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Beth Johnson

  Name: Beth Johnson
  Title: Executive Director

 

S-11


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:
W&T ENERGY VI, LLC
By:   W&T Offshore, Inc.
  Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Janet Yang

  Name: Janet Yang
  Title: Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
W&T ENERGY VII, LLC
By:   W&T Offshore, Inc.
  Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Janet Yang

  Name: Janet Yang
  Title: Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

S-12


SCHEDULE 1

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

ITEM 5.6. No Material Adverse Change regarding Financial Statements

 

   

None.

ITEM 5.7. Liabilities, Obligations and Restrictions

 

   

As disclosed in Borrower’s quarterly financial statements.

ITEM 5.9. Litigation Matters

 

   

As disclosed in Borrower’s quarterly financial statements.

ITEM 5.10 Extraordinary Events, Labor Disputes and Acts of God

 

   

None.

ITEM 5.11. ERISA Plans and Liabilities

 

   

None.

ITEM 5.12. Environmental Matters

 

   

As disclosed in Borrower’s quarterly financial statements.

ITEM 5.13. Names and Places of Business and State of Incorporation or Formation

 

   

Name of Restricted Person: W&T Offshore, Inc.

 

   

State of Formation : Texas

 

   

Other names used in preceding five years :

 

   

Successor by merger with Offshore Energy I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

   

Successor by merger with Offshore Energy II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

   

Successor by merger with Offshore Energy III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

   

Successor by merger with Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Properties LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

Schedule 1 – Page 1


   

Successor by merger with Offshore Shelf LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

   

Other Offices and Places of Business:

 

   

None.

 

   

Name of Restricted Person: W & T Energy VI, LLC

 

   

State of Formation : Delaware

 

   

Other names used in preceding five years :

 

   

None.

 

   

Other Offices and Places of Business:

 

   

None.

 

   

Name of Restricted Person: W & T Energy VII, LLC

 

   

State of Formation : Delaware

 

   

Other names used in preceding five years :

 

   

None.

 

   

Other Offices and Places of Business:

 

   

None.

ITEM 5.14. Subsidiaries

 

   

W & T Energy VI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, not a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, 100% ownership.

 

   

W & T Energy VII, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, not a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, 100% ownership.

ITEM 5.21 Gas Imbalance, Prepayments

 

   

Borrower had gas imbalances as of June 30, 2018, totaling $4,602,501.

ITEM 5.22 Marketing of Production

 

   

None.

 

Schedule 1 – Page 2


ITEM 5.23 Hedging Transactions

 

   

See below.

ITEM 6.19. Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries

 

   

White Shoal Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation (not a wholly-owned subsidiary; W&T Offshore, Inc. is a shareholder holding a 73.38% interest).

ITEM 7.1(c). Permitted Existing Indebtedness

 

   

None.

ITEM 7.2(f). Permitted Existing Liens

 

   

None.

 

Schedule 1 – Page 3


ITEM 5.23

Hedging Transactions

 

W&T Offshore, Inc.  
Schedule of Financial Commodity Derivatives  
As of October 9, 2018  
CRUDE OIL                                   
     Counterparty        Capital One        ABN AMRO        Goldman        Citi  
     Execution Date        4/11/2018        4/12/2018        4/13/2018        4/20/2018  
     Pricing        $63.80        $55/$72.75        $60/$69.50        $60  
     Type        Swaps        Costless Collars        Costless Collars        Puts  

Month

   Total Hedged
Bbls per Day
     Hedged Bbls
per Day
     Hedged Bbls
per Day
     Hedged Bbls
per Day
     Hedged
Bbls per
Day
 

Oct-18

     11,000        2000        2000        2000        5000  

Nov-18

     11,000        2000        2000        2000        5000  

Dec-18

     11,000        2000        2000        2000        5000  

 

Schedule 1 – Page 4


2018 Financial Commodity Derivatives

 

Schedule 1 – Page 5


SCHEDULE 2(a)

EXISTING SECURITY AGREEMENTS

As used in this Schedule 2(a), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “ Omnibus Agreement ” shall mean the agreement described in paragraph 5 below.

(b) “ Second Omnibus Agreement ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Schedule 2(b) hereof.

(c) “ Subsidiary Security Agreement ” shall have the meaning given to such term in paragraph 2 below.

1. Fourth Amended and Restated Security Agreement, Pledge and Irrevocable Proxy, dated as of May 5, 2011, from Borrower, in favor of the Administrative Agent, as amended pursuant to the Omnibus Amendment, as further amended pursuant to the Second Omnibus Amendment and as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

2. Security Agreement, Pledge and Irrevocable Proxy, dated as of May 5, 2011, from W&T Energy VI and W&T Energy VII, in favor of the Administrative Agent, as amended pursuant to the Omnibus Amendment, as further amended pursuant to the Second Omnibus Amendment and as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “ Subsidiary Security Agreement ”).

3. Amended and Restated Guaranty of W&T Energy VI, LLC, dated as of May 5, 2011, in favor of the Administrative Agent, as amended pursuant to the Omnibus Amendment, as further amended pursuant to the Second Omnibus Amendment and as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

4. Guaranty of W&T Energy VII, LLC, dated as of May 5, 2011, in favor of the Administrative Agent, as amended pursuant to the Omnibus Amendment, as further amended pursuant to the Second Omnibus Amendment and as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

5. Omnibus Amendment to Security Documents, dated as of May 3, 2013, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and each Lender party thereto.

6. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated February 2, 1998, from Borrower, in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent (successor in interest to General Electric Capital Corporation), as supplemented and amended by that certain First Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated July 1, 1999, and by that certain Second Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage,

 

Schedule 2(a) – Page 1


Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated November 30, 1999, and by that certain Third Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated February 24, 2000, and by that certain Fourth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated February 20, 2001, and by that certain Fifth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated May 29, 2002, and by that certain Sixth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated December 2, 2002, and by that certain Seventh Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated July 14, 2003, and by that certain Eighth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated December 12, 2003, and by that certain Ninth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 11, 2005, and effective as of March 15, 2005, and by that certain Tenth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 26, 2006, and by that certain Eleventh Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 24, 2006, and by that certain Twelfth Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 29, 2007, that certain Thirteenth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 5, 2011, by that certain Fourteenth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 15, 2012 and effective as of November 14, 2012, that certain Fifteenth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013, that certain Sixteenth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of April 16, 2014, that certain Seventeenth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 15, 2016, that certain Eighteenth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 23, 2016 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “1998 Mortgage”).

7. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated December 13, 2002, from Borrower (as successor-by-merger to Offshore Energy I, LLC), in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 11, 2005, and effective as of March 15, 2005, as amended by that certain Second Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 24, 2006, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 5, 2011, as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Offshore I Mortgage”).

 

Schedule 2(a) – Page 2


8. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated December 13, 2002, from Borrower (as successor-by-merger to Offshore Energy II, LLC), in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 11, 2005, and effective as of March 15, 2005, as amended by that certain Second Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 24, 2006, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 5, 2011, as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment , Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2018 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Offshore II Mortgage”).

9. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated December 13, 2002, from Borrower (as successor-by-merger to Offshore Energy III, LLC), in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 11, 2005, and effective as of March 15, 2005, as amended by that certain Second Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 24, 2006, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 5, 2011, as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Offshore III Mortgage”).

10. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated December 12, 2003, from Borrower (as successor-by-merger to Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Properties LLC), in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent (Properties other than Mobile Bay Properties), as amended by that certain First Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of March 11, 2005, and effective as of March 15, 2005, as amended by that certain Second Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 24, 2006, as amended by that certain Third Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 5, 2011, as amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013, and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Gulf Mortgage”).

 

Schedule 2(a) – Page 3


11. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of April 30, 2010, from W&T Energy VI, LLC, in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 5, 2011, as amended by that certain Second Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013, as amended by that certain Third Supplement and Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of May 8, 2015, and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Energy VI Mortgage”).

12. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of May 5, 2011, from W&T Energy VI, LLC, in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013, as amended by that certain Second Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of July 15, 2015 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time ( Alabama ) (the “Alabama Mortgage”).

13. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of May 5, 2011, from W&T Energy VI, LLC, in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time ( Louisiana ) (the “Louisiana Mortgage”).

14. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated effective as of August 24, 2006, from Borrower (as successor-by-merger to Offshore Shelf, LLC), in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Offshore Shelf Mortgage”).

15. Deed of Trust, Mortgage Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of June 21, 2011, from Borrower, in favor of Martin Snyder, as trustee, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of November 8, 2013 and as amended by the applicable amendment listed on Schedule 2(b), and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (the “2011 Mortgage”).

1. 16. Various Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements naming Borrower, W&T Energy VI and W&T Energy VII, as debtor and the Administrative Agent, as secured party.

 

Schedule 2(a) – Page 4


SCHEDULE 2(b)

AMENDMENTS TO SECURITY AGREEMENTS

 

1.

Third Omnibus Amendment to Security Documents, dated as of the Closing Date (the “ Third Omnibus Amendment ”), by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself and the Lender Parties.

 

2.

Nineteenth Amendment to the 1998 Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

3.

Fifth Amendment to the Offshore I Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

4.

Fifth Amendment to the Offshore II Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

5.

Fifth Amendment to the Offshore III Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

6.

Fifth Amendment to the Gulf Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

7.

Fourth Amendment to the Energy VI Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

8.

Third Amendment to the Alabama Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

9.

Second Amendment to the Louisiana Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

10.

Second Amendment to the Offshore Shelf Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

11.

Second Amendment to the 2011 Mortgage (as defined in Schedule 2(a)).

 

12.

Various UCC-1 financing statements, UCC-3 continuation statements and UCC-3 amendments regarding the address of the secured party and the name of the debtor.

 

Schedule 2(b) – Page 1


SCHEDULE 2.11(c)

EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT

W & T Offshore, LCs as of 9/01/18

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Schedule of Financial Commodity Derivatives

As of October 9, 2018

 

Beneficiary

   LC#      Current Amount      Effective Date      Expiry      Comments  

ExxonMobil Corporation

     GNN9A529G      $ 110,000.00        15-Oct-10        15-Oct-18     

Garden Banks Gas Pipeline, LLC

     G201442      $ 65,000.00        29-Apr-14        28-Apr-19     

Nautilus Pipeline Company LLC

     G201683      $ 54,000.00        1-Aug-14        1-Aug-19     

Sea Robin Pipeline Co. LLC

     94NBR54IU      $ 90,000.00        15-Jul-15        15-Jul-19     

Enbridge Offshore Facilities, LLC

     G204993      $ 9,358,427.10        11-Apr-18        8-Nov-18     
     

 

 

          
      $ 9,677,427.10           
     

 

 

          

 

Schedule 2.11(c) – Page 1


SCHEDULE 3

LENDERS SCHEDULE

 

     Revolving Loan
Percentage Share
    Revolving Loan
Commitment for
$750,000,000 Aggregate
Revolving Loan
Commitment
 

Lending Office :

    

Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC

31 West 52 nd Street, 20 th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Tel:   (212) 827-7600

Fax:  (212) 827-7227

Attn:   Rose Warren

 

(with a copy to:

909 Fannin, Suite 1100

Houston, Texas 77010

Tel:   (713) 653-8225

Fax:  (713) 652-2647

Attn:   Liana Chernysheva)

     25.0   $ 187,500,000.00  

Societe Generale

245 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10167

     20.0   $ 150,000,000.00  

Natixis, New York Branch

1251 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

     16.0   $ 120,000,000.00  

Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.

One Pierrepont Plaza

Brooklyn, New York 11201

Tel:   (718) 754-4041

Fax:  (718) 233-2132

Attn:   Michael Gavin

     19.0   $ 142,500,000.00  

 

Schedule 3 – Page 1


     Revolving Loan
Percentage Share
    Revolving Loan
Commitment for
$750,000,000 Aggregate
Revolving Loan
Commitment
 

ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC

100 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Tel:   (917) 284-6921

Fax:  (917) 284-6697

Attn:   Elsy Garcia

 

(with a copy to:

100 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Tel:   (917) 284-6904

Fax:  (917) 284-6697

Attn:   Glenn Ransier

     10.0   $ 75,000,000.00  

Amegy Bank National Association

1717 West Loop South

Houston, Texas 77027

Tel:   (713) 232-2022

Fax:  (713) 256-0002

Attn:   G. Scott Collins

     10.00   $ 75,000,000.00  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL

     100.000000   $ 750,000,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3 – Page 2


SCHEDULE 4

PRICING

 

Year

   Minimum Average
Pricing Oil
     Minimum Average
Pricing Gas
 

2018

   $ 68.45      $ 2.84  

2019

   $ 67.06      $ 2.72  

2020

   $ 64.89      $ 2.76  

 

Schedule 4 – Page 1


EXHIBIT A

REVOLVING LOAN NOTE

 

$___________________

   Houston, Texas                             ____________ __, 20__

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, W&T Offshore, Inc., a Texas corporation (herein called “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to ________________ (herein called “Lender”), the principal sum of _____________________ Dollars ($________________), or, if greater or less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans made under this Revolving Loan Note by Lender to Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), together with interest on the unpaid principal balance thereof as hereinafter set forth, both principal and interest payable as herein provided in lawful money of the United States of America to Administrative Agent’s account at a bank located in New York, New York as designated in writing to Borrower by Administrative Agent, as from time to time may be designated by the holder of this Revolving Loan Note.

This Revolving Loan Note (a) is issued and delivered under that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018, by and among Borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders (including Lender) and letter-of-credit issuing banks referred to therein as Issuers and the other persons from time to time party thereto (herein, as from time to time supplemented, amended or restated, called the “Credit Agreement”), and is a “Revolving Note” as defined therein, (b) is subject to the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement, which contains provisions for payments and prepayments hereunder and acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events, (c) is secured by and entitled to the benefits of certain Security Documents (as identified and defined in the Credit Agreement), and (d) is executed in partial replacement, substitution, renewal, extension, and increase of, but not in extinguishment or novation of, those Revolving Loan Notes, dated as of November 8, 2013, executed by Borrower and payable to certain lenders. Payments on this Revolving Loan Note shall be made and applied as provided herein and in the Credit Agreement. Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement for a description of certain rights, limitations of rights, obligations and duties of the parties hereto and for the meanings assigned to terms used and not defined herein and to the Security Documents for a description of the nature and extent of the security thereby provided and the rights of the parties thereto.

The principal amount of this Revolving Loan Note, together with all interest accrued hereon, shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date.

So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all ABR Loans (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) from time to time outstanding shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Alternate Base Rate in effect on such day. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all ABR Loans (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) from time to time outstanding shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Default Rate in effect on such day. On each ABR Payment Date Borrower shall pay to the holder hereof all unpaid interest which has accrued on the ABR Loans to but not including such ABR Payment Date. So long as no Event

 

Exhibit A-1


of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Eurodollar Loan (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) shall bear interest on each day during the related Interest Period at the related Eurodollar Rate in effect on such day. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Eurodollar Loan (exclusive of any past due principal or interest) from time to time outstanding shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Default Rate in effect on such day. On each Eurodollar Rate Payment Date relating to such Eurodollar Loan, Borrower shall pay to the holder hereof all unpaid interest which has accrued on such Eurodollar Loan to but not including such Eurodollar Rate Payment Date. All past due principal of and past due interest on the Loans shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Default Rate in effect on such day, and such interest shall be due and payable daily as it accrues. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph: (A) this Revolving Loan Note shall never bear interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, and (B) if at any time the rate at which interest is payable on this Revolving Loan Note is limited by the Highest Lawful Rate (by the foregoing subsection (a) or by reference to the Highest Lawful Rate in the definitions of Alternate Base Rate, Eurodollar Rate, and Default Rate), this Revolving Loan Note shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate and shall continue to bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until such time as the total amount of interest accrued hereon equals (but does not exceed) the total amount of interest which would have accrued hereon had there been no Highest Lawful Rate applicable hereto.

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph and all other provisions of this Revolving Loan Note, in no event shall the interest payable hereon, whether before or after maturity, exceed the maximum amount of interest which, under applicable Law, may be contracted for, charged, or received on this Revolving Loan Note, and this Revolving Loan Note is expressly made subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement which more fully set out the limitations on how interest accrues hereon.

If this Revolving Loan Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection after default, or if all or any part of the indebtedness represented hereby is proved, established or collected in any court or in any bankruptcy, receivership, debtor relief, probate or other court proceedings, Borrower and all endorsers, sureties and guarantors of this Revolving Loan Note jointly and severally agree to pay reasonable attorneys’ fees and collection costs to the holder hereof in addition to the principal and interest payable hereunder.

Borrower and all endorsers, sureties and guarantors of this Revolving Loan Note hereby severally waive demand, presentment, notice of demand and of dishonor and nonpayment of this Revolving Loan Note, protest, notice of protest, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity of this Revolving Loan Note, declaration or notice of acceleration of the maturity of this Revolving Loan Note, diligence in collecting, the bringing of any suit against any party and any notice of or defense on account of any extensions, renewals, partial payments or changes in any manner of or in this Revolving Loan Note or in any of its terms, provisions and covenants, or any releases or substitutions of any security, or any delay, indulgence or other act of any trustee or any holder hereof, whether before or after maturity.

 

Exhibit A-2


THIS REVOLVING LOAN NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING FOR SUCH PURPOSES SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE SAME ARE GOVERNED BY APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW.

 

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit A-3


EXHIBIT B

BORROWING NOTICE

Reference is made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”), by and among W&T Offshore, Inc. (“Borrower”), Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent, and certain lenders (“Lenders”) and letter-of-credit issuing banks from time to time parties thereto as Issuers (the “Agreement”). Terms which are defined in the Agreement are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement.

Borrower hereby requests a Borrowing of new Loans to be advanced pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement as follows:

 

Aggregate amount of Borrowing:

  $     
    

 

 

Type of Loans in Borrowing:

      
 

 

 

Date on which Loans are to be advanced:

      
 

 

 

Length of Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans (1, 2, 3 or 6 months):

       months
 

 

 

To induce Lenders to make such Loans, Borrower hereby represents, warrants, acknowledges, and agrees to and with Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

(a) The officer of Borrower signing this instrument is the duly elected, qualified and acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer’s signature hereto having all necessary authority to act for Borrower in making the request herein contained (it being agreed and understood that such officer is signing in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity).

(b) The representations and warranties of Borrower set forth in the Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (unless such representation or warranty is subject to a materiality qualifier in which case such representative or warranty is true and correct) on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent that the facts on which such representations and warranties are based have been changed by the extension of credit under the Agreement), with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date hereof.

(c) There does not exist on the date hereof any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency which has not been waived in writing as provided in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement; nor will any such Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency exist upon Borrower’s receipt and application of the Loans requested hereby. Borrower will use the Loans hereby requested in compliance with Section 2.4 of the Agreement.

 

Exhibit B-1


(d) Except to the extent waived in writing as provided in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement, Borrower has performed and complied with all conditions to the borrowing of Loans contained in the Agreement required to be complied with by Borrower on or prior to the date hereof, and each of the conditions precedent to borrowing of Loans contained in the Agreement remains satisfied as of the date hereof.

(e) The Facility Usage, after the making of the Loans requested hereby, will not be in excess of the Borrowing Base on the date requested for the making of such Loans or, in the case of the initial Borrowing on the Closing Date the amount provided in Section 4.1( ) of the Credit Agreement.

(f) The Loan Documents have not been modified, amended or supplemented by any unwritten representations or promises, by any course of dealing, or by any other means not provided for in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement. The Agreement and the other Loan Documents are hereby ratified, approved, and confirmed in all respects.

(g) The Letter of Credit to be issued constitutes a Priority Lien Obligation (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement and after giving effect to such Loan, the Priority Lien Debt does not exceed The Priority Lien Cap (as such terms are defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).

The officer of Borrower signing this instrument hereby certifies that, to the best of his knowledge after due inquiry, the above representations, warranties, acknowledgments, and agreements of Borrower are true, correct and complete in all material respects (unless such representation or warranty is subject to a materiality qualifier in which case such representation or warranty is true and correct) (it being agreed and understood that such officer is signing in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of ____________, 20___.

 

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit B-2


EXHIBIT C

CONTINUATION/CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”), by and among W&T Offshore, Inc. (“Borrower”), Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent, and certain lenders (“Lenders”) and letter-of-credit issuing banks from time to time parties thereto as Issuers (the “Agreement”). Terms which are defined in the Agreement are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement.

Borrower hereby requests a conversion or continuation of existing Loans into a new Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Agreement as follows:

Existing Borrowing(s) to be continued or converted:

$______________ of Revolving Loans which are Eurodollar Loans with Interest Period ending ________________ 1

$___________________ of Revolving Loans which are ABR Loans 2

 

  

If being combined with new

Loans,         $___________________

  
of new Loans to be advanced on ________________________      
Aggregate amount of new Borrowing:                        $___________________   
Type of Loans in new Borrowing:                        ____________________   
Date of continuation or conversion:                        ____________________   

Length of Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans 1, 2, 3 or 6 months):

                       ____________________ months   

To meet the conditions set out in the Agreement for such conversion/continuation, Borrower hereby represents, warrants, acknowledges, and agrees to and with Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

(a) The officer of Borrower signing this instrument is the duly elected, qualified and acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer’s signature hereto having all necessary authority to act for Borrower in making the request herein contained.

 

 

1  

Repeat as appropriate for different tranches of Loans.

2  

Repeat as appropriate for different tranches of Loans.

 

Exhibit C-1


(b) There does not exist on the date hereof any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency which has not been waived in writing as provided in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement.

(c) The Loan Documents have not been modified, amended or supplemented by any unwritten representations or promises, by any course of dealing, or by any other means not provided for in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement. The Agreement and the other Loan Documents are hereby ratified, approved, and confirmed in all respects.

The officer of Borrower signing this instrument hereby certifies that, to the best of his knowledge after due inquiry, the above representations, warranties, acknowledgments, and agreements of Borrower are true, correct and complete.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this instrument is executed as of __________, 20___.

 

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit C-2


EXHIBIT D

CERTIFICATE ACCOMPANYING

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Reference is made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”), by and among W&T Offshore, Inc. (“Borrower”), Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent, and certain lenders (“Lenders”) and letter of credit issuing banks from time to time parties thereto as Issuers (the “Agreement”). Terms which are defined in the Agreement are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement.

This Certificate is furnished pursuant to Section 6.2(b) of the Agreement. Together herewith Borrower is furnishing to Administrative Agent and each Lender, Borrower’s *[audited/unaudited] financial statements (the “Financial Statements”) as of *[insert date] (the “Reporting Date”). Borrower hereby represents, warrants, and acknowledges to Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

(a) the officer of Borrower signing this instrument is the duly elected, qualified and acting _____________ of Borrower and as such is Borrower’s chief financial officer (it being agreed and understood that such officer is signing in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity);

(b) the Financial Statements are accurate and complete and satisfy the requirements of the Agreement, in each case, in all material respects;

(c) on the Reporting Date Borrower was, and on the date hereof Borrower is, in full compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 7.11 and 7.12 of the Agreement *[except for any non-compliance under Section(s) _____________ of the Agreement, which non-compliance *[is/are] more fully described on a schedule attached hereto];

(d) on the Reporting Date Borrower was, and on the date hereof Borrower is, in full compliance with the disclosure requirements of Section 6.4 of the Agreement, and no Default otherwise existed on the Reporting Date or otherwise exists on the date of this instrument *[except for Default(s) under Section(s) _____________ of the Agreement, which *[is/are] more fully described on a schedule attached hereto]; and

(e) *[Unless otherwise disclosed on a schedule attached hereto,] The representations and warranties of Borrower set forth in the Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent that the facts on which such representations and warranties are based have been changed by the extension of credit under the Agreement), with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date hereof.

(f) During the accounting period ending on the Reporting Date, the Borrower did not form or acquire or make any Investment in, any Subsidiary (other than, with respect to Investments only, in any Guarantor Subsidiary) or any Person (including any Operating Joint Venture) that is not a Subsidiary, other than: [_______] [describe].

 

Exhibit D-1


The officer of Borrower signing this instrument hereby certifies that he has reviewed the Loan Documents and the Financial Statements and has otherwise undertaken such inquiry as is in his opinion necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion with respect to the above representations, warranties and acknowledgments of Borrower and, to the best of his knowledge, such representations, warranties, and acknowledgments are true, correct and complete in all material respects (unless such representation or warranty is subject to a materiality qualifier in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct) (it being agreed and understood that such officer is signing in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed as of __________, 20__ .

 

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit D-2


EXHIBIT E

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

Reference is made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”), by and among W&T Offshore, Inc. (“Borrower”), Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent, and certain lenders (“Lenders”) and letter of credit issuing banks from time to time parties thereto as Issuers (the “Agreement”). Terms which are defined in the Agreement are used herein with the meanings given them in the Agreement.

The “Assignor” and the “Assignee” referred to on Schedule 1 agree as follows:

1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, without recourse and without representation or warranty except as expressly set forth herein, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, an interest in and to the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Agreement and the other Loan Documents as of the date hereof equal to the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Agreement and the other Loan Documents. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee’s Commitments and the amount of the Loans owing to the Assignee will be as set forth on Schedule 1.

2. The Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) represents and warrants that it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) represents and warrants that it is not a Defaulting Lender; (iv) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Documents or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (v) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture or the performance or observance by any Restricted Person or Operating Joint Venture of any of its obligations under the Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (vi) attaches the applicable Notes held by the Assignor and requests that Administrative Agent exchange such Notes for new Notes payable to the Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitments assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto and to the Assignor in an amount equal to the Commitments retained by the Assignor, if any, as specified on Schedule 1.

3. The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.2 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Agreement; (iii) confirms that it is an Eligible Transferee;

 

Exhibit E-1


(iv) appoints and authorizes Administrative Agent to take such action as Administrative Agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Agreement as are delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; (v) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of the Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender; and (vi) attaches any U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other forms required under Section 3.6(e).

4. Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, it will be delivered to Administrative Agent for acceptance and recording by Administrative Agent. The effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance (the “ Effective Date ”) shall be the date of acceptance hereof by Administrative Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1.

5. Upon such acceptance and recording by Administrative Agent, as of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to the Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Agreement.

6. Upon such acceptance and recording by Administrative Agent, from and after the Effective Date, Administrative Agent shall make all payments under the Agreement and the Notes in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal, interest and commitment fees with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Agreement and the Notes for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.

7. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

8. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different 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 Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date specified thereon.

 

Exhibit E-2


SCHEDULE 1

to

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Percentage Share assigned:    __________% (Revolving Loan Percentage Share)
   __________% (Aggregate Percentage Share)
Assignee’s Commitments:    $__________ (Revolving Loan Commitment)
   $__________ (Letter of Credit Commitment)
Aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans assigned:    $__________ (Revolving Loans)
Principal amount of Note(s) payable to Assignee:    $__________ (Revolving Loans)
Principal amount of Note payable to Assignor:    $__________ (Revolving Loans)
Effective Date:    ____________________

 

Exhibit E-3


[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor
By:  

 

  Title
  Dated:                      , 20       
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as Assignee
By:  

 

  Title
Domestic Lending Office:
Eurodollar Lending Office:

 

Accepted [and Approved] **
TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS) LLC, as Administrative Agent
By:  

                                      

  Title:
THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Issuer
By:  

 

  Title:
Société Generale, as Issuer
By:  

 

  Title:
NATIXIS, as Issuer
By:  

 

  Title:
By:  

 

  Title:
[Approved this          day of                  , 20       

 

Exhibit E-4


W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

                          

  Name:
  Title:

 

**

Consent of Administrative Agent, each Issuer and (so long as no Default or Event of Default) the Borrower is required if the Assignee is an Eligible Transferee solely by reason of clause (b) of the definition of “Eligible Transferee”.

 

Exhibit E-5


EXHIBIT F

(Reserved)

 

Exhibit F-1


EXHIBIT G

FORM OF ISSUANCE REQUEST

Issuance Request

 

                                         

                                         

                                         

Attention:                                                      

Re: W&T Offshore, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Issuance Request is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.11(b) of the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified, the “Agreement”), by and among W&T Offshore, Inc. (“Borrower”), Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent, and certain lenders (“Lenders”) and letter of credit issuing banks from time to time parties thereto as Issuers (the “Agreement”). Terms used herein have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires.

The Borrower hereby requests that the Issuer issue a Letter of Credit on [Date] in the aggregate Stated Amount of                [and in the form attached hereto]. 1

The beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit will be                 , and such Letter of Credit will be in support of the [Provide Description] and will have a Stated Expiry Date of [Date]. The following documents will be required upon presentation:

[Provide Description]

Attached hereto is an executed copy of an [Application for Letter of Credit]

To induce the Issuer to issue such Letter of Credit and the Lenders to participate in such Letter of Credit, Borrower hereby represents, warrants, acknowledges, and agrees to and with Administrative Agent, the Issuer and each Lender that:

(a) The officer of Borrower signing this instrument is the duly elected, qualified and acting officer of Borrower as indicated below such officer’s signature hereto having all necessary authority to act for Borrower in making the request herein contained (it being agreed and understood that such officer is signing in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity).

 

 

1  

Include where the Borrower is providing the form of Letter of Credit requested to be issued.

 

Exhibit G-1


(b) The representations and warranties of Borrower set forth in the Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (unless such representation or warranty is subject to a materiality qualifier in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct) on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent that the facts on which such representations and warranties are based have been changed by the extension of credit under the Agreement), with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date hereof.

(c) There does not exist on the date hereof any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency which has not been waived in writing as provided in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement; nor will any such Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency exist upon Borrower’s receipt and application of the letter of Credit requested hereby. Borrower will use the Loans hereby requested in compliance with Section 2.4 of the Agreement.

(d) Except to the extent waived in writing as provided in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement, Borrower has performed and complied with all agreements and conditions in the Agreement required to be performed or complied with by Borrower on or prior to the date hereof, and each of the conditions precedent to issuance of a Letter of Credit contained in the Agreement remains satisfied.

(e) The Facility Usage, after the issuance of the Letter of Credit requested hereby, will not be in excess of the Borrowing Base on the date requested for the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

(f) The Loan Documents have not been modified, amended or supplemented by any unwritten representations or promises, by any course of dealing, or by any other means not provided for in Section 10.1(a) of the Agreement. The Agreement and the other Loan Documents are hereby ratified, approved, and confirmed in all respects.

(h) The Loan to be made constitutes a Priority Lien Obligation (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement and after giving effect to such Loan, the Priority Lien Debt does not exceed the Priority Lien Cap (as such terms are defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).

The officer of Borrower signing this instrument hereby certifies that, to the best of his knowledge after due inquiry, the above representations, warranties, acknowledgments, and agreements of Borrower are true, correct and complete in all material respects (unless such representation or warranty is subject to a materiality qualifier in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct) (it being agreed and understood that such officer is signing in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity).

 

Exhibit G-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Issuance Request to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer this                  day of                              , 20          .

 

BORROWER :
W&T OFFSHORE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Address:     Nine Greenway Plaza
                    Suite 300
                    Houston, TX 70046
Telephone:  (713) 626-8525
Fax:             (713) 626-8527

 

Exhibit G-3


EXHIBIT H-1

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent and each Issuer, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.6 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:  

                     

  Name:
  Title:
  Dated:                          , 201 [    ]

 

Exhibit H-1-1


EXHIBIT H-2

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent and each Issuer, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.6 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
  Dated:                      , 201 [    ]

 

Exhibit H-2-1


EXHIBIT H-3

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent and each Issuer, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.6 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
  Dated:                      , 201 [    ]

 

Exhibit H-3-1


EXHIBIT H-4

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among W&T Offshore, Inc., Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent and each Issuer, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.6 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section (c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-81MY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-81MY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
  Dated:                      , 201 [    ]

 

Exhibit H-4-1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

W&T Offshore, Inc. Announces Closing of Major Debt Refinancing

HOUSTON, Oct. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) (“W&T Offshore” or the “Company”) announced today that it has closed transactions to effect a refinancing of substantially all of its outstanding indebtedness. The Company today closed its previously announced private offering of $625.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.75% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2023 (the “New Notes”) which priced at par. The Company also entered into a Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which provides for a revolving credit and letter of credit facility with an initial borrowing base of $250.0 million.

The Company used net proceeds from the offering of New Notes, borrowings under its new amended and restated revolving credit facility and cash on hand to (i) repay and retire its outstanding $75.0 million 11.00% 1.5 Lien Term Loan and $300.0 million 9.00% Second Lien Term Loan and (ii) redeem or repurchase in full all of its outstanding 8.500% Senior Notes due 2019, 9.00%/10.75% Senior Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes due 2020 and 8.50%/10.00% Senior Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes due 2021 (collectively, the “Existing Notes”).

The Company also announced its repurchase and retirement of $464.4 million in aggregate principal of its Existing Notes pursuant to its acceptance of early tenders of Existing Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by holders pursuant to the Company’s previously announced offer to purchase for cash any and all of its outstanding Existing Notes. The remaining outstanding $63.8 million in aggregate principal of its Existing Notes was irrevocably called for redemption on November 17, 2018 under the terms of the applicable indenture governing each issue of Existing Notes. Sufficient redemption funds were deposited in trust with the indenture trustee to satisfy and discharge all of the Company’s obligations under the Existing Notes and the respective indentures, and settlement of such redemptions will occur on November 19, 2018, the next business day following the redemption date.

The Company’s offer to purchase remaining Existing Notes will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 31, 2018, unless extended. Outstanding Existing Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn and accepted by the Company pursuant to the terms of the previously announced offer to purchase will receive the tender offer consideration described in the offer to purchase dated October 3, 2018, which does not include the early tender premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest.


The New Notes are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws; and unless so registered, the New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The New Notes were being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in the United States under Rule 144A and to non-U.S. investors outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a sale of, the New Notes or any other securities, nor does it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

About W&T Offshore

W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and has grown through acquisitions, exploration and development. The Company currently has working interests in 48 producing fields in federal and state waters and has under lease approximately 650,000 gross acres, including approximately 440,000 gross acres on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf and approximately 210,000 gross acres in the deepwater. A majority of the Company’s daily production is derived from wells it operates.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, based on what we believe are reasonable assumptions. No assurance can be given, however, that these events will occur. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, among other things, market conditions, oil and gas price volatility, uncertainties inherent in oil and gas production operations and estimating reserves, unexpected future capital expenditures, competition, the success of our risk management activities, governmental regulations, uncertainties and other factors discussed in W&T Offshore’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and subsequent Form 10-Q reports found at  www.sec.gov  or at our website at  www.wtoffshore.com  under the Investor Relations section. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in these reports.


CONTACT:   

Dennard Lascar Investor Relations

lelliott@dennardlascar.com

713-529-6600

Lisa Elliott

  

Janet Yang

VP & CFO

investorrelations@wtoffshore.com

713-624-7326