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Index to Financial Statements

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2019

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1311   83-1106283
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification Number)

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78730 (512) 220-6350

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Blake C. Williams

Chief Financial Officer

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78730

(512) 220-6350

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Douglas E. McWilliams

Thomas G. Zentner

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 758-2222

   

David J. Miller

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 546-5400

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box:  ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(1)(2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  $100,000,000   $12,120

 

 

(1)

Includes shares issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The securities described herein may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED                     , 2019

            Shares

 

LOGO

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

Class A Common Stock

 

 

This is the initial public offering of our Class A common stock. We are selling                  shares of Class A common stock.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price of the Class A common stock is expected to be between $                 and $                 per share. We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MNRL.”

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than                  shares of Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase, exercisable within 30 days from the date of this prospectus, up to an additional                  shares from us at the public offering price less the underwriting discount and commissions.

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and as such, we have elected to take advantage of certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings. See “Risk Factors” and “Summary—Emerging Growth Company.”

Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. See “ Risk Factors ” on page 28.

 

      

Price to
Public

    

Underwriting
Discounts and
Commissions(1)

    

Proceeds to
Issuer

Per Share

     $                  $                  $            

Total

     $                      $                      $                

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

Delivery of the shares of Class A common stock will be made on or about                     , 2019.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Credit Suisse   Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Barclays     RBC Capital Markets
UBS Investment Bank     Wells Fargo Securities
Raymond James     Seaport Global Securities
    Simmons Energy   Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.
A Division of Piper Jaffray  


The date of this prospectus is                     , 2019.


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4 LOGO


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LOGO

All figures as of December 31, 2018

Rigs per 100K NRA figures as of three months ended December 31, 2018; 64 rigs *100,000 NRA / 68,800 NRA % of DUCs figures based on 806 Brigham identified DUCs relative to the EIA DUC count in the Permian, SCOOP/STACK, DJ, and Williston Basins; as of December 31, 2018

Organic Inventory calculated as 11,648 Undeveloped Locations / 748 2017 Wells Spud

 


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Index to Financial Statements

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

S UMMARY

     1  

R ISK F ACTORS

     28  

C AUTIONARY S TATEMENT R EGARDING F ORWARD -L OOKING S TATEMENTS

     56  

U SE OF P ROCEEDS

     58  

D IVIDEND P OLICY

     59  

C APITALIZATION

     60  

D ILUTION

     61  

S ELECTED H ISTORICAL AND P RO F ORMA F INANCIAL D ATA

     63  

M ANAGEMENT S D ISCUSSION AND A NALYSIS OF F INANCIAL C ONDITION AND R ESULTS OF O PERATIONS

     65  

B USINESS

     84  

M ANAGEMENT

     110  

E XECUTIVE C OMPENSATION

     117  

S ECURITY O WNERSHIP OF C ERTAIN B ENEFICIAL O WNERS AND M ANAGEMENT

     125  

C ORPORATE R EORGANIZATION

     129  

C ERTAIN R ELATIONSHIPS AND R ELATED P ARTY T RANSACTIONS

     134  

D ESCRIPTION OF C APITAL S TOCK

     138  

S HARES E LIGIBLE FOR F UTURE S ALE

     144  

C ERTAIN ERISA C ONSIDERATIONS

     146  

M ATERIAL U.S. F EDERAL I NCOME T AX C ONSIDERATIONS FOR N ON -U.S. H OLDERS

     149  

U NDERWRITING

     153  

L EGAL M ATTERS

     160  

E XPERTS

     160  

W HERE Y OU C AN F IND M ORE I NFORMATION

     160  

I NDEX TO F INANCIAL S TATEMENTS

     F-1  

A NNEX A: G LOSSARY OF O IL AND N ATURAL G AS T ERMS

     A-1  

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on behalf of us or the information to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters are offering to sell shares of Class A common stock and seeking offers to buy shares of Class A common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the Class A common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Through and including                     , 2019 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in our Class A common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

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Industry and Market Data

The market data and certain other statistical information used throughout this prospectus are based on independent industry publications, government publications and other published independent sources. Although we believe these third-party sources are reliable as of their respective dates, neither we nor the underwriters have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of this information. Some data is also based on our good faith estimates. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications.

Trademarks and Trade Names

We own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business. This prospectus may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks, trade names or products in this prospectus is not intended to, and does not imply, a relationship with us or an endorsement or sponsorship by or of us. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® , TM or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and trade names.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our Class A common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the historical financial statements and the notes to those financial statements, before investing in our Class A common stock. The information presented in this prospectus assumes, unless otherwise indicated, (i) an initial public offering price of $                 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) and (ii) that the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock is not exercised. You should read “Risk Factors” for information about important risks that you should consider before buying our Class A common stock.

Brigham Minerals, Inc., the issuer in this offering (together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, “Brigham Minerals”), is a holding company formed to own an interest in, and act as the sole managing member of, Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC (“Brigham LLC”). Brigham LLC will wholly own Brigham Resources, LLC (“Brigham Resources”), which wholly owns Brigham Minerals, LLC and Rearden Minerals, LLC (collectively, the “Minerals Subsidiaries”), which are Brigham Resources’ sole material assets, and also owns Brigham Resources Operating, LLC (“Brigham Operating”), which will be distributed to our Existing Owners (as defined below) prior to the completion of this offering. Accordingly, our historical financial statements are those of Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating, which we refer to herein as our “predecessor.”

Unless indicated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “us,” “we” or “our” (i) for periods prior to completion of this offering, refer to the assets and operations (including reserves, production and acreage) of Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating, and (ii) for periods after completion of this offering, refer to the assets and operations of Brigham Minerals and its subsidiaries, including Brigham LLC, Brigham Resources and the Minerals Subsidiaries. This prospectus includes certain terms commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry, which are defined elsewhere in this prospectus in the “Glossary of Oil and Natural Gas Terms” contained in Annex A.

The estimates of our proved, probable and possible reserves as of December 31, 2018 have been audited by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (“CG&A”), our independent reserve engineers, and the estimates of our proved, probable and possible reserves as of December 31, 2017 have been prepared by CG&A. Summaries of CG&A’s reports are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Our Company

Overview

We formed our company in 2012 to acquire and actively manage a portfolio of mineral and royalty interests in the core of what we view as the most active, highly economic, liquids-rich resource basins across the continental United States. Our primary business objective is to maximize risk-adjusted total return to our shareholders by both capturing growth in free cash flow from the continued development of our existing portfolio of 11,648 undeveloped horizontal drilling locations unburdened by development capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, as well as leveraging our highly experienced technical evaluation team to continue to execute upon our scalable business model of sourcing, methodically evaluating and integrating accretive minerals acquisitions in the core of top-tier, liquids-rich resource plays.

Our portfolio is comprised of mineral and royalty interests across four of the most highly economic, liquids-rich resource basins in the continental United States, including the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, the SCOOP and STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the Denver-Julesburg (“DJ”) Basin in Colorado

 

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and Wyoming and the Williston Basin in North Dakota. Our highly technical approach towards mineral acquisitions in the geologic core of top-tier resource plays has purposefully led to a concentrated portfolio covering 38 of the most highly active counties for horizontal drilling in the continental United States. According to RS Energy Group (“RSEG”), as of December 31, 2018, operators have deployed 60% of the horizontal rig fleet, and 68% of the liquids-focused horizontal rig fleet, in the continental United States in these same 38 counties, which we believe will continue to result in the consistent long-term development of our asset base. On a pro forma basis giving effect to our portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres at December 31, 2018 as if we had owned it since January 1, 2013, we estimate that the production volumes net to our interests would have grown at an approximate 48% compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, from the beginning of 2013 through December 31, 2018, despite crude oil prices decreasing substantially during that same time period, as illustrated by the following chart.

 

LOGO

Since inception, we have executed on our technically driven, disciplined acquisition approach and have closed 1,292 transactions with third-party mineral and royalty interest owners as of December 31, 2018. We have increased our mineral and royalty interests from approximately 10,200 net royalty acres as of December 31, 2013, to approximately 68,800 net royalty acres as of December 31, 2018, which represents a 47% compound annual growth rate in our mineral and royalty interests over that period. See “—Our Company—Our Mineral and Royalty Interests” for a discussion of how we calculate net royalty acres.

The following table summarizes certain information regarding our net royalty acreage acquisitions during each year of our operations.

 

     2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018      Total  

Net Royalty Acres (NRAs) Acquired

     500        9,700        17,300        7,200        9,800        9,400        14,900        68,800  

Number of Acquisitions

     15        313        380        152        121        110        201        1,292  

Average NRAs per Acquisition

     33        31        46        47        81        85        74        53  

NRAs at Period End

     500        10,200        27,500        34,700        44,500        53,900        68,800        68,800  

By targeting core, top-tier mineral acreage, our interests have continued to see rapid development with a total of approximately 748 horizontal wells spud on our mineral and royalty interests during 2017. This

 

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significant activity has similarly translated into rapid production growth with our production volumes growing approximately 65% from 2017 to 2018. Further, our production volumes are comprised of high-value liquids with 70% of our volumes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 composed of crude oil and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), which represents 88% of our mineral and royalty revenue for the period. The combined growth in our production volumes and the high percentage of liquids production have resulted in a 99% increase in our royalty revenue from 2017 to 2018. We expect to see future organic growth in our production, revenue and free cash flow from 806 drilled but uncompleted horizontal wells (“DUCs”) across our interests and approximately 685 horizontal drilling permits as of December 31, 2018 (excluding Laramie County, Wyoming), all of which are expected to occur without additional capital expenditure outlays. Development of permits on our acreage is driven by robust and consistent rig activity on meaningful portions of our acreage. Over the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, there have been an average of 43 horizontal rigs across our acreage, developing an average 1,600 net mineral acres, which we believe provides visibility toward future production growth.

 

Average Quarterly Rigs on Acreage   Average Quarterly NMA Under Development
LOGO   LOGO

In addition to existing near-term development, our permitted horizontal drilling locations represent only approximately 6% of the remaining proved, probable and possible undeveloped horizontal drilling locations incorporated by CG&A in our reserve report as of December 31, 2018, thereby providing us with a substantial long-term drilling inventory on our acreage.

As indicated by the following table, from 2016 to 2017, the gross number of wells spud and wells turned to production on our acreage increased by 76% and 94%, respectively, as our average realized prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs increased by 24.5%, 22.9% and 48.9%, respectively. During that same period, however, the number of wells spud and turned to production on our acreage as a percentage of the total number of wells spud and completed in our basins remained relatively unchanged. We believe this consistency is an indication that our assets are located in the core of our resource plays and that operators will continue deploying rigs and capital to develop our existing mineral and royalty interests, even in low commodity price environments. Based solely on the 748 horizontal wells spud on our acreage during 2017 and our 11,648 total gross undeveloped horizontal drilling locations as of December 31, 2018, we believe we have 16 years of organic drilling inventory.

 

     2016     2017  
     On Our
Acreage
     Total
Across
Basins
     Our
Share
of Total
    On Our
Acreage
     Total
Across
Basins
     Our
Share
of Total
 

Wells Spud

     409        4,127        10     748        7,131        10

Wells Turned to Production

     311        4,075        8     597        6,753        9

Our management team has a long history of identifying, acquiring, delineating, developing and successfully monetizing positions in liquids-rich resource basins. Prior to forming Brigham Resources, our Executive Chairman, Ben (Bud) Brigham formed Brigham Exploration Company (“Brigham Exploration”), where it oversaw the

 

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identification, acquisition, delineation and development of approximately 375,000 net acres in the Williston Basin prior to Brigham Exploration’s sale to Statoil ASA (“Statoil”) in December 2011 for $4.4 billion. Brigham Exploration utilized its technical capabilities in the Williston Basin to identify and acquire highly prospective leasehold acreage with favorable geologic attributes and employed advanced drilling and completion technologies to cost-effectively extract oil and natural gas. Immediately following the sale of Brigham Exploration, a subset of our management team then formed Brigham Operating and executed on these same strategies in the Southern Delaware Basin in West Texas. By applying rigorous geologic evaluation criteria, Brigham Operating was an early entrant in the Southern Delaware Basin in Pecos County, Texas, where it assembled an approximate 80,185 net acre leasehold position in a largely contiguous block. Brigham Operating sold these assets to Diamondback Energy, Inc., in February 2017 for approximately $2.55 billion.

Our Mineral and Royalty Interests

Mineral interests are real-property interests that are typically perpetual and grant both ownership of the oil, natural gas and NGLs under a tract of land and the right to lease development rights to a third party. When those rights are leased, usually for a three-year primary term, we typically receive an upfront cash payment, known as lease bonus, and we retain a mineral royalty, which entitles us to a percentage of production or revenue. In addition to mineral interests, which represented approximately 97% of our net royalty acres as of December 31, 2018, we also own other types of interests, including nonparticipating royalty interests (“NPRIs”) and overriding royalty interests (“ORRIs”). ORRIs burden the working interest ownership of a lease and represent the right to receive a fixed percentage of production or revenue from production from a lease. ORRIs remain in effect until the associated lease expires and are therefore not perpetual in nature. Please see “Business—Our Mineral and Royalty Interests.”

As a mineral and royalty interest owner, we incur the initial cost to acquire our interests, but thereafter do not incur any development capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, which are entirely borne by the operator. Mineral and royalty owners only incur their proportionate share of severance and ad valorem taxes, as well as in some instances, gathering, transportation and marketing costs. As a result, operating margins and therefore free cash flow for a mineral and royalty interest owner are higher as a percentage of revenue than for a traditional exploration and production operating company.

As of December 31, 2018, our mineral and royalty interests consisted of approximately 48,100 net mineral acres, which have been leased to operators to explore for and develop our oil and natural gas rights at a weighted average royalty of 17.9%. Typically, within the minerals industry, mineral owners standardize ownership to a 12.5%, or 1/8 th , royalty interest, which is referred to as a “net royalty acre.” Our net mineral acres standardized to a 1/8 th royalty equate to approximately 68,800 net royalty acres. When standardized on a 100% royalty basis, these approximately 68,800 net royalty acres equate to approximately 8,600 “100% royalty acres.” Our approximately 68,800 net royalty acres are located within 1,367 drilling spacing units (“DSUs”), which are the areas designated in a spacing order or unit designation as a unit and within which operators drill wellbores to develop our oil and natural gas rights. Our DSUs, in aggregate, consist of a total of approximately 1,356,000 gross acres, which we refer to as our “gross DSU acreage.” Within our gross DSU acreage, we expect to have an interest in wells currently producing or that will be drilled in the future. The following table summarizes our mineral and royalty interest position and the conversion of our interests between net mineral acres, net royalty acres and 100% royalty acres as of December 31, 2018.

 

Net Mineral Acres

   Weighted
Average
Royalty
    Net Royalty
Acres(1)
     100% Royalty
Acres(2)
     Gross DSU
Acres
     Implied Average
Net Revenue
Interest per
Well(3)
 

48,100

     17.9     68,800        8,600        1,356,000        0.6

 

(1)

Standardized to a 1/8 th royalty (i.e., 48,100 net mineral acres * 17.9% / 12.5%).

 

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(2)

Standardized to a 100% royalty (i.e., 68,800 net royalty acres * 12.5%).

(3)

Calculated as number of 100% royalty acres per gross DSU acre (i.e., 8,600 100% royalty acres / 1,356,000 gross DSU acres).

Our Properties

Focus Areas

Our mineral and royalty interests are primarily located in six resource plays, which we refer to as our focus areas. These include the Delaware and Midland Basins in the Permian Basin, the SCOOP and STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin, the DJ Basin and the Williston Basin. The following chart shows our overall exposure to each of our primary focus areas based on our net royalty acres in each focus area as of December 31, 2018.

 

LOGO

In addition, the following table summarizes certain information regarding our primary focus areas. Our average daily net production for the three months ended December 31, 2018 was comprised 55% of oil production, 28% of natural gas production and 17% of NGL production.

 

Basin

   Acreage as of December 31, 2018     Gross
Horizontal
Producing Well
Count as of
December 31,
2018(4)
     Average Daily Net
Production
for Three
Months Ended

December  31,
2018(5)

(Boe/d)
 
   Net
Mineral
Acres
     Weighted
Average
Royalty
    Net
Royalty
Acres(1)
     100%
Royalty
Acres(2)
     Gross DSU
Acres
     Implied Average
Net Revenue
Interest per
Well(3)
 

Delaware

     11,600        20.7     19,200        2,400        229,000        1.0     469        1,982  

Midland

     2,600        15.4     3,200        400        58,000        0.7     104        197  

SCOOP

     5,900        18.4     8,700        1,090        167,000        0.7     262        467  

STACK

     6,800        17.8     9,700        1,210        156,000        0.8     211        563  

DJ

     12,100        15.9     15,400        1,920        165,000        1.2     838        817  

Williston

     5,200        16.3     6,800        850        470,000        0.2     1,379        436  

Other

     3,900        18.6     5,800        730        111,000        0.7     92        118  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     48,100        17.9     68,800        8,600        1,356,000        0.6     3,355        4,579  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note: Individual amounts may not add up to totals due to rounding.

 

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Note:

Individual amounts may not add up to totals due to rounding.

(1)

Standardized to a 1/8 th royalty.

(2)

Standardized to a 100% royalty.

(3)

Calculated as number of 100% royalty acres per gross DSU acre.

(4)

Represents number of horizontal producing wells across all DSUs in which we participate.

(5)

Represents actual production plus allocated accrued volumes attributable to the period presented.

Permian Basin—Delaware and Midland Basins

The Permian Basin ranges from West Texas into southeastern New Mexico and is currently the most active area for horizontal drilling in the United States. The Permian Basin is further subdivided into the Delaware Basin in the west and the Midland Basin in the east. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 236 and 165 horizontal rigs running in the Delaware and Midland Basins, respectively. Based on our geologic and engineering data as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the Delaware Basin are prospective for seven or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Wolfcamp A, B, C and XY; First, Second and Third Bone Spring; and the Avalon. Our Delaware Basin mineral and royalty interests are located in Reeves, Loving, Ward, Pecos, Culberson and Winkler Counties, Texas with our remaining interests located in Lea County, New Mexico. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the Midland Basin are prospective for five or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Middle Spraberry; Lower Spraberry; and Wolfcamp A, B and C. Our Midland Basin mineral and royalty interests are located in Martin, Midland, Upton, Howard and Reagan Counties, Texas.

Anadarko Basin—SCOOP and STACK Plays

The SCOOP play (South Central Oklahoma Oil Province) is located in central Oklahoma in Grady, Garvin, Stephens and McClain Counties. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 32 horizontal rigs running in the SCOOP play. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the SCOOP play are prospective for two or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including multiple Woodford benches and the Springer Shale. In addition, operators are also currently testing other formations in the area including the Sycamore, Caney and Osage, which is also referred to as SCORE (Sycamore Caney Osage Resource Expansion). The STACK play (derived from Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties) is located in central Oklahoma in Kingfisher, Canadian, Caddo and Blaine Counties. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 70 horizontal rigs running in the STACK play. Based on our geologic and engineering data as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the STACK play are prospective for four or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including multiple benches within both the Meramec and Woodford formations.

DJ Basin

The DJ Basin is located in Northeast Colorado and Southeast Wyoming, with the majority of operator horizontal drilling activity located in Weld and Broomfield Counties, Colorado, and Laramie County, Wyoming. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 30 horizontal rigs running in the DJ Basin. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the DJ Basin are prospective for four or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Niobrara A, B and C and Codell formations.

 

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Williston Basin

The Williston Basin stretches from western North Dakota into eastern Montana with the majority of operator horizontal drilling activity located in Mountrail, Williams, and McKenzie Counties, North Dakota. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 54 horizontal rigs running in the Williston Basin. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current operator delineation efforts, we believe our mineral and royalty interests are prospective for two or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Bakken and multiple Three Forks benches. The majority of our interests are located in Mountrail, Williams and McKenzie Counties with additional interests owned in Divide, Burke, Dunn, Billings and Stark Counties, North Dakota and Richland County, Montana.

Other Counties

Our other interests are comprised of mineral and royalty interests owned in Carter and Love Counties, Oklahoma in what we refer to as the Extended Woodford play in the Marietta and Ardmore Basins and in Bradford, Sullivan and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays. Our interests in Carter and Love Counties are largely being developed by Exxon Mobil Corporation through their operating subsidiary XTO Energy, which currently has four horizontal rigs operating in the area. Our interests in Pennsylvania are largely being developed by Range Resources Corporation and Chief Oil & Gas LLC.

For more detailed information about the basins and regions described above, please read “Business—Our Properties—Focus Areas.”

Prospective Undeveloped Horizontal Drilling Locations

We believe our production and free cash flow will grow through the drilling of the substantial undeveloped organic inventory of horizontal drilling locations located on our acreage. As of December 31, 2018, as reflected in our reserve report audited by CG&A, we have identified 11,648 gross proved, probable and possible undeveloped horizontal drilling locations across our gross DSU acreage. Furthermore, we believe additional optionality is possible through the delineation of additional horizontal formations including the Wolfcamp D and Jo Mill in the Permian Basin and the SCORE in the SCOOP and STACK plays which are not currently reflected in our reserve reports as well as downspacing in existing formations. Nearly 47% of our total net horizontal undeveloped locations are located in the Delaware and Midland Basins, with another 24% located in the SCOOP and STACK plays of the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, as shown in the following table.

 

     Gross
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
     Percentage
of Total
Portfolio
    Net
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
     Percentage
of Total
Portfolio
 

Delaware Basin

     3,844        33     40.0        40

Midland Basin

     787        7     6.7        7

SCOOP

     1,021        9     7.2        7

STACK

     1,776        15     16.6        17

DJ Basin

     1,681        14     21.7        22

Williston

     1,619        14     2.9        3

Other

     920        8     5.5        5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     11,648        100     100.5       

 

100

 

 

Note: Individual amounts may not total due to rounding.

 

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Additionally, the following table provides a detailed summary of our inventory of horizontal drilling locations as of December 31, 2018.

 

Productive Horizons

   Gross
Horizontal

Undeveloped
Locations(1)
     Total Gross
Horizontal
Locations(2)
     DSUs(3)(4)      Gross
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
Per DSU(4)
     Total Gross
Horizontal
Locations

Per DSU(4)
     Net
Horizontal
Undeveloped

Locations(5)
 

Delaware Basin

                 

Wolfcamp A

     1,673        2,036        202        8.3        10.1        19.9  

Wolfcamp B

     912        981        243        3.8        4.0        10.6  

3rd BS/WC XY

     538        663        171        3.1        3.9        3.9  

2nd Bone Spring

     336        354        108        3.1        3.3        1.8  

Avalon

     144        163        63        2.3        2.6        0.6  

Other

     241        261        64        3.8        4.1        3.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     3,844        4,458        307        12.5        14.5        40.0  

Midland Basin

                 

Wolfcamp A

     193        244        62        3.1        3.9        1.7  

Wolfcamp B

     195        252        58        3.4        4.3        1.7  

Lower Spraberry

     302        326        55        5.5        5.9        2.4  

Other

     97        106        26        3.7        4.1        1.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     787        928        72        10.9        12.9        6.7  

SCOOP

                 

Woodford

     754        1,029        155        4.9        6.6        5.1  

Springer

     267        328        79        3.4        4.2        2.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,021        1,357        155        6.6        8.8        7.2  

STACK

                 

Woodford

     919        1,021        150        6.1        6.8        8.2  

Meramec

     857        1,036        134        6.4        7.7        8.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,776        2,057        168        10.6        12.2        16.6  

DJ Basin

                 

Niobrara

     1,248        2,022        185        6.7        10.9        16.2  

Codell

     433        659        139        3.1        4.7        5.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,681        2,681        185        9.1        14.5        21.7  

Williston Basin

                 

Bakken

     743        1,659        340        2.2        4.9        1.2  

Three Forks

     876        1,537        340        2.6        4.5        1.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,619        3,196        343        4.7        9.3        2.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Other

     920        1,035        137        6.7        7.6        5.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Grand Total

     11,648        15,712        1,367        8.5        11.5        100.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

Note: Individual amounts may not total due to rounding.

(1)

Represents gross horizontal drilling locations across our gross DSU acreage.

(2)

Includes all undeveloped and developed wells in each horizon.

(3)

Represents the aggregate number of DSUs covering any of the applicable productive horizons as identified by CG&A.

(4)

The number of DSUs in each horizon and locations per DSU in each horizon do not total due to differing prospectivity of each horizon across each DSU (i.e., not all horizons are booked in all DSUs).

(5)

A net well represents a 100% net revenue interest in a single gross well.

 

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Third-Party Operators

Beyond our technical analysis to identify core, highly economic areas, an additional critical aspect of our evaluation process is to acquire mineral and royalty interests that will be drilled and completed by operators we believe will outperform their peers through the application of the latest drilling and completion technologies in each of our operating basins. The following chart summarizes our exposure to these operators based on the percentage of our net interests in the wells to be drilled by each operator.

 

LOGO

 

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In addition, the following table shows our exposure to each of these operators broken down by our primary focus areas based on the percentage of our net interests in the wells to be drilled by each operator as of December 31, 2018.

 

     Percentage as of December 31, 2018  

Operator

   Total
Portfolio
     Delaware      Midland      SCOOP      STACK      DJ
Basin
     Williston      Other  

Anadarko Petroleum

     10%        16%        —          —          —          15%        —          —    

Noble Energy

     9%        14%        —          —          —          16%        —          —    

Encana(1)

     6%        —          2%        22%        19%        *        5%        17%  

Continental Resources

     5%        —          —          45%        2%        —          14%        18%  

Devon Energy

     4%        1%        —          —          24%        —          —          *  

Marathon Oil

     4%        —          —          20%        14%        —          1%        2%  

Pioneer Natural Resources

     4%        —          56%        —          —          —          —          —    

XTO

     3%        6%        2%        —          —          —          6%        12%  

Cimarex Energy

     3%        4%        —          —          11%        —          —          3%  

Whiting Petroleum

     3%        —          —          —          —          13%        4%        —    

Extraction Oil and Gas

     3%        —          —          —          —          12%        —          —    

Halcon Resources

     2%        6%        —          —          —          —          2%        —    

EOG Resources

     2%        1%        —          *        —          9%        4%        —    

Patriot Resources

     2%        6%        —          —          —          —          —          —    

Diamondback Energy

     2%        4%        11%        —          —          —          —          —    

Concho Resources

     2%        5%        1%        —          —          —          —          —    

PDC Energy

     2%        1%        —          —          —          7%        —          —    

Chevron Corporation

     2%        4%        4%        —          —          —          —          —    

Verdad Oil and Gas

     2%        —          —          —          —          7%        —          —    

Occidental Petroleum

     2%        4%        *        —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     72%        72%        76%        87%        70%        79%        36%        52%  

Other Operators

     28%        28%        24%        13%        30%        21%        64%        48%  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     100%        100%        100%        100%        100%        100%        100%        100%  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note:

Individual amounts may not add up to totals due to rounding.

*

Less than 1%.

(1)

Pro forma for Encana Corporation’s acquisition of Newfield Exploration.

Business Strategies

Our primary business objective is to deliver an attractive risk-adjusted total return to our shareholders through (i) the growth of our free cash flow generated from our existing portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres, and (ii) the continued sourcing and execution of accretive mineral acquisitions in the core of highly economic, liquids-rich resource plays. We intend to accomplish this objective by executing the following strategies:

 

   

Capture growth in free cash flow through continued development of our mineral and royalty interests. We have targeted assets in the core of highly economic, liquids-rich resource plays, and we expect operators to continue deploying rigs and capital to develop our existing mineral and royalty interests, even in low commodity price environments. As of December 31, 2018, there were 806 DUCs across our acreage position, representing 13% of the DUCs estimated by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (the “EIA”) in our primary focus areas (as defined by the EIA, Anadarko, Bakken, Niobrara and Permian). We believe this DUC inventory will contribute to our near-term free cash flow growth as operators complete and turn these DUCs to sales. Further, we expect to generate future free cash flow growth from ongoing drilling and permitting activity on our interests. Since inception, our interests have been actively drilled, with a total of 3,355 producing horizontal wells on our gross DSU

 

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acreage over the period. Over the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, there were an average of 43 rigs deployed across our acreage, with an average of approximately 1,600 net mineral acres under development per month. Additionally, operators continue to actively permit our interests, with approximately 90 new gross drilling permits issued per month over the last 12 months and a total of approximately 685 existing gross permitted drilling locations yet to be drilled across our gross DSU acreage as of December 31, 2018 (excluding Laramie County, Wyoming). As a result, we believe that our assets are positioned to provide substantial near- and long-term free cash flow growth without exposure to incremental capital expenditures or lease operating expenses associated with ongoing development.

 

   

Target a portfolio in the core areas of highly economic, liquids-rich resource plays under premier operators. Our growing portfolio is driven by our acquisition strategy focused on core positions in top-tier, high-return, liquids-rich resource plays that we believe will continue to attract development capital throughout commodity price cycles. Our targeted approach has led us to acquire mineral and royalty interests in 38 selected counties that we consider to be some of the most economically prospective in the country, with 60% of the entire horizontal rig fleet in the continental United States active within those counties as of December 31, 2018. Based on an assumed $6 million per well, we estimate that operators deployed approximately $47.2 billion in drilling and completion capital expenditures to those counties during 2017 and $2.1 billion in drilling and completion capital expenditures to our gross DSU acreage. We believe that our focus on acquiring assets in the core of resource plays will also help to mitigate any negative impact of possible future declines in oil and natural gas prices, as operators have historically continued to deploy rigs and capital to these core areas even in lower commodity price environments. As an example, had we owned our portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres as of December 31, 2018 since January 1, 2013, we estimate that the pro forma production volumes net to our interests would have grown at an approximate 48% compound annual growth rate from the beginning of 2013 through December 31, 2018, despite average crude oil prices as of December 31, 2018 decreasing by 34% compared to the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

   

Leverage exploration and production technical expertise to evaluate acquisition opportunities. Our team’s technical expertise and extensive experience with exploration and production companies (i.e., operators) allows us to identify and acquire core mineral and royalty interests that we believe will be developed by premier operators. Our technical evaluation process for a potential mineral and royalty interest acquisition includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the following with respect to the associated mineral and royalty interests: (i) the existing producing wells, (ii) the number of productive formations anticipated to be developed, (iii) the number of wells anticipated to be developed per productive formation, (iv) the forecasted estimated ultimate recovery (“EUR”) of all wells per productive formation, (v) the oil and natural gas composition per productive formation and (vi) the anticipated performance of the operator expected to develop the interest. We analyze and estimate the economic returns of the operators to better understand the quality of the mineral interests relative to their other assets. We also evaluate operator performance relative to peers and formulate a drilling timeline, which is typically based on operator activity levels within a resource play and indications by that operator in public or regulatory filings regarding its future drilling and completion activities. As of December 31, 2018, we estimate that 73% of our undeveloped net wells will be drilled by operators who are currently running five or more rigs in the continental United States. If a potential transaction is comprised of multiple DSUs, we evaluate each DSU individually. We believe that acquiring mineral and royalty interests in core areas under top-performing, active operators enhances the probability that our undeveloped mineral and royalty interests will be converted to producing locations that will continue to generate free cash flow growth.

 

   

Capitalize on strong acquisition sourcing network. Our team leverages its extensive network of acquisition sources, including contacts developed during the 20 years prior to our formation while working as exploration and production operators as well as those developed since our formation in 2012.

 

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Since inception, we have sourced and originated a significant number of potential transactions and, through our rigorous underwriting and evaluation process, closed 1,292 mineral and royalty transactions. We believe we have developed a reputation in the minerals industry as a responsive, efficient and reliable acquirer, which continues to provide us consistent transaction opportunities in each of our target basins. During 2018, we increased our mineral and royalty interests by 28% or approximately 14,900 net royalty acres. In addition, we closed our largest single acquisition to date for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $41 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments, consisting of mineral and royalty interests in the Delaware Basin in Loving County, Texas and Lea County, New Mexico, under highly active, premier operators. As a public entity, we will continue to source transactions in the most attractive areas based on our analysis, with the objective of becoming a premier consolidator of mineral and royalty interests in the United States.

 

   

Maintain financial flexibility via conservative capital structure. We are committed to maintaining a conservative capital structure that will provide us with the financial flexibility to execute our acquisition strategy. Upon completion of this offering, we will have limited indebtedness and believe the proceeds from this offering, cash from operations, any remaining available borrowings under our term loan facility or any other credit facility and future potential access to the public capital markets will provide us with sufficient liquidity and financial flexibility to execute accretive acquisitions to further grow our production and free cash flow.

Competitive Strengths

We believe that the following competitive strengths will allow us to successfully execute our business strategies and to achieve our primary business objectives:

 

   

Experienced, technically focused team with significant mineral and royalty interest acquisition history and value-creation track record. Our management team has a proven track record of driving total return for shareholders, including sourcing opportunities, executing accretive acquisitions, maximizing asset development and monetizing assets. We have assembled a team of over 30 dedicated professionals, including a technical staff comprised of nine full-time, highly experienced geologists and reservoir engineers who apply a methodical evaluation approach focused on the same criteria as would an operator, while maintaining long-term disciplined underwriting criteria to target transactions in the core areas of liquids-rich resource basins. Our portfolio has been assembled over the past six years through the completion of over 1,292 transactions. Through December 31, 2018, our team has assembled approximately 68,800 net royalty acres in the core areas of premier, liquids-rich resource plays, and we intend to continue being an active acquirer of mineral and royalty interests in the future. We believe our team’s track record of success is exemplified by the historical value that has been created for public and private shareholders of both Brigham Exploration and Brigham Operating through the early-stage identification, acquisition and monetization of positions in liquids-rich resource plays in the Williston Basin and Southern Delaware in the Permian Basin, ultimately resulting in the sale of Brigham Exploration’s and Brigham Operating’s assets for an aggregate of $7.0 billion. Furthermore, during its time as a public company, Brigham Exploration’s enterprise value grew from $117.5 million at the time of its initial public offering to its eventual sale to Statoil for $4.4 billion.

 

   

Minerals and royalties are a perpetual asset class unburdened by both development capital expenditures and lease operating expenses, thereby driving significant free cash flow. Our mineral interests are a perpetual right to a fixed percentage of royalty revenues from the oil, natural gas and NGLs extracted from our interests. As a mineral and royalty owner, we do not incur any of the capital commitments related to drilling the undeveloped horizontal inventory on our interests, the ongoing lease operating expenses as minerals on our acreage are produced or the potential environmental or operational liabilities related to maintaining oil, natural gas and NGL production, including workovers and other well remediation and abandonment costs. As a result, we benefit from organic free cash flow growth

 

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Index to Financial Statements
 

associated with our mineral and royalty interests and believe that we realize higher margins over time with less exposure to risks than an exploration and production company. Finally, due to the perpetual nature of our mineral interests and the lack of future development costs, we benefit from: (i) the development of additional producing formations underlying our interests as operators delineate different horizons, (ii) the drilling of additional wells per producing formation as operators determine optimal well spacing, (iii) improved EURs as operators continuously improve drilling and completion techniques, and (iv) incremental lease bonus payments when we have the opportunity to lease existing open acreage or to re-lease acreage that has expired or is not held by production under the terms of our leases.

 

   

Multi-year drilling inventory in the core of four active liquids-rich resource basins. As of December 31, 2018, we had interests in approximately 3,355 producing horizontal wells across 1,367 identified DSUs, or an average of 2.5 producing horizontal wells per DSU. As reflected in our reserve report audited by CG&A, 11,648 horizontal drilling locations are yet to be drilled by operators across those 1,367 DSUs, which we believe will drive future free cash flow growth. These undeveloped horizontal drilling locations are located across (i) four liquids-rich, target basins including the Permian, SCOOP/STACK plays in the Anadarko, DJ and Williston; (ii) a diverse portfolio of operators including Noble Energy, Inc. (“Noble”), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“Anadarko”), Encana Corporation (“Encana”) and Continental Resources, Inc. (“Continental”); and (iii) a number of productive formations including the Wolfcamp, Bone Spring, Avalon, Woodford, Springer, Meramec, Niobrara, Codell, Bakken and Three Forks benches. In addition, we expect operators will continue to delineate additional geologic zones and optimize well spacing across our acreage, leading to incremental locations that we do not currently include in our inventory.

 

   

Portfolio of high-quality operators developing our position. We expect our mineral and royalty interests to be converted from undeveloped to producing by a portfolio of high-quality operators who deploy the latest drilling and completion technologies and have significant access to capital, including Anadarko, Noble, Encana and Continental, as well as other best-in-class operators throughout our core areas. As of December 31, 2018, we have exposure to the top five operators by permit, drilling activity and gross operated production in each of the plays in which our mineral and royalty interests are located. As of December 31, 2018, we estimate that 73% of our undeveloped net wells will be drilled by operators who are currently running five or more rigs in the continental United States. Because of our exposure to the most active operators within the core of each of our basins, we believe that capital will continue to be deployed in low commodity price environments to convert our drilling inventory into producing locations, thereby increasing our free cash flow.

Corporate Reorganization

Corporate Restructuring

Brigham Minerals was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in June 2018 by an affiliate of Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg Pincus”). Brigham Minerals and certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus, Yorktown Partners LLC (“Yorktown”) and Pine Brook Road Advisors, LP (“Pine Brook”), our management and our other investors (collectively, the “Existing Owners”) currently, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals, own all of the membership interests in Brigham Equity Holdings, which in turn indirectly owns all of the outstanding membership interests in the Minerals Subsidiaries.

Brigham Minerals acquired an indirect interest in Brigham Resources on July 16, 2018 in a series of restructuring transactions that are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “July 2018 restructuring.” In the July 2018 restructuring, certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus contributed all of their respective interests in certain wholly owned “blocker” entities through which they held interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. The contribution agreement effecting the July 2018 restructuring is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of

 

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which this prospectus forms a part. As a result of the July 2018 restructuring, Brigham Minerals became wholly owned by an entity affiliated with Warburg Pincus, and Brigham Minerals indirectly owned a membership interest in Brigham Resources. The other Existing Owners held all of the remaining outstanding membership interests of Brigham Resources.

On November 20, 2018, Brigham Resources underwent a second series of restructuring transactions that are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “November 2018 restructuring.” In the November 2018 restructuring, Brigham Resources became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC (“Brigham Equity Holdings”), and Brigham Equity Holdings became wholly owned by the Existing Owners, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals. As a result of the foregoing transactions, there was no change in the control or economic interests of the Existing Owners in Brigham Resources, although their ownership became indirect through Brigham Equity Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary, Brigham LLC.

Following this offering and the reorganization transactions described below (our “corporate reorganization”), Brigham Minerals will be a holding company whose sole material asset will consist of a     % interest in Brigham LLC, which will wholly own Brigham Resources. Brigham Resources will continue to wholly own the Minerals Subsidiaries, which own all of our operating assets. After the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this prospectus, Brigham Minerals will be the sole managing member of Brigham LLC and will be responsible for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to Brigham LLC’s business.

Prior to our corporate reorganization, all of the interests in Brigham Operating will be distributed, directly or indirectly, to the Existing Owners. As a result, neither Brigham Minerals nor Brigham LLC will own any direct or indirect interest in Brigham Operating at the time of the offering.

In connection with this offering,

 

   

Brigham Equity Holdings will distribute all of its equity interests in Brigham LLC, other than its interests in Brigham LLC attributable to certain unvested incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, to the Existing Owners and Brigham Minerals (which will result in the ownership in Brigham LLC of our Existing Owners with respect to unvested incentive units remaining consolidated in Brigham Equity Holdings);

 

   

all of the outstanding membership interests in Brigham LLC will be converted into a single class of common units in Brigham LLC, which we refer to in this prospectus as “Brigham LLC Units”;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will issue                  shares of Class A common stock to purchasers in this offering in exchange for the proceeds of this offering;

 

   

Each holder of Brigham LLC Units following the restructuring (a “Brigham Unit Holder”), other than Brigham Minerals and its subsidiaries, will receive a number of shares of Class B common stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such Brigham Unit Holder following this offering; and

 

   

Brigham Minerals will contribute, directly or indirectly, the net proceeds of this offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units such that Brigham Minerals holds, directly or indirectly, a total number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding following this offering.

After giving effect to these transactions and this offering and assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is not exercised:

 

   

the Existing Owners will own all of our Class B common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

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the Existing Owners will own                  shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

investors in this offering will own                  shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC; and

 

   

the Existing Owners will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full:

 

   

the Existing Owners will own all of our Class B common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

the Existing Owners will own                  shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

investors in this offering will own                  shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC; and

 

   

the Existing Owners will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC.

Each share of Class B common stock has no economic rights but entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by shareholders generally. Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our shareholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. We do not intend to list Class B common stock on any exchange.

Following this offering, under the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham LLC (the “Brigham LLC Agreement”), each Brigham Unit Holder will, subject to certain limitations, have the right (the “Redemption Right”) to cause Brigham LLC to acquire all or a portion of its Brigham LLC Units for, at Brigham LLC’s election, (i) shares of our Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification and other similar transactions or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. We will determine whether to issue shares of Class A common stock or cash based on facts in existence at the time of the decision, which we expect would include the relative value of the Class A common stock (including trading prices for the Class A common stock at the time), the cash purchase price, the availability of other sources of liquidity (such as an issuance of preferred stock) to acquire the Brigham LLC Units and alternative uses for such cash. Alternatively, upon the exercise of the Redemption Right, Brigham Minerals (instead of Brigham LLC) will have the right (the “Call Right”) to, for administrative convenience, acquire each tendered Brigham LLC Unit directly from the redeeming Brigham Unit Holder for, at its election, (x) one share of Class A common stock or (y) an equivalent amount of cash. In connection with any redemption of Brigham LLC Units pursuant to the Redemption Right or acquisition pursuant to our Call Right, the corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock will be cancelled. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Brigham LLC Agreement.” The Existing Owners will have the right, under certain circumstances, to cause us to register the offer and resale of their shares of Class A common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

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The following diagram indicates our simplified ownership structure immediately following this offering and the transactions related thereto (assuming that the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is not exercised):

 

LOGO

 

 

(1)

Certain of the interests of our management in Brigham LLC will be held indirectly through Brigham Equity Holdings. Brigham Equity Holdings will directly own              Brigham LLC Units, representing an approximate         % interest in Brigham LLC. See “Corporate Reorganization—Existing Owners’ Ownership” for a discussion of the interests held by Existing Owners.

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of              additional shares of Class A common stock. Any net proceeds received from the exercise of this option will be used to fund future acquisitions of mineral and royalty interests.

 

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Our Principal Stockholders

We have valuable relationships with Warburg Pincus, Yorktown and Pine Brook, private investment firms focused on investments in the energy sector. Upon completion of this offering, affiliates of Warburg Pincus, Yorktown and Pine Brook (collectively, our “Sponsors”) will own approximately              shares of Class A common stock and                  shares of Class B common stock, representing approximately     % of the voting power of Brigham Minerals, and                  Brigham LLC Units. Please see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

Warburg Pincus is a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The firm has more than $58 billion in private equity assets under management. The firm’s active portfolio of more than 180 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 18 private equity funds, which have invested more than $73 billion in over 855 companies in more than 40 countries. Since the late 1980s, Warburg Pincus has invested more than $13 billion in energy and natural resources companies around the world. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

Yorktown is an independently owned and operated asset management firm that was founded in 1991, dedicated to making private equity investments in the energy sector. Yorktown has raised twelve energy funds totaling more than $8.5 billion that has been invested in over 120 companies. Headquartered in New York, the firm makes primarily growth capital investments in the business of oil and natural gas production, pipelines, gathering systems and processing/fractionation plants, and to a lesser extent, energy-related manufacturing and services. Most investments are domiciled in North America with all investment properties being located onshore. Investing both as general partners and limited partners, the individual Yorktown partners combine to be among the largest investors in each fund.

Pine Brook is an investment firm that manages more than $6 billion of limited partner commitments. Pine Brook focuses on making “business building” investments, primarily in energy and financial services businesses. Pine Brook’s team of investment professionals collectively has over 300 years of experience financing the growth of businesses with equity, working alongside talented entrepreneurs and experienced management teams to build businesses of scale without relying on acquisition leverage. Over its 12-year investment history, Pine Brook has led or co-led 55 investments in the energy and financial services sectors, totaling over $10.6 billion in capital invested. In addition to Brigham Minerals, Pine Brook has invested in 28 energy companies. The firm is headquartered in New York with an office in Houston.

Emerging Growth Company Status

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”). For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified exemptions from reporting and other regulatory requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to other public companies. These exemptions include:

 

   

an exemption from providing an auditor’s attestation report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our system of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”);

 

   

an exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and the financial statements of the issuer;

 

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an exemption from compliance with any other new auditing standards adopted by the PCAOB after April 5, 2012, unless the SEC determines otherwise; and

 

   

reduced disclosure of executive compensation.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are choosing to take advantage of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for private companies.

We will cease to be an “emerging growth company” upon the earliest of (i) when we have $1.07 billion or more in annual revenues; (ii) when we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period; (iii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering; or (iv) when we have qualified as a “large accelerated filer,” which refers to when we (w) will have an aggregate worldwide market value of voting and non-voting shares of common equity securities held by our non-affiliates of $700 million or more, as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, (x) have been subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for a period of at least 12 calendar months, (y) have filed at least one annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and (z) no longer be eligible to use the requirements for “smaller reporting companies,” as defined in the Exchange Act, for our annual and quarterly reports.

Principal Executive Offices

Our principal executive offices are located at 5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78730, and our telephone number at that address is (512) 220-6350.

Our website address is www.brighamminerals.com . We expect to make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus.

Risk Factors

An investment in our Class A common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the following considerations, the risks described in “Risk Factors” and the other information in this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our Class A common stock. In particular, the following considerations may offset our competitive strengths or have a negative effect on our strategy or operating activities, which could cause a decrease in the price of our Class A common stock and a loss of all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

 

   

Substantially all of our revenues are derived from royalty payments that are based on the price at which oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from the acreage underlying our interests are sold. Prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs are volatile due to factors beyond our control. A substantial or extended decline in commodity prices may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

   

We depend on various unaffiliated operators for all of the exploration, development and production on the properties underlying our mineral and royalty interests. Substantially all of our revenue is derived from

 

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royalty payments made by these operators. A reduction in the expected number of wells to be drilled on our acreage by these operators or the failure of our operators to adequately and efficiently develop and operate our acreage could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. In particular, a number of our operators have announced a reduction in projected capital expenditures for 2019.

 

   

Our failure to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions could adversely affect our growth and results of operations.

 

   

Any acquisitions of additional mineral and royalty interests that we complete will be subject to substantial risks.

 

   

Our operators’ identified potential drilling locations are susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.

 

   

We may experience delays in the payment of royalties and be unable to replace operators that do not make required royalty payments, and we may not be able to terminate our leases with defaulting lessees if any of the operators on those leases declare bankruptcy.

 

   

Acquisitions and our operators’ development activities of our leases will require substantial capital, and we and our operators may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms or at all.

 

   

Our future success depends on replacing reserves through acquisitions and the exploration and development activities of the operators of our properties. Unless we replace the oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from our properties, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

 

   

We have little to no control over the timing of future drilling with respect to our mineral and royalty interests.

 

   

Project areas on our properties, which are in various stages of development, may not yield oil, natural gas or NGLs in commercially viable quantities.

 

   

The unavailability, high cost or shortages of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies or personnel may restrict or result in increased costs for operators related to developing and operating our properties.

 

   

The marketability of oil, natural gas and NGL production is dependent upon transportation, pipelines and refining facilities, which neither we nor many of our operators control. Any limitation in the availability of those facilities could interfere with our or our operators’ ability to market our or our operators’ production and could harm our business.

 

   

Our estimated reserves are based on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.

 

   

Conservation measures, technological advances and general concern about the environmental impact of the production and use of fossil fuels could materially reduce demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs and adversely affect our results of operations and the trading market for shares of our Class A common stock.

 

   

We rely on a few key individuals whose absence or loss could adversely affect our business.

 

   

The results of exploratory drilling in shale plays will be subject to risks associated with drilling and completion techniques and drilling results may not meet our expectations for reserves or production.

 

   

Oil, natural gas and NGL operations are subject to various governmental laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws and regulations can be burdensome and expensive for our operators, and failure to comply could result in our operators incurring significant liabilities, either of which may impact our operators’ willingness to develop our interests.

 

   

Federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing, including recent proposed legislation and ballot initiatives in Colorado, could result in our operators incurring increased costs, additional operating restrictions or delays and fewer potential drilling locations.

 

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Our term loan facility has substantial restrictions and financial covenants that may restrict our business and financing activities and our ability to declare dividends.

 

   

The adoption of climate change legislation by Congress could result in increased operating costs for our operators and reduced demand for the oil, natural gas and NGLs that our operators produce.

 

   

Operating hazards and uninsured risks may result in substantial losses to us or our operators, and any losses could adversely affect our results of operations and free cash flow.

 

   

Title to the properties in which we have an interest may be impaired by title defects.

 

   

Loss of our or our operators’ information and computer systems, including as a result of cyber attacks, could materially and adversely affect our business.

Risks Related to this Offering and Our Class A Common Stock

 

   

Brigham Minerals is a holding company. Brigham Minerals’ sole material asset after completion of this offering will be its equity interest in Brigham LLC and it is accordingly dependent upon distributions from Brigham LLC to pay taxes, cover its corporate and other overhead expenses and pay any dividends on our Class A common stock.

 

   

The requirements of being a public company, including compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, may strain our resources, increase our costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with these requirements in a timely or cost-effective manner.

 

   

We have identified and are in the process of remediating certain material weaknesses related to our risk assessment processes and certain controls related to revenues and certain recent transactions. We may identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, which may cause current and potential stockholders to lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock.

 

   

For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with certain reporting requirements, including those relating to accounting standards and disclosure about our executive compensation, that apply to other public companies.

 

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The Offering

 

Issuer

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

 

Class A common stock offered by us

             shares (or                 shares, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares)

 

Option to purchase additional shares

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of                  additional shares of our Class A common stock to the extent the underwriters sell more than                  shares of Class A common stock in this offering.

 

Class A common stock outstanding immediately after this offering

             shares (or                  shares, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).

 

Class B common stock outstanding immediately after this offering

            shares (                 shares if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full) or one share for each Brigham LLC Unit held by the Brigham Unit Holders immediately following this offering. Class B shares are non-economic. In connection with any redemption of Brigham LLC Units pursuant to the Redemption Right or acquisition pursuant to our Call Right, the corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock will be cancelled.

 

Voting power of Class A common stock after giving effect to this offering

    % (or 100.0% if all outstanding Brigham LLC Units held by the Brigham Unit Holders were redeemed (along with a corresponding number of shares of our Class B common stock) for newly issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis). Upon completion of this offering, the Existing Owners will initially own                  shares of Class A common stock, representing approximately     % of the voting power of the Company.

 

Voting power of Class B common stock after giving effect to this offering

    % (or 0% if all outstanding Brigham LLC Units held by the Brigham Unit Holders were redeemed (along with a corresponding number of shares of our Class B common stock) for newly issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis). Upon completion of this offering the Brigham Unit Holders will initially own                shares of Class B common stock, representing approximately     % of the voting power of the Company.

 

Voting rights

Each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by shareholders generally. Each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by shareholders generally. Holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our shareholders for their vote

 

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or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. See “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

Use of proceeds

We expect to receive approximately $                 million of net proceeds, based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the public offering price would increase (decrease) our net proceeds by approximately $                 million.

 

  We intend to contribute all of the net proceeds from this offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for Brigham LLC Units. Brigham LLC will use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to partially repay the outstanding indebtedness under our term loan facility and the remaining net proceeds to fund future acquisitions of mineral and royalty interests. As of December 31, 2018, we had $175 million of outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility. Please read “Use of Proceeds.”

 

  If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock in full, the additional net proceeds to us would be approximately $                million (based on an assumed initial offering price of $                per share, the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting the underwriting discount. We intend to contribute all of the net proceeds therefrom to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock issued pursuant to the underwriters’ option. Brigham LLC will use any such net proceeds to fund future acquisitions of mineral and royalty interests. Please read “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Dividend policy

We expect to pay dividends on our Class A common stock in amounts determined from time to time by our board of directors. However, the declaration and payment of any dividends will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, which may change our dividend policy at any time. Future dividend levels will depend on the earnings of our subsidiaries, including Brigham LLC, their financial condition, cash requirements, regulatory restrictions, any restrictions in financing agreements (including our term loan facility) and other factors deemed relevant by the board. Please read “Dividend Policy.”

 

Redemption Rights of Brigham Unit Holders

Under the Brigham LLC Agreement, each Brigham Unit Holder will, subject to certain limitations, have the right, pursuant to the Redemption Right, to cause Brigham LLC to acquire all or a portion of its Brigham LLC Units for, at Brigham LLC’s election, (i) shares of our Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of

 

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Class A common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification and other similar transactions or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. Alternatively, upon the exercise of the Redemption Right, Brigham Minerals (instead of Brigham LLC) will have the right, pursuant to the Call Right, to acquire each tendered Brigham LLC Unit directly from the redeeming Brigham Unit Holder for, at its election, (x) one share of Class A common stock or (y) an equivalent amount of cash. In connection with any redemption of Brigham LLC Units pursuant to the Redemption Right or acquisition pursuant our Call Right, the corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock will be cancelled. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Brigham LLC Agreement.”

 

Directed share program

The underwriters have reserved for sale at the initial public offering price up to 5% of the Class A common stock being offered by this prospectus for sale to our employees, executive officers, directors, business associates and related persons who have expressed an interest in purchasing Class A common stock in this offering. We do not know if these persons will choose to purchase all or any portion of these reserved shares, but any purchases they do make will reduce the number of shares available to the general public. The sales of shares pursuant to the directed share program will be made by UBS Financial Services Inc., a selected dealer affiliated with UBS Securities LLC, an underwriter of this offering. Please read “Underwriting.”

 

Listing and trading symbol

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “MNRL.”

 

Risk factors

You should carefully read and consider the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and all other information set forth in this prospectus before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock.

The information above does not include                 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to our LTIP (as defined in “Executive Compensation—2019 Long Term Incentive Plan”).

 

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Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data

Brigham Minerals was formed in June 2018 and has limited historical financial operating results. The following table shows summary historical consolidated financial data, for the periods and as of the dates indicated, of our accounting predecessor, Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating, and summary pro forma financial data for Brigham Minerals. The summary historical consolidated financial data of our predecessor as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 were derived from the audited historical consolidated financial statements of our predecessor included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The summary unaudited pro forma statement of operations and balance sheet data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 has been prepared to give pro forma effect to (i) the reorganization transactions described under “—Corporate Reorganization” and (ii) this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as if each had been completed on January 1, 2018, in the case of the statement of operations data, and on December 31, 2018, in the case of the balance sheet data. This information is subject to and gives effect to the assumptions and adjustments described in the notes accompanying the unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary unaudited pro forma financial data is presented for informational purposes only, should not be considered indicative of actual results of operations that would have been achieved had such transactions been consummated on the dates indicated and does not purport to be indicative of statements of financial position or results of operations as of any future date or for any future period.

For a detailed discussion of the summary historical financial data contained in the following table, please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The following table should also be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” and the historical financial statements of Brigham Resources and the pro forma financial statements of Brigham Minerals included elsewhere in this prospectus. Among other things, the historical and pro forma financial statements include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the information in the following table.

 

     Brigham Minerals
Predecessor Historical
     Brigham Minerals
Pro Forma
 
     Year Ended
December 31,
     Year Ended
December 31,
 
         2018              2017              2018      
                   (unaudited)  
    

(In thousands)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

        

Revenue:

        

Mineral and royalty revenue

   $ 59,758      $ 30,066      $                

Lease bonus and other revenue

     7,506        10,842     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

     67,264        40,908     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other operating income:

        

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties, net

     —          94,551     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expense:

        

Gathering, transportation and marketing

     3,944        1,754     

Severance and ad valorem taxes

     3,536        1,601     

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     13,915        6,955     

General and administrative

     6,638        3,935     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expense

     28,033        14,245     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     Brigham Minerals
Predecessor Historical
    Brigham Minerals
Pro Forma
 
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
         2018             2017             2018      
                 (unaudited)  
    

(In thousands)

 

Operating income

     39,231       121,214    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

      

Gain/(Loss) on derivative instruments, net

     424       (121  

Interest expense, net

     (7,446     (556  

Gain (Loss) on sale and distribution of equity securities

     823       (4,222  

Other income, net

     110       305    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     33,142       116,620    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit)/expense

     (220     1,008    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 33,362     $ 115,612     $                
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

      

Net income attributable to common stockholders

      

Net income per share attributable to common stockholders

      

Basic

      

Diluted

      

Weighted-average number of shares

      

Basic

      

Diluted

      

Other Financial Data:

      

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

     53,146       33,618    

Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus(1)

     45,640       22,776    

Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,985     $ 6,886     $    

Total assets

     554,026       334,477    

Long-term debt, including current maturities

     170,705       27,000    

Total liabilities

     176,474       32,303    

Total equity

     377,552       302,174    

 

(1)

Please read “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for the definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus to our most directly comparable financial measure, calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures used by our management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors, research analysts and others to assess the financial performance of our assets and their ability to sustain dividends over the long term without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before depreciation, depletion and amortization, interest expense, gain or loss on sale and distribution of equity securities, gain or loss on derivative instruments and income tax expense, less other income and gain or loss on sale of oil and gas properties. We define Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus as Adjusted EBITDA further adjusted to eliminate the impacts of lease bonus revenue we receive due to the unpredictability of timing and magnitude of the revenue.

 

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Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus do not represent and should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income, income from operations, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Our computation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus may differ from computations of similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the periods indicated.     

 

    Brigham Minerals Predecessor Historical     Brigham Minerals
Pro Forma
 
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
            2018                     2017                     2018          
                (unaudited)  
   

(in thousands)

 

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus to net income:

     

Net income

  $ 33,362     $ 115,612     $                

Add:

     

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    13,915       6,955    

Interest expense, net

    7,446       556    

Loss on sale and distribution of equity securities

          4,222    

Loss on derivative instruments, net

          121    

Income tax expense

          1,008    

Less:

     

Gain on derivative instruments, net

    424          

Other income, net

    110       305    

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties

          94,551    

Gain on sale and distribution of equity securities

    823          

Income tax benefit

    220          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 53,146     $ 33,618     $    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less:

     

Lease bonus

    7,506       10,842    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus

  $ 45,640     $ 22,776     $    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Summary Reserve Data

The following table sets forth estimates of our net proved, probable and possible oil, natural gas and NGL reserves as of December 31, 2018 based on a reserve report audited by CG&A. The reserve report was prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. You should refer to “Risk Factors,” “Business—Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Data—Proved, Probable and Possible Reserves,” “Business—Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Production Prices and Costs—Production and Price History,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and notes thereto included herein in evaluating the material presented below. The following table provides our estimated proved, probable and possible reserves as of December 31, 2018 using the provisions of the SEC rule regarding reserve estimation regarding a historical twelve-month pricing average applied prospectively.

 

     December 31, 2018(1)  

Estimated proved developed reserves:

  

Oil (MBbls)

     6,067  

Natural gas (MMcf)

     21,735  

NGLs (MBbls)

     1,898  
  

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)

     11,588  

Estimated proved undeveloped reserves:

  

Oil (MBbls)

     6,923  

Natural gas (MMcf)

     30,062  

NGLs (MBbls)

     3,220  
  

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)

     15,153  

Estimated proved reserves:

  

Oil (MBbls)

     12,990  

Natural gas (MMcf)

     51,797  

NGLs (MBbls)

     5,118  
  

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)

     26,741  

Estimated probable reserves:

  

Oil (MBbls)(2)

     14,854  

Natural gas (MMcf)(2)

     66,682  

NGLs (MBbls)(2)

     7,560  
  

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)(2)

     33,528  

Estimated possible reserves:

  

Oil (MBbls)(2)

     10,302  

Natural gas (MMcf)(2)

     29,775  

NGLs (MBbls)(2)

     3,545  
  

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)(2)

     18,810  

Oil—WTI posted price per Bbl

     65.66  

Natural gas—Henry Hub spot price per Mcf

     3.12  

 

(1)

Our estimated net proved, probable and possible reserves were determined using average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months in accordance with SEC guidance. For oil and NGL volumes, the average West Texas Intermediate posted price of $65.66 per barrel as of December 31, 2018 was adjusted for quality, transportation fees and a regional price differential. NGL prices varied by basin from 22% to 41% of the WTI posted price. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price of $3.12 per MMBtu as of December 31, 2018 was adjusted for energy content, transportation fees and a regional price differential. All prices do not give effect to derivative transactions and are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. The average adjusted product prices weighted by production over the remaining lives of the proved properties are $61.31 per barrel of oil, $23.98 per barrel of NGL and $2.51 per Mcf of gas as of December 31, 2018.

(2)

All of our estimated probable and possible reserves are classified as undeveloped.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the information in this prospectus, including the matters addressed under “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and the following risks before making an investment decision. The trading price of our Class A common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

Substantially all of our revenues are derived from royalty payments that are based on the price at which oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from the acreage underlying our interests are sold. Prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs are volatile due to factors beyond our control. A substantial or extended decline in commodity prices may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our revenues, operating results, free cash flow and the carrying value of our mineral and royalty interests depend significantly upon the prevailing prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs. Historically, oil, natural gas and NGL prices have been volatile and are subject to fluctuations in response to changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control, including:

 

   

the domestic and foreign supply of and demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs;

 

   

market expectations about future prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs;

 

   

the level of global oil, natural gas and NGL exploration and production;

 

   

the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil, natural gas and NGLs;

 

   

the price and quantity of foreign imports and U.S. exports of oil, natural gas and NGLs;

 

   

the level of U.S. domestic production;

 

   

political and economic conditions in oil producing regions, including the Middle East, Africa, South America and Russia;

 

   

the ability of members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) to agree to and maintain oil price and production controls;

 

   

trading in oil, natural gas and NGL derivative contracts;

 

   

the level of consumer product demand;

 

   

weather conditions and natural disasters;

 

   

technological advances affecting energy consumption, energy storage and energy supply;

 

   

domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxes;

 

   

the continued threat of terrorism and the impact of military and other action, including U.S. military operations in the Middle East and economic sanctions such as those imposed by the U.S. on oil and gas exports from Iran;

 

   

the proximity, cost, availability and capacity of oil, natural gas and NGL pipelines and other transportation facilities;

 

   

the price and availability of alternative fuels; and

 

   

overall domestic and global economic conditions.

These factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely difficult to predict future oil, natural gas and NGL price movements with any certainty. For example, during the past five years, the posted

 

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price for West Texas Intermediary (“WTI”) light sweet crude oil has ranged from a low of $26.19 per barrel in February 2016 to a high of $107.95 per barrel in June 2014, and the Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas has ranged from a low of $1.49 per MMBtu in March 2016 to a high of $6.24 per MMBtu in January 2018.

Any substantial decline in the price of oil, natural gas and NGLs or prolonged period of low commodity prices will materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow. In addition, lower oil, natural gas and NGL prices may reduce the amount of oil, natural gas and NGLs that can be produced economically by our operators, which may reduce our operators’ willingness to develop our properties. This may result in our having to make substantial downward adjustments to our estimated proved, probable or possible reserves, which could negatively impact our borrowing base and our ability to fund our operations. If this occurs or if production estimates change or exploration or development results deteriorate, the full cost method of accounting principles may require us to write down, as a non-cash charge to earnings, the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties. Our operators could also determine during periods of low commodity prices to shut in or curtail production from wells on our properties. In addition, they could determine during periods of low commodity prices to plug and abandon marginal wells that otherwise may have been allowed to continue to produce for a longer period under conditions of higher prices. Specifically, they may abandon any well if they reasonably believe that the well can no longer produce oil, natural gas or NGLs in commercially paying quantities.

We depend on various unaffiliated operators for all of the exploration, development and production on the properties underlying our mineral and royalty interests. Substantially all of our revenue is derived from royalty payments made by these operators. A reduction in the expected number of wells to be drilled on our acreage by these operators or the failure of our operators to adequately and efficiently develop and operate our acreage could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. In particular, a number of our operators have announced a reduction in projected capital expenditures for 2019.

Our assets consist of mineral and royalty interests. Because we depend on third-party operators for all of the exploration, development and production on our properties, we have little to no control over the operations related to our properties. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we received revenue from over 100 operators, with approximately 60% coming from the top ten operators on our properties. The failure of our operators to adequately or efficiently perform operations or an operator’s failure to act in ways that are in our best interests could reduce production and revenues. Furthermore, our operators may reduce capital expenditures devoted to exploration, development and production on our properties, which could negatively impact revenues we receive. For example, a number of our operators have announced a reduction in projected capital expenditures for 2019 and such reduction may affect their development activities on our properties. Our operators are often not obligated to undertake any development activities other than those required to maintain their leases on our acreage. In the absence of a specific contractual obligation, any development and production activities will be subject to their reasonable discretion (subject to certain implied obligations to develop imposed by the laws of some states). Our operators could determine to drill and complete fewer wells on our acreage than is currently expected. The success and timing of drilling and development activities on our properties, and whether the operators elect to drill any additional wells on our acreage, depends on a number of factors that are largely outside of our control, including:

 

   

the capital costs required for drilling activities by our operators, which could be significantly more than anticipated;

 

   

the ability of our operators to access capital;

 

   

prevailing commodity prices;

 

   

the availability of suitable drilling equipment, production and transportation infrastructure and qualified operating personnel;

 

   

the operators’ expertise, operating efficiency and financial resources;

 

   

approval of other participants in drilling wells;

 

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the operators’ expected return on investment in wells drilled on our acreage as compared to opportunities in other areas;

 

   

the selection of technology;

 

   

the selection of counterparties for the marketing and sale of production; and

 

   

the rate of production of the reserves.

The operators may elect not to undertake development activities, or may undertake these activities in an unanticipated fashion, which may result in significant fluctuations in our results of operations and free cash flow. Sustained reductions in production by the operators on our properties may also adversely affect our results of operations and free cash flow. Additionally, if an operator were to experience financial difficulty, the operator might not be able to pay its royalty payments or continue its operations, which could have a material adverse impact on us.

Our failure to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions could adversely affect our growth and results of operations.

We depend partly on acquisitions to grow our reserves, production and free cash flow. Our decision to acquire a property will depend in part on the evaluation of data obtained from production reports and engineering studies, geophysical and geological analyses and seismic data, and other information, the results of which are often inconclusive and subject to various interpretations. The successful acquisition of properties requires an assessment of several factors, including:

 

   

recoverable reserves;

 

   

future oil, natural gas and NGL prices and their applicable differentials;

 

   

development plans;

 

   

the operating costs our operators would incur to develop and operate the properties; and

 

   

potential environmental and other liabilities that operators of the properties may incur.

The accuracy of these assessments is inherently uncertain and we may not be able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities. In connection with these assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties that we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices, given the nature of our interests. Our review will not reveal all existing or potential problems nor will it permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to assess fully their deficiencies and capabilities. Even if we do identify attractive acquisition opportunities, we may not be able to complete the acquisition or do so on commercially acceptable terms.

There is intense competition for acquisition opportunities in our industry. Competition for acquisitions may increase the cost of, or cause us to refrain from, completing acquisitions. Our ability to complete acquisitions is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to obtain debt and equity financing. In addition, these acquisitions may be in geographic regions in which we do not currently hold properties, which could subject us to additional and unfamiliar legal and regulatory requirements. Further, the success of any completed acquisition will depend on our ability to integrate effectively the acquired assets into our existing operations. The process of integrating acquired assets may involve unforeseen difficulties and may require a disproportionate amount of our managerial and financial resources.

No assurance can be given that we will be able to identify suitable acquisition opportunities, negotiate acceptable terms, obtain financing for acquisitions on acceptable terms or successfully acquire identified targets. Our failure to achieve consolidation savings, to integrate the acquired businesses and assets into our existing operations successfully or to minimize any unforeseen operational difficulties could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow. The inability to effectively manage the integration of acquisitions could reduce our focus on subsequent acquisitions and current operations, which, in turn, could negatively impact our growth, results of operations and free cash flow.

 

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Any acquisitions of additional mineral and royalty interests that we complete will be subject to substantial risks.

Even if we do make acquisitions that we believe will increase our cash generated from operations, any acquisition involves potential risks, including, among other things:

 

   

the validity of our assumptions about estimated proved, probable and possible reserves, future production, prices, revenues, capital expenditures, the operating expenses and costs our operators would incur to develop the minerals;

 

   

a decrease in our liquidity by using a significant portion of our cash generated from operations or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions;

 

   

a significant increase in our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur debt to finance acquisitions;

 

   

the assumption of unknown liabilities, losses or costs for which we are not indemnified or for which any indemnity we receive is inadequate;

 

   

mistaken assumptions about the overall cost of equity or debt;

 

   

our ability to obtain satisfactory title to the assets we acquire;

 

   

an inability to hire, train or retain qualified personnel to manage and operate our growing business and assets; and

 

   

the occurrence of other significant changes, such as impairment of oil and natural gas properties, goodwill or other intangible assets, asset devaluation or restructuring charges.

Our operators’ identified potential drilling locations are susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.

The ability of our operators to drill and develop identified potential drilling locations depends on a number of uncertainties, including the availability of capital, construction of and limitations on access to infrastructure, inclement weather, regulatory changes and approvals, oil, natural gas and NGL prices, costs, drilling results and the availability of water. Further, our operators’ identified potential drilling locations are in various stages of evaluation, ranging from locations that are ready to drill to locations that will require substantial additional interpretation. The use of technologies and the study of producing fields in the same area will not enable our operators to know conclusively prior to drilling whether oil, natural gas or NGLs will be present or, if present, whether oil, natural gas or NGLs will be present in sufficient quantities to be economically viable. Even if sufficient amounts of oil or natural gas exist, our operators may damage the potentially productive hydrocarbon-bearing formation or experience mechanical difficulties while drilling or completing the well, possibly resulting in a reduction in production from the well or abandonment of the well. If our operators drill additional wells that they identify as dry holes in current and future drilling locations, their drilling success rate may decline and materially harm their business as well as ours.

We cannot assure you that the analogies our operators draw from available data from the wells on our acreage, more fully explored locations or producing fields will be applicable to their drilling locations. Further, initial production rates reported by our or other operators in the areas in which our reserves are located may not be indicative of future or long-term production rates. Additionally, actual production from wells may be less than expected. For example, a number of operators have recently announced that newer wells drilled close in proximity to already producing wells have produced less oil and gas than forecast. Because of these uncertainties, we do not know if the potential drilling locations our operators have identified will ever be drilled or if our operators will be able to produce oil, natural gas or NGLs from these or any other potential drilling locations. As such, the actual drilling activities of our operators may materially differ from those presently identified, which could adversely affect our business, results of operation and free cash flow.

Finally, the potential drilling locations we have identified are based on the geologic and other data available to us and our interpretation of such data. As a result, our operators may have reached different conclusions about the potential drilling locations on our properties, and our operators control the ultimate decision as to where and when a well is drilled.

 

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We may experience delays in the payment of royalties and be unable to replace operators that do not make required royalty payments, and we may not be able to terminate our leases with defaulting lessees if any of the operators on those leases declare bankruptcy.

A failure on the part of the operators to make royalty payments gives us the right to terminate the lease, repossess the property and enforce payment obligations under the lease. If we repossessed any of our properties, we would seek a replacement operator. However, we might not be able to find a replacement operator and, if we did, we might not be able to enter into a new lease on favorable terms within a reasonable period of time. In addition, the outgoing operator could be subject to a proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), in which case our right to enforce or terminate the lease for any defaults, including non-payment, may be substantially delayed or otherwise impaired. In general, in a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code, the bankrupt operator would have a substantial period of time to decide whether to ultimately reject or assume the lease, which could prevent the execution of a new lease or the assignment of the existing lease to another operator. In the event that the operator rejected the lease, our ability to collect amounts owed would be substantially delayed, and our ultimate recovery may be only a fraction of the amount owed or nothing. In addition, if we are able to enter into a new lease with a new operator, the replacement operator may not achieve the same levels of production or sell oil or natural gas at the same price as the operator it replaced.

Acquisitions and our operators’ development activities of our leases will require substantial capital, and we and our operators may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms or at all.

The oil and natural gas industry is capital intensive. We make and expect to continue to make substantial capital expenditures in connection with the acquisition of mineral and royalty interests. To date, we have financed capital expenditures primarily with funding from capital contributions, cash generated by operations and borrowings under our debt arrangements.

In the future, we may need capital in excess of the amounts we retain in our business or borrow under our term loan facility. We cannot assure you that we will be able to access external capital on terms favorable to us or at all. If we are unable to fund our capital requirements, we may be unable to complete acquisitions, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and free cash flow.

Most of our operators are also dependent on the availability of external debt and equity financing sources to maintain their drilling programs. If those financing sources are not available to the operators on favorable terms or at all, then we expect the development of our properties to be adversely affected. If the development of our properties is adversely affected, then revenues from our mineral and royalty interests may decline.

Our future success depends on replacing reserves through acquisitions and the exploration and development activities of the operators of our properties. Unless we replace the oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from our properties, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

Producing oil and natural gas wells are characterized by declining production rates that vary depending upon reservoir characteristics and other factors. Our future oil, natural gas and NGL reserves and our operators’ production thereof and our free cash flow are highly dependent on the successful development and exploitation of our current reserves and our ability to successfully acquire additional reserves that are economically recoverable. Moreover, the production decline rates of our properties may be significantly higher than currently estimated if the wells on our properties do not produce as expected. We may also not be able to find, acquire or develop additional reserves to replace the current and future production of our properties at economically acceptable terms. Aside from acquisitions, we have little to no control over the exploration and development of our properties. If we are not able to replace or grow our oil, natural gas and NGL reserves, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.

 

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We have little to no control over the timing of future drilling with respect to our mineral and royalty interests.

As of December 31, 2018, only 11,587 MBoe of our total estimated reserves were proved developed reserves. The remaining 15,153 MBoe, 33,528 MBoe and 18,809 MBoe of our total estimated reserves were PUDs, probable undeveloped reserves and possible undeveloped reserves, respectively, and may not ultimately be developed or produced by the operators of our properties. Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations, and the decision to pursue development of an undeveloped drilling location will be made by the operator and not by us. We generally do not have access to the estimated costs of development of these reserves or the scheduled development plans of our operators. The reserve data included in the reserve reports of CG&A assume that substantial capital expenditures are required to develop the reserves. We cannot be certain that the estimated costs of the development of these reserves are accurate, that development will occur as scheduled or that the results of the development will be as estimated. Delays in the development of our reserves, increases in costs to drill and develop our reserves or decreases in commodity prices will reduce the future net revenues of our estimated undeveloped reserves and may result in some projects becoming uneconomical. In addition, delays in the development of reserves could force us to reclassify certain of our proved undeveloped reserves as unproved reserves.

Project areas on our properties, which are in various stages of development, may not yield oil, natural gas or NGLs in commercially viable quantities.

Project areas on our properties are in various stages of development, ranging from project areas with current drilling or production activity to project areas that have limited drilling or production history. If the wells in the process of being completed do not produce sufficient revenues or if dry holes are drilled, our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow may be adversely affected.

The unavailability, high cost or shortages of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies or personnel may restrict or result in increased costs for operators related to developing and operating our properties.

The oil and natural gas industry is cyclical, which can result in shortages of drilling rigs, equipment, raw materials (particularly water and sand and other proppants), supplies and personnel. When shortages occur, the costs and delivery times of rigs, equipment and supplies increase and demand for, and wage rates of, qualified drilling rig crews also rise with increases in demand. We cannot predict whether these conditions will exist in the future and, if so, what their timing and duration will be. In accordance with customary industry practice, our operators rely on independent third-party service providers to provide many of the services and equipment necessary to drill new wells. If our operators are unable to secure a sufficient number of drilling rigs at reasonable costs, our financial condition and results of operations could suffer. Shortages of drilling rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies, personnel, trucking services, tubulars, fracking and completion services and production equipment could delay or restrict our operators’ exploration and development operations, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow.

The marketability of oil, natural gas and NGL production is dependent upon transportation, pipelines and refining facilities, which neither we nor many of our operators control. Any limitation in the availability of those facilities could interfere with our or our operators’ ability to market our or our operators’ production and could harm our business.

The marketability of our or our operators’ production depends in part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipelines, tanker trucks and other transportation methods, and processing and refining facilities owned by third parties. The amount of oil that can be produced and sold is subject to curtailment in certain circumstances, such as pipeline interruptions due to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, excessive pressure, physical damage or lack of available capacity on these systems, tanker truck availability and extreme weather conditions. Also, production from our wells may be insufficient to support the construction of pipeline facilities,

 

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and the shipment of our or our operators’ oil, natural gas and NGLs on third-party pipelines may be curtailed or delayed if it does not meet the quality specifications of the pipeline owners. The curtailments arising from these and similar circumstances may last from a few days to several months. In many cases, we or our operators are provided only with limited, if any, notice as to when these circumstances will arise and their duration. Any significant curtailment in gathering system or transportation, processing or refining-facility capacity could reduce our or our operators’ ability to market the production from our properties and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow. Our or our operators’ access to transportation options and the prices we or our operators receive can also be affected by federal and state regulation—including regulation of oil, natural gas and NGL production, transportation and pipeline safety—as well by general economic conditions and changes in supply and demand. In addition, the third parties on whom we or our operators rely for transportation services are subject to complex federal, state, tribal and local laws that could adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of conducting our business.

Our derivative activities could result in financial losses and reduce earnings.

From time to time in the past we have used, and in the future we may use, derivative instruments for a portion of our future oil, natural gas and NGL production, including fixed price swaps, collars and basis swaps, to mitigate the risk and resulting impact of commodity price volatility. However, these hedging activities may not be as effective as we intend in reducing the volatility of our cash flows and, if entered into, are subject to the risks that the terms of the derivative instruments will be imperfect, a counterparty may not perform its obligations under a derivative contract, there may be a change in the expected differential between the underlying commodity price in the derivative instrument and the actual price received, our hedging policies and procedures may not be properly followed and the steps we take to monitor our derivative financial instruments may not detect and prevent violations of our risk management policies and procedures, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved. Further, we may be limited in receiving the full benefit of increases in oil, natural gas and NGL prices as a result of these hedging transactions. The occurrence of any of these risks could prevent us from realizing the benefit of a derivative contract. Further, our hedging activities are not likely to mitigate the entire exposure of our operations to commodity price volatility. To the extent we do not hedge against commodity price volatility, or our hedges are not effective, our results of operations and financial position may be diminished.

Our estimated reserves are based on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.

Oil, natural gas and NGL reserve engineering is not an exact science and requires subjective estimates of underground accumulations of oil, natural gas and NGLs and assumptions concerning future oil, natural gas and NGL prices, production levels, ultimate recoveries and operating and development costs. As a result, estimated quantities of proved, probable and possible reserves, projections of future production rates and the timing of development expenditures may be incorrect. Our estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and related valuations as of December 31, 2018 were audited by CG&A and our estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and related valuations as of December 31, 2017 were prepared by CG&A. CG&A conducted a detailed review of all of our properties for the period covered by its reserve reports using information provided by us. Over time, we may make material changes to reserve estimates taking into account the results of actual drilling, testing and production. For example, in connection with the restatement of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we also elected to revise our previously reported reserves as of June 30, 2018 in order to properly account for our ownership interests in certain of our properties where there were title discrepancies and calculation errors within our internal reserves tracking software. In addition, certain assumptions regarding future oil, natural gas and NGL prices, production levels and operating and development costs may prove incorrect. A substantial portion of our reserve estimates are made without the benefit of a lengthy production history, which are less reliable than estimates based on a lengthy production history. Any significant variance from these assumptions to actual figures could greatly affect our

 

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estimates of reserves and future cash generated from operations. Numerous changes over time to the assumptions on which our reserve estimates are based, as described above, often result in the actual quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs that are ultimately recovered being different from our reserve estimates.

Furthermore, the present value of future net cash flows from our proved reserves is not necessarily the same as the current market value of our estimated reserves. In accordance with rules established by the SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”), we base the estimated discounted future net cash flows from our proved reserves on the twelve- month average oil and gas index prices, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average for the first-day-of-the-month price for each month, and costs in effect on the date of the estimate, holding the prices and costs constant throughout the life of the properties. Actual future prices and costs may differ materially from those used in the present value estimate, and future net present value estimates using then current prices and costs may be significantly less than the current estimate. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net cash flows may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and natural gas industry in general.

SEC rules could limit our ability to book additional proved undeveloped reserves in the future.

SEC rules require that, subject to limited exceptions, proved undeveloped reserves may only be booked if they relate to wells scheduled to be drilled within five years after the date of booking. This requirement has limited and may continue to limit our ability to book additional proved undeveloped reserves as the operators of our properties pursue their drilling programs. Moreover, we may be required to write down our proved undeveloped reserves if those wells are not drilled within the required five-year timeframe. Furthermore, we typically do not have access to the drilling schedules of our operators and make our determinations about their estimated drilling schedules from any development provisions in the relevant lease agreement and the historical drilling activity, rig locations, production data and permit trends, as well as investor presentations and other public statements of our operators. Although we believe that our approach in making such determinations is conservative, the accuracy of any such determination is inherently uncertain and subject to a number of assumptions and factors outside of our control, including but not limited to those described under “—We depend on various unaffiliated operators for all of the exploration, development and production on the properties underlying our mineral and royalty interests. Substantially all of our revenue is derived from royalty payments made by these operators. A reduction in the expected number of wells to be drilled on our acreage by these operators or the failure of our operators to adequately and efficiently develop and operate our acreage could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.” In particular, a number of our operators have announced a reduction in projected capital expenditures for 2019. Any significant variance between our estimates and the actual drilling schedules of our operators may require us to write down our proved undeveloped reserves.

If oil, natural gas and NGL prices decline to near or below the low levels experienced in 2015 and 2016, we could be required to record impairments of our proved oil, natural gas and NGL properties that would constitute a charge to earnings and reduce our shareholders’ equity.

Accounting rules require that we review the carrying value of our oil, natural gas and NGL properties for possible impairment at the end of each quarter. Based on specific market factors and circumstances at the time of prospective impairment reviews, and the continuing evaluation of development activities, production data, economics and other factors, we may be required to write down the carrying value of our properties. The net capitalized costs of our proved oil, natural gas and NGL properties are subject to a full cost ceiling limitation for which the costs are not allowed to exceed their related estimated future net revenues discounted at 10%. To the extent capitalized costs of evaluated properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment, exceed estimated discounted future net revenues of our proved oil, natural gas and NGL reserves, the excess capitalized costs are charged to expense. The risk that we will be required to recognize impairments of our oil, natural gas and NGL properties increases during periods of low commodity prices. In addition, impairments would occur if we were to experience sufficient downward adjustments to our estimated proved reserves or the present value of estimated future net revenues. An impairment recognized in one period may not

 

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be reversed in a subsequent period even if higher oil, natural gas and NGL prices increase the cost center ceiling applicable to the subsequent period. If we incur impairment charges in the future, our results of operations for the periods in which such charges are taken may be materially and adversely affected.

Conservation measures, technological advances and general concern about the environmental impact of the production and use of fossil fuels could materially reduce demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs and adversely affect our results of operations and the trading market for shares of our Class A common stock.

Fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil, natural gas and NGLs, technological advances in fuel economy and energy-generation devices could reduce demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs. The impact of the changing demand for oil, natural gas and NGL services and products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow. It is also possible that the concerns about the production and use of fossil fuels will reduce the number of investors willing to own shares of our Class A common stock, adversely affecting the market price of our Class A common stock.

We rely on a few key individuals whose absence or loss could adversely affect our business.

Many key responsibilities within our business have been assigned to a small number of individuals. We rely on our founders for their knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry, relationships within the industry and experience in identifying, evaluating and completing acquisitions. The loss of their services could adversely affect our business. In particular, the loss of the services of one or more members of our executive team could disrupt our business. Further, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance policies on any of our executive team or other key personnel. As a result, we are not insured against any losses resulting from the death of these key individuals.

The results of exploratory drilling in shale plays will be subject to risks associated with drilling and completion techniques and drilling results may not meet our expectations for reserves or production.

Our operators use the latest drilling and completion techniques in their operations, and these techniques come with inherent risks. When drilling horizontal wells, operators risk not landing the well bore in the desired drilling zone and straying from the desired drilling zone. When drilling horizontally through a formation, operators risk being unable to run casing through the entire length of the well bore and being unable to run tools and other equipment consistently through the horizontal well bore. Risks that our operators face while completing wells include being unable to fracture stimulate the planned number of stages, to run tools the entire length of the well bore during completion operations and to clean out the well bore after completion of the final fracture stimulation stage. In addition, to the extent our operators engage in horizontal drilling, those activities may adversely affect their ability to successfully drill in identified vertical drilling locations. Furthermore, certain of the new techniques that our operators may adopt, such as infill drilling and multi-well pad drilling, may cause irregularities or interruptions in production due to, in the case of infill drilling, offset wells being shut in and, in the case of multi-well pad drilling, the time required to drill and complete multiple wells before these wells begin producing. The results of drilling in new or emerging formations are more uncertain initially than drilling results in areas that are more developed and have a longer history of established production. Newer or emerging formations and areas often have limited or no production history and consequently our operators will be less able to predict future drilling results in these areas.

Ultimately, the success of these drilling and completion techniques can only be evaluated over time as more wells are drilled and production profiles are established over a sufficiently long time period. If our operators’ drilling results are weaker than anticipated or they are unable to execute their drilling program on our properties, our operating and financial results in these areas may be lower than we anticipate. Further, as a result of any of these developments we could incur material write-downs of our oil and natural gas properties and the value of our undeveloped acreage could decline, and our results of operations and free cash flow could be adversely affected.

 

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Acreage must be drilled before lease expiration, generally within three to five years, in order to hold the acreage by production. Our operators’ failure to drill sufficient wells to hold acreage may result in the deferral of prospective drilling opportunities. In addition, our ORRIs may be lost if the underlying acreage is not drilled before the expiration of the applicable lease or if the lease otherwise terminates.

Leases on oil and natural gas properties typically have a term of three to five years, after which they expire unless, prior to expiration, production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres. In addition, even if production or drilling is established during such primary term, if production or drilling ceases on the leased property, the lease typically terminates, subject to certain exceptions.

Any reduction in our operators’ drilling programs, either through a reduction in capital expenditures or the unavailability of drilling rigs, could result in the expiration of existing leases. If the lease governing any of our mineral interests expires or terminates, all mineral rights revert back to us and we will have to seek new lessees to explore and develop such mineral interests. If the lease underlying any of our ORRIs expires or terminates, our ORRIs that are derived from such lease will also terminate. Any such expirations or terminations of our leases or our ORRIs could materially and adversely affect the growth of our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow.

Drilling for and producing oil, natural gas and NGLs are high-risk activities with many uncertainties that may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The drilling activities of the operators of our properties will be subject to many risks. For example, we will not be able to assure our shareholders that wells drilled by the operators of our properties will be productive. Drilling for oil, natural gas and NGLs often involves unprofitable efforts, not only from dry wells but also from wells that are productive but do not produce sufficient oil, natural gas or NGLs to return a profit at then realized prices after deducting drilling, operating and other costs. The seismic data and other technologies used do not provide conclusive knowledge prior to drilling a well that oil, natural gas or NGL is present or that it can be produced economically. The costs of exploration, exploitation and development activities are subject to numerous uncertainties beyond our control and increases in those costs can adversely affect the economics of a project. Further, our operators’ drilling and producing operations may be curtailed, delayed, canceled or otherwise negatively impacted as a result of other factors, including:

 

   

unusual or unexpected geological formations;

 

   

loss of drilling fluid circulation;

 

   

title problems;

 

   

facility or equipment malfunctions;

 

   

unexpected operational events;

 

   

shortages or delivery delays of equipment and services;

 

   

compliance with environmental and other governmental requirements; and

 

   

adverse weather conditions.

Any of these risks can cause substantial losses, including personal injury or loss of life, damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution, environmental contamination or loss of wells and other regulatory penalties. In the event that planned operations, including the drilling of development wells, are delayed or cancelled, or existing wells or development wells have lower than anticipated production due to one or more of the factors above or for any other reason, our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow may be materially adversely affected.

 

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Oil, natural gas and NGL operations are subject to various governmental laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws and regulations can be burdensome and expensive for our operators, and failure to comply could result in our operators incurring significant liabilities, either of which may impact our operators’ willingness to develop our interests.

Our operators’ operations on the properties in which we hold interests are subject to various federal, state and local governmental regulations that may change from time to time in response to economic and political conditions. Matters subject to regulation include drilling operations, production and distribution activities, discharges or releases of pollutants or wastes, plugging and abandonment of wells, maintenance and decommissioning of other facilities, the spacing of wells, unitization and pooling of properties and taxation. From time to time, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on production by restricting the rate of flow of oil and natural gas wells below actual production capacity to conserve supplies of oil, natural gas and NGLs. In addition, the production, handling, storage and transportation of oil, natural gas and NGLs, as well as the remediation, emission and disposal of oil, natural gas and NGL wastes, by-products thereof and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with oil, natural gas and NGL operations are subject to regulation under federal, state and local laws and regulations primarily relating to protection of worker health and safety, natural resources and the environment. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of sanctions on our operators, including administrative, civil or criminal penalties, permit revocations, requirements for additional pollution controls and injunctions limiting or prohibiting some or all of our operators’ operations on our properties. Moreover, these laws and regulations have generally imposed increasingly strict requirements related to water use and disposal, air pollution control and waste management.

Laws and regulations governing exploration and production may also affect production levels. Our operators must comply with federal and state laws and regulations governing conservation matters, including, but not limited to:

 

   

provisions related to the unitization or pooling of the oil and natural gas properties;

 

   

the establishment of maximum rates of production from wells;

 

   

the spacing of wells;

 

   

the plugging and abandonment of wells; and

 

   

the removal of related production equipment.

Additionally, federal and state regulatory authorities may expand or alter applicable pipeline-safety laws and regulations, compliance with which may require increased capital costs for third-party oil, natural gas and NGL transporters. These transporters may attempt to pass on such costs to our operators, which in turn could affect profitability on the properties in which we own mineral and royalty interests.

Our operators must also comply with laws and regulations prohibiting fraud and market manipulations in energy markets. To the extent the operators of our properties are shippers on interstate pipelines, they must comply with the tariffs of those pipelines and with federal policies related to the use of interstate capacity.

Our operators may be required to make significant expenditures to comply with the governmental laws and regulations described above and may be subject to potential fines and penalties if they are found to have violated these laws and regulations. We believe the trend of more expansive and stricter environmental legislation and regulations will continue. Please read “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for a description of the laws and regulations that affect our operators and that may affect us. These and other potential regulations could increase the operating costs of our operators and delay production and may ultimately impact our operators’ ability and willingness to develop our properties.

 

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Federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing, including recent proposed legislation and ballot initiatives in Colorado, could result in our operators incurring increased costs, additional operating restrictions or delays and fewer potential drilling locations.

Our operators engage in hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is a common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons from tight formations, including shales. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. Currently, hydraulic fracturing is generally exempt from regulation under the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act’s (“SDWA”) Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) program and is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions or similar agencies.

However, several federal agencies have asserted regulatory authority over certain aspects of the process. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has asserted regulatory authority pursuant to the SDWA’s UIC program over hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuel in fracturing fluids and issued guidance covering such activities. In addition, in June 2016, the EPA published an effluent limit guideline final rule prohibiting the discharge of wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. Also, from time to time, legislation has been introduced, but not enacted, in Congress to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. In the event that new federal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we own mineral or royalty interests, our operators may incur additional costs or permitting requirements to comply with such federal requirements that may be significant and that could result in added delays or curtailment in our operators’ pursuit of exploration, development or production activities, which would in turn reduce the oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from our properties.

Moreover, some states and local governments have adopted, and other governmental entities are considering adopting, regulations that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well-construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations, including states in which our properties are located. For example, Texas, Colorado and North Dakota, among others, have adopted regulations that impose new or more stringent permitting, disclosure, disposal and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. States could also elect to prohibit high volume hydraulic fracturing altogether. In addition to state laws, local land use restrictions, such as city ordinances, may restrict drilling in general and/or hydraulic fracturing in particular.

In December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources “under some circumstances,” noting that the following hydraulic fracturing water cycle activities and local- or regional-scale factors are more likely than others to result in more frequent or more severe impacts: water withdrawals for fracturing in times or areas of low water availability; surface spills during the management of fracturing fluids, chemicals or produced water; injection of fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity; injection of fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources; discharge of inadequately treated fracturing wastewater to surface waters; and disposal or storage of fracturing wastewater in unlined pits.

Furthermore, certain interest groups in Colorado opposed to oil and natural gas development generally, and hydraulic fracturing in particular, have from time to time advanced various options for ballot initiatives that, if approved, would allow revisions to the state constitution in a manner that would make such activities in the state more difficult in the future. In addition, the Colorado state legislature has from time to time considered legislation that would impose stricter regulation on oil and natural gas exploration and production activities in the state. For example, the legislature is currently considering a bill that would fundamentally alter Colorado’s approach to oil and natural gas exploration and production permitting, prioritizing environmental considerations over preventing the waste of mineral resources. Amongst other issues, the bill provides more authority to municipalities and county governments to impose their own siting and permitting requirements on operations and

 

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directs state agencies to adopt or consider new rules related to air emission monitoring and controls, asset integrity and plugging and abandonment obligations. This bill has the potential to significantly curtail new oil and gas development in Colorado.

Increased regulation and attention given to the hydraulic fracturing process could lead to greater opposition to, and litigation concerning, oil, natural gas and NGL production activities using hydraulic fracturing techniques. Additional legislation or regulation could also lead to operational delays or increased operating costs for our operators in the production of oil, natural gas and NGLs, including from the developing shale plays, or could make it more difficult for our operators to perform hydraulic fracturing. The adoption of any federal, state or local laws or the implementation of regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing could potentially cause a decrease in our operators’ completion of new oil and natural gas wells on our properties and an associated decrease in the production attributable to our interests, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Legislation or regulatory initiatives intended to address seismic activity could restrict our operators’ drilling and production activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

State and federal regulatory agencies have recently focused on a possible connection between hydraulic fracturing related activities, particularly the underground injection of wastewater into disposal wells, and the increased occurrence of seismic activity, and regulatory agencies at all levels are continuing to study the possible linkage between oil and gas activity and induced seismicity. For example, in 2015, the United States Geological Study identified eight states, including Oklahoma and Texas, with areas of increased rates of induced seismicity that could be attributed to fluid injection or oil and gas extraction.

In addition, a number of lawsuits have been filed, most recently in Oklahoma, alleging that disposal well operations have caused damage to neighboring properties or otherwise violated state and federal rules regulating waste disposal. In response to these concerns, regulators in some states are seeking to impose additional requirements, including requirements in the permitting of produced water disposal wells or otherwise to assess the relationship between seismicity and the use of such wells. For example, in October 2014, the Texas Railroad Commission published a new rule governing permitting or re-permitting of disposal wells that would require, among other things, the submission of information on seismic events occurring within a specified radius of the disposal well location, as well as logs, geologic cross sections and structure maps relating to the disposal area in question. If the permittee or an applicant of a disposal well permit fails to demonstrate that the produced water or other fluids are confined to the disposal zone or if scientific data indicates such a disposal well is likely to be or determined to be contributing to seismic activity, then the agency may deny, modify, suspend or terminate the permit application or existing operating permit for that well. The Texas Railroad Commission has used this authority to deny permits for waste disposal wells. In some instances, regulators may also order that disposal wells be shut in.

The adoption and implementation of any new laws or regulations that restrict our operators’ ability to use hydraulic fracturing or dispose of produced water gathered from drilling and production activities by limiting volumes, disposal rates, disposal well locations or otherwise, or requiring them to shut down disposal wells, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Restrictions on the ability of our operators to obtain water may have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow.

Water is an essential component of deep shale oil, natural gas and NGL production during both the drilling and hydraulic fracturing processes. Over the past several years, parts of the country, and in particular Texas, have experienced extreme drought conditions. As a result of this severe drought, some local water districts have begun restricting the use of water subject to their jurisdiction for hydraulic fracturing to protect local water supply. If our operators are unable to obtain water to use in their operations from local sources, or if our operators are

 

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unable to effectively utilize flowback water, they may be unable to economically drill for or produce oil, natural gas and NGLs from our properties, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and free cash flow.

Our term loan facility has substantial restrictions and financial covenants that may restrict our business and financing activities and our ability to declare dividends.

As of December 31, 2018, we had outstanding borrowings of $175 million under our term loan facility. The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our term loan facility restrict, and any future financing agreements likely will restrict, our ability to finance future operations or capital needs, engage, expand or pursue our business activities or pay dividends. Our term loan facility restricts, and any future financing agreements likely will restrict, our ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur indebtedness;

 

   

issue certain equity securities, including preferred equity securities;

 

   

incur certain liens or permit them to exist;

 

   

engage in certain fundamental changes, including mergers or consolidations;

 

   

make certain investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions;

 

   

sell or transfer assets;

 

   

enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

 

   

pay dividends to or redeem or repurchase shares from our shareholders;

 

   

make certain payments of junior indebtedness;

 

   

enter into transactions with our affiliates;

 

   

enter into certain restrictive agreements; and

 

   

enter into swap agreements and hedging arrangements.

Our term loan facility restricts our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders or to repurchase shares of our Class A common stock. We also are required to comply with certain financial and collateral coverage covenants and ratios under our term loan facility, which upon the consummation of this offering will include maintaining (i) a total net leverage ratio not to exceed 4.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (ii) an asset coverage ratio of not less than 1.75 to 1.00, and (iii) a debt to capitalization ratio not to exceed 0.40 to 1.00. Our ability to comply with these restrictions and covenants in the future is uncertain and will be affected by the levels of free cash flow and events or circumstances beyond our control, such as a downturn in our business or the economy in general or reduced oil, natural gas and NGL prices. If we violate any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our term loan facility, a significant portion of our indebtedness may become immediately due and payable, our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders will be inhibited and our lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. In addition, our obligations under our term loan facility are secured by substantially all of our assets, and if we are unable to repay our indebtedness under our term loan facility, the lenders can seek to foreclose on our assets.

Our debt levels may limit our flexibility to obtain additional financing and pursue other business opportunities.

Our existing and future indebtedness could have important consequences to us, including:

 

   

our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired, or such financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us;

 

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covenants in our existing and future credit and debt arrangements will require us to meet financial tests that may affect our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business, including possible acquisition opportunities;

 

   

our access to the capital markets may be limited;

 

   

our borrowing costs may increase;

 

   

we will need a substantial portion of our free cash flow to make principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and payment of dividends to our shareholders; and

 

   

our debt level will make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally.

Our ability to service our indebtedness will depend upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing or delaying business activities, acquisitions, investments and/or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms or at all.

The adoption of climate change legislation by Congress could result in increased operating costs for our operators and reduced demand for the oil, natural gas and NGLs that our operators produce.

Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention. As a result, numerous proposals have been made and are likely to continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other “greenhouse gases” (“GHGs”). These efforts have included consideration of cap-and-trade programs, carbon taxes, GHG reporting and tracking programs and regulations that directly limit GHG emissions from certain sources.

At the federal level, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented to date. The EPA has, however, adopted rules under authority of the U.S. Clean Air Act that, among other things, establish Potential for Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) construction and Title V operating permit reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources that are also potential major sources of certain principal, or criteria, pollutant emissions, which reviews could require securing PSD permits at covered facilities emitting GHGs and meeting “best available control technology” standards for those GHG emissions. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources in the U.S., including, among others, onshore and offshore production facilities, which include certain of our operators’ operations. The EPA has expanded the GHG reporting requirements to all segments of the oil and natural gas industry, including gathering and boosting facilities as well as completions and workovers from hydraulically fractured oil wells.

Federal agencies also have begun directly regulating emissions of methane from oil and natural gas operations. In June 2016, the EPA published New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”), known as Subpart OOOOa, that requires certain new, modified or reconstructed facilities in the oil and natural gas sector to reduce these methane gas and volatile organic compound emissions. These Subpart OOOOa standards expand previously issued NSPS published by the EPA in 2012 and known as Subpart OOOO, by using certain equipment-specific emissions control practices. However, in June 2017, the EPA published a proposed rule to stay certain portions of these Subpart OOOOa standards for two years and reconsider the entirety of the 2016 standards; the EPA has not yet published a final rule and, as a result, the 2016 standards are currently in effect but future implementation of the 2016 standards is uncertain at this time. Additionally, in December 2015, the U.S. joined the international community at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France that prepared an agreement requiring member countries to

 

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review and “represent a progression” in their intended nationally determined contributions, which set GHG emission reduction goals every five years beginning in 2020. This “Paris Agreement” was signed by the U.S. in April 2016 and entered in force in November 2016; however, this agreement does not create any binding obligations for nations to limit their GHG emissions, but rather includes pledges to voluntarily limit or reduce future emissions. Moreover, in August 2017, the U.S. State Department informed the United Nations of the intent of the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement provides for a four-year exit process beginning when it took effect in November 2016, which would result in an effective exit date of November 2020. The United States’ adherence to the exit process and/or the terms on which the United States may reenter the Paris Agreement or separately negotiated agreement are unclear at this time.

The adoption and implementation of any international, federal or state legislation or regulations that require reporting of GHGs or otherwise restrict emissions of GHGs could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, recent activism directed at shifting funds away from companies with energy-related assets could result in limitations or restrictions on certain sources of funding for the energy sector. Ultimately, this could make it more difficult for operators on our properties to secure funding for exploration and production activities. Finally, some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHG in the atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, and floods and other climate events that could have an adverse effect on our operators’ operations and the production on our properties.

Additional restrictions on drilling activities intended to protect certain species of wildlife may adversely affect our operators’ ability to conduct drilling activities.

In the United States, the Endangered Species Act (the “ESA”) restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (the “MBTA”). To the extent species that are listed under the ESA or similar state laws, or are protected under the MBTA, live in the areas where our operators operate, our operators’ abilities to conduct or expand operations could be limited, or our operators could be forced to incur material additional costs. Moreover, our operators’ drilling activities may be delayed, restricted or precluded in protected habitat areas or during certain seasons, such as breeding and nesting seasons.

In addition, as a result of one or more settlements approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (the “FWS”), the agency is required to make a determination on the listing of numerous other species as endangered or threatened under the ESA by the end of the FWS’ 2017 fiscal year. The designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could cause our operators’ operations to become subject to operating restrictions or bans, and limit future development activity in affected areas. The FWS and similar state agencies may designate critical or suitable habitat areas that they believe are necessary for the survival of threatened or endangered species. Such a designation could materially restrict use of or access to federal, state and private lands.

Operating hazards and uninsured risks may result in substantial losses to us or our operators, and any losses could adversely affect our results of operations and free cash flow.

The operations of our operators will be subject to all of the hazards and operating risks associated with drilling for and production of oil, natural gas and NGLs, including the risk of fire, explosions, blowouts, surface cratering, uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas, NGLs and formation water, pipe or pipeline failures, abnormally pressured formations, casing collapses and environmental hazards such as oil and NGL spills, natural gas leaks and ruptures or discharges of toxic gases. In addition, their operations will be subject to risks associated with hydraulic fracturing, including any mishandling, surface spillage or potential underground migration of fracturing fluids, including chemical additives. The occurrence of any of these events could result in substantial losses to our operators due to injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources

 

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and equipment, pollution or other environmental damage, clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigations and penalties, suspension of operations and repairs required to resume operations.

Competition in the oil and natural gas industry is intense, which may adversely affect our and our operators’ ability to succeed.

The oil and natural gas industry is intensely competitive, and the operators of our properties compete with other companies that may have greater resources. Many of these companies explore for and produce oil, natural gas and NGLs, carry on midstream and refining operations, and market petroleum and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. In addition, these companies may have a greater ability to continue exploration activities during periods of low oil, natural gas and NGL market prices. Our operators’ larger competitors may be able to absorb the burden of present and future federal, state, local and other laws and regulations more easily than our operators can, which would adversely affect our operators’ competitive position. Our operators may have fewer financial and human resources than many companies in our operators’ industry and may be at a disadvantage in bidding for exploratory prospects and producing oil and natural gas properties. In addition, our ability to acquire additional properties and to discover reserves in the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transaction in a highly competitive environment. Because we have fewer financial and human resources than many companies in our industry, we may be at a disadvantage in bidding for exploratory prospects and producing oil and natural gas properties.

Title to the properties in which we have an interest may be impaired by title defects.

We are not required to, and under certain circumstances we may elect not to, incur the expense of retaining lawyers to examine the title to our royalty and mineral interests. In such cases, we would rely upon the judgment of oil and gas lease brokers or landmen who perform the fieldwork in examining records in the appropriate governmental office before acquiring a specific royalty or mineral interest. The existence of a material title deficiency can render an interest worthless and can materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and free cash flow. No assurance can be given that we will not suffer a monetary loss from title defects or title failure. Additionally, undeveloped acreage has a greater risk of title defects than developed acreage. If there are any title defects in properties in which we hold an interest, we may suffer a financial loss.

Loss of our or our operators’ information and computer systems, including as a result of cyber attacks, could materially and adversely affect our business.

We and our operators rely on electronic systems and networks to control and manage our respective businesses. If any of such programs or systems were to fail for any reason, including as a result of a cyber attacks, or create erroneous information in our or our operators’ hardware or software network infrastructure, possible consequences could be significant, including loss of communication links and inability to automatically process commercial transaction or engage in similar automated or computerized business activities. Although we have multiple layers of security to mitigate risks of cyber attacks, cyber attacks on business have escalated in recent years. Moreover, our operators are becoming increasingly dependent on digital technologies to conduct certain exploration, development, production and processing activities, including interpreting seismic data, managing drilling rigs, production activities and gathering systems, conducting reservoir modeling and estimating reserves. The U.S. government has issued public warnings that indicate that energy assets might be specific targets of cyber security threats. If our operators become the target of cyberattacks of information security breaches, their business operations may be substantially disrupted, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

A terrorist attack or armed conflict could harm our business.

Terrorist activities, anti-terrorist efforts and other armed conflicts involving the United States or other countries may adversely affect the United States and global economies and could prevent us from meeting our financial and other obligations. If any of these events occur, the resulting political instability and societal disruption could reduce overall demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs, potentially putting downward pressure on

 

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demand for our operators’ services and causing a reduction in our revenues. Oil, natural gas and NGL related facilities could be direct targets of terrorist attacks, and, if infrastructure integral to our operators is destroyed or damaged, they may experience a significant disruption in their operations. Costs for insurance and other security may increase as a result of these threats, and some insurance coverage may become more difficult to obtain, if available at all.

A deterioration in general economic, business or industry conditions would materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and free cash flow.

In recent years, concerns over global economic conditions, energy costs, geopolitical issues, inflation, the availability and cost of credit and slow economic growth in the United States have contributed to economic uncertainty and diminished expectations for the global economy. Meanwhile, continued hostilities in the Middle East and the occurrence or threat of terrorist attacks in the United States or other countries could adversely affect the economies of the United States and other countries. Concerns about global economic growth have had a significant adverse impact on global financial markets and commodity prices. An oversupply of crude oil in 2015 led to a severe decline in worldwide oil prices. If the economic climate in the United States or abroad deteriorates, worldwide demand for petroleum products could further diminish, which could impact the price at which oil, natural gas and NGLs from our properties are sold, affect the ability of our operators to continue operations and ultimately materially adversely impact our results of operations, financial condition and free cash flow.

Risks Related to this Offering and Our Class A Common Stock

Brigham Minerals is a holding company. Brigham Minerals’ sole material asset after completion of this offering will be its equity interest in Brigham LLC and it is accordingly dependent upon distributions from Brigham LLC to pay taxes, cover its corporate and other overhead expenses and pay any dividends on our Class A common stock.

Brigham Minerals is a holding company and will have no material assets other than its equity interest in Brigham LLC. Please see “Corporate Reorganization.” Brigham Minerals has no independent means of generating revenue. To the extent Brigham LLC has available cash, Brigham LLC is required to make (i) generally pro rata distributions to all its unitholders, including to Brigham Minerals, in an amount generally intended to allow such holders to satisfy their respective income tax liabilities with respect to their allocable share of the income of Brigham LLC, based on certain assumptions and conventions, provided that the distribution will be sufficient to allow Brigham Minerals to satisfy its actual tax liabilities and (ii) non pro rata distributions to Brigham Minerals in an amount sufficient to cover its corporate and other overhead expenses. In addition, as the sole managing member of Brigham LLC, we intend to cause Brigham LLC to make pro rata distributions to all of its unitholders, including to Brigham Minerals, in an amount sufficient to allow us to fund dividends to our stockholders in accordance with our dividend policy, to the extent our board of directors declares such dividends. Therefore, although we expect to pay dividends on our Class A common stock in amounts determined from time to time by our board of directors, our ability to do so may be limited to the extent Brigham LLC and its subsidiaries are limited in their ability to make these and other distributions to us, including due to the restrictions under our term loan facility. To the extent that we need funds and Brigham LLC or its subsidiaries are restricted from making such distributions under applicable law or regulation or under the terms of their financing arrangements, or are otherwise unable to provide such funds, it could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition.

The requirements of being a public company, including compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, may strain our resources, increase our costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with these requirements in a timely or cost-effective manner.

As a public company, we will need to comply with new laws, regulations and requirements, certain corporate governance provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, related regulations of the SEC and the requirements

 

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of the NYSE, with which we are not required to comply as a private company. Complying with these statutes, regulations and requirements will occupy a significant amount of time of our board of directors and management and will significantly increase our costs and expenses. We will need to:

 

   

institute a more comprehensive compliance function;

 

   

comply with rules promulgated by the NYSE;

 

   

continue to prepare and distribute periodic public reports in compliance with our obligations under the federal securities laws;

 

   

establish new internal policies, such as those relating to insider trading; and

 

   

involve and retain to a greater degree outside counsel and accountants in the above activities.

Furthermore, while we generally must comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, we are not required to have our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls until our first annual report subsequent to our ceasing to be an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act. Accordingly, we may not be required to have our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls until as late as our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Once it is required to do so, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed. Compliance with these requirements may strain our resources, increase our costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with these requirements in a timely or cost-effective manner.

In addition, we expect that being a public company subject to these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating these rules, and we cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.

We have identified and are in the process of remediating certain material weaknesses related to our risk assessment processes and certain controls related to revenues and certain recent transactions. We may identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, which may cause current and potential stockholders to lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock .

Our internal control over financial reporting does not currently meet all the standards contemplated by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that we will eventually be required to meet. If we are not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or with adequate compliance at the time required, we may be unable to report on a timely basis, which could subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC, or result in violations of applicable stock exchange listing rules.

In connection with the preparation and review of our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, our management identified certain material weaknesses related to our risk assessment processes and certain controls related to revenues and certain recent transactions. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. After identifying such material weaknesses, which resulted in errors in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we reviewed our audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 for additional potential accrual and presentation errors, which resulted in an immaterial correction of the presentation of gains and losses on sales of assets to include such gains and losses in other operating income for all periods presented. We are in the

 

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process of remediating the material weaknesses identified. As an emerging growth company we have not been required to assess the effectiveness of our internal controls and additional material weaknesses may exist.

Although management is working to remediate the material weaknesses, there is no assurance that its changes will remediate the identified material weaknesses or that the controls will prevent or detect future material weaknesses. Any failure to develop or maintain effective internal controls, or difficulties encountered in implementing or improving our internal controls, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company, and if we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be harmed. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Internal Control Procedures—Material Weakness and Remediation.”

The initial public offering price of our Class A common stock may not be indicative of the market price of our Class A common stock after this offering. In addition, an active, liquid and orderly trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop or be maintained, and our stock price may be volatile.

Prior to this offering, our Class A common stock was not traded on any market. An active, liquid and orderly trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop or be maintained after this offering. Active, liquid and orderly trading markets usually result in less price volatility and more efficiency in carrying out investors’ purchase and sale orders. The market price of our Class A common stock could vary significantly as a result of a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. In the event of a drop in the market price of our Class A common stock, you could lose a substantial part or all of your investment in our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price will be negotiated between us and representatives of the underwriters, based on numerous factors which we discuss in “Underwriting,” and may not be indicative of the market price of our Class A common stock after this offering. Consequently, you may not be able to sell shares of our Class A common stock at prices equal to or greater than the price paid by you in this offering.

The following factors could affect our stock price:

 

   

our operating and financial performance, including reserve estimates;

 

   

quarterly variations in our financial and operating results;

 

   

the public reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;

 

   

strategic actions by our competitors;

 

   

changes in revenue or earnings estimates, or changes in recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage, by equity research analysts;

 

   

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

   

the failure of research analysts to cover our Class A common stock;

 

   

sales of our Class A common stock by us or our stockholders or the perception that such sales may occur;

 

   

changes in accounting principles, policies, guidance, interpretations or standards;

 

   

additions or departures of key management personnel;

 

   

actions by our stockholders;

 

   

general market conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices;

 

   

domestic and international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance; and

 

   

the realization of any risks described under this “Risk Factors” section.

The stock markets in general have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading

 

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price of our Class A common stock. Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company’s securities. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in very substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our Sponsors will have the ability to direct the voting of a majority of the voting power of our common stock, and their interests may conflict with those of our other stockholders.

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or our certificate of incorporation. Upon completion of this offering, our Sponsors will beneficially own, on a combined basis, approximately     % of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock (or approximately     % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) and     % of our shares of Class B common stock, representing     % of our combined economic interest and voting power (or approximately     % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). As a result, on a combined basis, our Sponsors will be able to control matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, changes to our organizational documents and significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership makes it unlikely that any other holder or group of holders of our Class A common stock will be able to affect the way we are managed or the direction of our business. The interests of our Sponsors with respect to matters potentially or actually involving or affecting us, such as future acquisitions, financings and other corporate opportunities and attempts to acquire us, may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders.

Given this concentrated ownership, our Sponsors would have to approve any potential acquisition of us. In addition, certain of our directors are currently employees of our Sponsors. These directors’ duties as employees of our Sponsors may conflict with their duties as our directors, and the resolution of these conflicts may not always be in our or your best interest. Furthermore, in connection with this offering, we will enter into a stockholders’ agreement with our Sponsors. The stockholders’ agreement provides each of our Sponsors with the right to designate a certain number of nominees to our board of directors so long as such Sponsor and its affiliates collectively beneficially own a specified percentage of the outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B common stock. In addition, the stockholders’ agreement provides our sponsors the right to approve certain material transactions so long as our Sponsors and their affiliates beneficially own specified percentages of our outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders’ Agreement.” Finally, the existence of significant stockholders may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in management or limiting the ability of our other stockholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in the best interests of our company. Our Sponsors’ concentration of stock ownership may also adversely affect the trading price of our Class A common stock to the extent investors perceive a disadvantage in owning stock of a company with significant stockholders.

Certain of our directors have significant duties with, and spend significant time serving, entities that may compete with us in seeking acquisitions and business opportunities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating time or pursuing business opportunities.

Certain of our directors, who are responsible for managing the direction of our operations and acquisition activities, hold positions of responsibility with other entities (including Warburg Pincus-, Yorktown- and Pine Brook-affiliated entities) that are in the business of identifying and acquiring oil and natural gas properties. For example, two of our directors (Messrs. Holland and Levy) are senior investment professionals of Warburg Pincus, one of our directors (Mr. Keenan) is a Managing Member of Yorktown and one of our directors (Mr. Stoneburner) is a Managing Director of Pine Brook, all of which are in the business of investing in oil and natural gas companies with independent management teams that also seek to acquire oil and natural gas properties. In addition, Mr. Brigham, our executive chairman, is involved with certain other entities involved in the oil and gas industry, including Brigham Operating, Atlas Permian Water, Atlas Permian Sand, Brigham Development and Anthem Ventures. The existing positions held by these directors may give rise to fiduciary or other duties that are

 

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in conflict with the duties they owe to us. These directors may become aware of business opportunities that may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as to the other entities with which they are or may become affiliated. Due to these existing and potential future affiliations, they may present potential business opportunities to other entities prior to presenting them to us, which could cause additional conflicts of interest. They may also decide that certain opportunities are more appropriate for other entities with which they are affiliated, and as a result, they may elect not to present those opportunities to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor. For additional discussion of our management’s business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest of which our stockholders should be aware, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

Our Sponsors and their affiliates are not limited in their ability to compete with us, and the corporate opportunity provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation could enable our Sponsors to benefit from corporate opportunities that might otherwise be available to us.

Our governing documents will provide that our Sponsors and their affiliates (including portfolio investments of our Sponsors and their affiliates) are not restricted from owning assets or engaging in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us and that we renounce any interest or expectancy in any business opportunity that may be from time to time presented to our Sponsors or their respective affiliates. In particular, subject to the limitations of applicable law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will, among other things:

 

   

permit our Sponsors and their affiliates and our directors to conduct business that competes with us and to make investments in any kind of property in which we may make investments; and

 

   

provide that if our Sponsors or their affiliates or any director or officer of one of our affiliates, our Sponsors or their affiliates who is also one of our directors becomes aware of a potential business opportunity, transaction or other matter, they will have no duty to communicate or offer that opportunity to us.

Our Sponsors or their affiliates may become aware, from time to time, of certain business opportunities (such as acquisition opportunities) and may direct such opportunities to other businesses in which they have invested, in which case we may not become aware of or otherwise have the ability to pursue such opportunity. Further, such businesses may choose to compete with us for these opportunities, possibly causing these opportunities to not be available to us or causing them to be more expensive for us to pursue. In addition, our Sponsors and their affiliates may dispose of oil and natural gas properties or other assets in the future, without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase any of those assets. As a result, our renouncing our interest and expectancy in any business opportunity that may be from time to time presented to our Sponsors and their affiliates could adversely impact our business or prospects if attractive business opportunities are procured by such parties for their own benefit rather than for ours. Please read “Description of Capital Stock—Corporate Opportunity.”

Each of our Sponsors is an established participant in the oil and natural gas industry and has resources greater than ours, which may make it more difficult for us to compete with our Sponsors with respect to commercial activities as well as for potential acquisitions. We cannot assure you that any conflicts that may arise between us and our stockholders, on the one hand, and our Sponsors, on the other hand, will be resolved in our favor. As a result, competition from our Sponsors and their affiliates could adversely impact our results of operations.

A significant reduction by our Sponsors of their ownership interests in us could adversely affect us.

We believe that our Sponsor’s ownership interests in us provide them with an economic incentive to assist us to be successful. Upon the expiration of the lock-up restrictions on transfers or sales of our securities following the completion of this offering, our Sponsors will not be subject to any obligation to maintain their ownership interest in us and may elect at any time thereafter to sell all or a substantial portion of or otherwise reduce their ownership interest in us. If our Sponsors sell all or a substantial portion of their respective ownership

 

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interests in us, they may have less incentive to assist in our success and their affiliate(s) that are expected to serve as members of our board of directors may resign. Such actions could adversely affect our ability to successfully implement our business strategies, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as well as Delaware law, will contain provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and could deprive our investors of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval in one or more series, designate the number of shares constituting any series, and fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, redemption price or prices and liquidation preferences of such series. If our board of directors elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire us. In addition, some provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders, some of which will not apply until our Sponsors and their respective affiliates no longer collectively beneficially own (or otherwise have the right to vote or direct the vote of) more than 50% of our outstanding shares of common stock, which event we refer to as the “Trigger Event.” Among other things, upon the completion of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will:

 

   

establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders;

 

   

provide that the authorized number of directors constituting our board of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law or, if applicable, the rights of holders of a series of our preferred stock, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office, even if less than a quorum (prior to such time, vacancies may also be filled by stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares);

 

   

provide that our bylaws can be amended by the board of directors;

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock with respect to such series (prior to such time, such actions may be taken without a meeting by written consent of holders of common stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize such action at a meeting);

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of our then outstanding shares of common stock (prior to such time, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our then outstanding shares of common stock);

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, special meetings of our stockholders may only be called by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of directors serving at the time of such vote (prior to such time, a special meeting may also be called at the request of our stockholders holding a majority of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors voting together as a single class);

 

   

provide for our board of directors to be divided into three classes of directors, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered three-year terms, other than directors that may be elected by holders of our preferred stock, if any;

 

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provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in voting power of all then outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to remove any or all of the directors from office, and such removal may only be for “cause”; and

 

   

prohibit cumulative voting on all matters.

Furthermore, the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are subject to the terms of the stockholders’ agreement we will enter into with our Sponsors in connection with the offering. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders’ Agreement.”

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Investors in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $                per share.

Based on an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), purchasers of shares of our Class A common stock in this offering will experience an immediate and substantial dilution of $                per share in the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock from the initial public offering price, and our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 after giving effect to this offering would be $                per share. This dilution is due in large part to earlier investors having paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they purchased their shares. See “Dilution.”

Our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders may be limited by our holding company structure, contractual restrictions and regulatory requirements.

After this offering, Brigham Minerals will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than its ownership of Brigham LLC Units, and Brigham Minerals will not have any independent means of generating revenue. To the extent Brigham LLC has available cash, Brigham LLC is required to make (i) generally pro rata distributions to all its unitholders, including to Brigham Minerals, in an amount generally intended to allow such holders to satisfy their respective income tax liabilities with respect to their allocable share of the income of

 

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Brigham LLC, based on certain assumptions and conventions, provided that the distribution will be sufficient to allow Brigham Minerals to satisfy its actual tax liabilities and (ii) non-pro rata distributions to Brigham Minerals in an amount sufficient to cover its corporate and other overhead expenses. In addition, as the sole managing member of Brigham LLC, Brigham Minerals intends to cause Brigham LLC to make pro rata distributions to all of its unitholders, including to Brigham Minerals, in an amount sufficient to allow it to fund dividends to its stockholders in accordance with its dividend policy, to the extent its board of directors declares such dividends. Brigham LLC is a distinct legal entity and may be subject to legal or contractual restrictions that, under certain circumstances, may limit Brigham Minerals ability to obtain cash from it. If Brigham LLC is unable to make distributions, we may not receive adequate distributions, which could materially and adversely affect our free cash flow and financial position and our ability to fund any dividends.

Although we expect to pay dividends on our Class A common stock, our board of directors will take into account general economic and business conditions, including our financial condition and results of operations, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, including restrictions and covenants contained in our debt agreements, business prospects and other factors that our board of directors considers relevant in determining whether, and in what amounts, to pay such dividends. In addition, the credit agreement governing our term loan facility limits the amount of distributions that Brigham LLC can make to us and the purposes for which distributions could be made. Accordingly, we may not be able to pay dividends even if our board of directors would otherwise deem it appropriate. See “Dividend Policy,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity” and “Description of Capital Stock.”

In certain circumstances, Brigham LLC will be required to make tax distributions to the Brigham Unit Holders, including Brigham Minerals, and such tax distributions may be substantial. To the extent Brigham Minerals receives tax distributions in excess of its actual tax liabilities and retains such excess cash, the Existing Owners would benefit from such accumulated cash balances if they exercise their Redemption Right.

Pursuant to the Brigham LLC Agreement, to the extent Brigham LLC has available cash (taking into account existing and projected capital expenditures), Brigham LLC is required to make generally pro rata distributions (which we refer to as “tax distributions”), to all its unitholders, including Brigham Minerals, in an amount generally intended to allow the Brigham Unit Holders to satisfy their respective income tax liabilities with respect to their allocable share of the income of Brigham LLC, based on certain assumptions and conventions, provided that tax distributions will be made sufficient to allow Brigham Minerals to satisfy its actual tax liabilities. The amount of such tax distributions will be determined based on certain assumptions, including an assumed individual income tax rate, and will be calculated after taking into account other distributions (including other tax distributions) made by Brigham LLC. Because tax distributions will be made pro rata based on ownership and due to, among other items, differences between the tax rates applicable to Brigham Minerals and the assumed individual income tax rate used in the calculation and requirements under the applicable tax rules that Brigham LLC’s net taxable income be allocated disproportionately to its unitholders in certain circumstances, tax distributions may significantly exceed the actual tax liability for many of the Brigham Unit Holders, including Brigham Minerals. If Brigham Minerals retains the excess cash it receives, the Existing Owners would benefit from any value attributable to such accumulated cash balances as a result of their exercise of the Redemption Right. However, we expect to use such accumulated cash balances to pay dividends in respect of our Class A common stock or to take other steps to eliminate any material cash balances. In addition, the tax distributions Brigham LLC will be required to make may be substantial and may exceed the tax liabilities that would be owed by a similarly situated corporate taxpayer. Funds used by Brigham LLC to satisfy its tax distribution obligations will not be available for reinvestment in our business, except to the extent Brigham Minerals uses the excess cash it receives to reinvest in Brigham LLC for additional units.

 

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The U.S. federal income tax treatment of distributions on our Class A common stock to a holder will depend upon our tax attributes and the holder’s tax basis in our stock, which are not necessarily predictable and can change over time.

Distributions of cash or property on our Class A common stock, if any, will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in our Class A common stock and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common stock. Also, if any holder sells our Class A common stock, the holder will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the holder’s tax basis in such Class A common stock.

To the extent that the amount of our distributions is treated as a non-taxable return of capital as described above, such distribution will reduce a holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock. Consequently, such excess distributions will result in a corresponding increase in the amount of gain, or a corresponding decrease in the amount of loss, recognized by the holder upon the sale of the Class A common stock or subsequent distributions with respect to such stock. Additionally, with regard to U.S. corporate holders of our Class A shares, to the extent that a distribution on our Class A shares exceeds both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and such holder’s tax basis in such shares, such holders would be unable to utilize the corporate dividends-received deduction (to the extent it would otherwise be applicable to such holder) with respect to the gain resulting from such excess distribution.

Prospective investors in our Class A common stock are encouraged to consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of receiving distributions on our Class A shares that are not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Future sales of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could reduce our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute your ownership in us.

Certain of our Existing Owners own shares of our Class A common stock and, subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the Existing Owners that hold Brigham LLC Units may require Brigham LLC to redeem their Brigham LLC Units for shares of Class A common stock (on a one-for-one basis, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification and other similar transactions), and our Existing Owners may sell any of such shares of Class A common stock. Additionally, after the expiration or waiver of the lock-up provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with this offering, we may sell additional shares of Class A common stock in subsequent public offerings or may issue additional shares of Class A common stock or convertible securities. After the completion of this offering, we will have outstanding                  shares of Class A common stock and                 shares of Class B common stock. This number includes                  shares of Class A common stock that we are selling in this offering and                 shares of Class A common stock that we may sell in this offering if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, which shares may be resold immediately in the public market. Following the completion of this offering, and assuming full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, the Existing Owners will own                 shares of our Class A common stock and                 shares of Class B common stock, representing approximately     % (or     % if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full) of our total outstanding shares, all of which are restricted from immediate resale under the federal securities laws and are subject to the lock-up agreements between them and the underwriters described in “Underwriting,” but may be sold into the market in the future. The Existing Owners will be party to a registration rights agreement, which will require us to effect the registration of their shares in certain circumstances no earlier than the expiration of the lock-up period contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with this offering. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

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In connection with this offering, we intend to file a registration statement with the SEC on Form S-8 providing for the registration of                  shares of our Class A common stock issued or reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plan. Subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions and the expiration of lock-up agreements, shares registered under the registration statement on Form S-8 will be available for resale immediately in the public market without restriction.

We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into Class A common stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of shares of our Class A common stock will have on the market price of our Class A common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock (including shares issued in connection with an acquisition), or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices of our Class A common stock.

The underwriters of this offering may release parties to the lock-up agreements entered into in connection with this offering, which could adversely affect the price of our Class A common stock.

We, all of our directors and executive officers and the Existing Owners have entered or will enter into lock-up agreements pursuant to which we and they will be subject to certain restrictions with respect to the sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock for a period of 180 days following the date of this prospectus. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, at any time and without notice, may release all or any portion of the Class A common stock subject to the foregoing lock-up agreements. See “Underwriting” for more information on these agreements. If the restrictions under the lock-up agreements are waived, then the Class A common stock, subject to compliance with the Securities Act or exceptions therefrom, will be available for sale into the public markets, which could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline and impair our ability to raise capital.

Our organizational structure confers certain benefits upon the Existing Owners that will not benefit the holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent as it will benefit the Existing Owners.

Our organizational structure confers certain benefits upon the Existing Owners that will not benefit the holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent as it will benefit the Existing Owners. Brigham Minerals will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than its ownership of Brigham LLC Units. As a consequence, our ability to declare and pay dividends to the holders of our Class A common stock will be subject to the ability of Brigham LLC to provide distributions to us. If Brigham LLC makes such distributions, the Existing Owners will be entitled to receive equivalent distributions from Brigham LLC on a pro rata basis. However, because we must pay taxes, amounts ultimately distributed as dividends to holders of our Class A common stock are expected to be less on a per share basis than the amounts distributed by Brigham LLC to the Existing Owners on a per unit basis. This and other aspects of our organizational structure may adversely impact the future trading market for our Class A common stock.

We may issue preferred stock whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our Class A common stock.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize our board of directors to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our Class A common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our board of directors may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of our preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our Class A common stock. For example, we might grant holders of a class or series of our preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of our preferred stock could affect the residual value of our Class A common stock.

 

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For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with certain reporting requirements, including those relating to accounting standards and disclosure about our executive compensation, that apply to other public companies.

We are classified as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. For as long as we are an emerging growth company, which may be up to five full fiscal years, unlike other public companies, we will not be required to, among other things: (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our system of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (ii) comply with any new requirements adopted by the PCAOB requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and the financial statements of the issuer; (iii) provide certain disclosure regarding executive compensation required of larger public companies; or (iv) hold nonbinding advisory votes on executive compensation. We will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years, although we will lose that status sooner if we have more than $1.07 billion of revenues in a fiscal year, have more than $700 million in market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates, or issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.

To the extent that we rely on any of the exemptions available to emerging growth companies, you will receive less information about our executive compensation and internal control over financial reporting than issuers that are not emerging growth companies. If some investors find our Class A common stock to be less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our Class A common stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.

The trading market for our Class A common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover our company downgrades our Class A common stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.

Because we have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act, our financial statements may not be comparable to those of other public companies.

Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are choosing to take advantage of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for private companies. Accordingly, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates, and our stockholders and potential investors may have difficulty in analyzing our operating results by comparing us to such companies.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information in this prospectus includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, the words “may,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions and the negative of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Such statements may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those projected. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus.

The following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and our company in particular, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements:

 

   

our ability to execute on our business strategies;

 

   

the effect of changes in commodity prices;

 

   

the level of production on our properties;

 

   

risks associated with the drilling and operation of oil and natural gas wells;

 

   

the availability or cost of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies, oilfield services, or personnel;

 

   

legislative or regulatory actions pertaining to hydraulic fracturing, including restrictions on the use of water;

 

   

the availability of pipeline capacity and transportation facilities;

 

   

the effect of existing and future laws and regulatory actions;

 

   

the impact of derivative instruments;

 

   

conditions in the capital markets and our ability to obtain capital on favorable terms or at all;

 

   

the overall supply and demand for oil and natural gas, and regional supply and demand factors, delays, or interruptions of production;

 

   

competition from others in the energy industry;

 

   

uncertainty in whether development projects will be pursued;

 

   

uncertainty of estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and production;

 

   

the cost of developing the oil and natural gas underlying our properties;

 

   

our ability to replace our oil and natural gas reserves;

 

   

our ability to identify, complete and integrate acquisitions;

 

   

title defects in the properties in which we invest;

 

   

the cost of inflation;

 

   

technological advances; and

 

   

general economic, business or industry conditions.

 

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Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this prospectus occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this report are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to receive approximately $                million of net proceeds (assuming the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) from the sale of the Class A common stock offered by us after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We intend to contribute all of the net proceeds from this offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for Brigham LLC Units. Brigham LLC will use the net proceeds to partially repay the outstanding indebtedness under our term loan facility and the remaining net proceeds to fund our future mineral and royalty acquisitions. The following table illustrates our anticipated use of the net proceeds from this offering:

 

Sources of Funds

    

Use of Funds

 
(In millions)  

Net proceeds from this offering

   $                    Repayment of our term loan facility    $                
     

Funding of our future mineral and royalty acquisitions

  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total sources of funds

   $        Total uses of funds    $    
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had $175 million of borrowings outstanding under our term loan facility. Our term loan facility matures on July 27, 2024 and bears interest calculated under the terms of our credit agreement at either a fixed rate equal to the base rate plus 4.50% or an adjusted LIBOR rate (subject to a 1.00% floor) plus 5.50%, at our election. Upon the consummation of this offering, each of the foregoing margins will decrease by 0.50% if at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter our total net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement governing our term loan facility) is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00. At December 31, 2018, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings under our term loan facility was 7.71%. The outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility were incurred to repay the outstanding debt under our prior revolving credit facility and to fund mineral and royalty acquisitions.

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share would cause the net proceeds from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, received by us to increase or decrease, respectively, by approximately $                million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. If the proceeds increase due to a higher initial public offering price, we would use the additional net proceeds to fund additional mineral and royalty acquisitions in the future. If the proceeds decrease due to a lower initial public offering price, then we would first reduce by a corresponding amount the net proceeds directed to acquisitions and then, if necessary, the net proceeds directed to repay outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility.

To the extent the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised, we intend to contribute all of the net proceeds therefrom to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock issued pursuant to the underwriters’ option. Brigham LLC will use any such net proceeds to fund future acquisitions of mineral and royalty interests.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We expect to pay dividends on our Class A common stock in amounts determined from time to time by our board of directors. The declaration and payment of any dividends by us will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, which may change our dividend policy at any time. Our board of directors will take into account:

 

   

general economic and business conditions;

 

   

our financial condition and operating results;

 

   

our free cash flow and current and anticipated cash needs;

 

   

our capital requirements;

 

   

legal, tax, regulatory and contractual (including under our term loan facility) restrictions and implications on the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries (including Brigham LLC) to us; and

 

   

such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant.

We will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than our ownership of Brigham LLC Units. As a consequence, our ability to declare and pay dividends to the holders of our Class A common stock will be subject to the ability of Brigham LLC to provide distributions to us. If Brigham LLC makes such distributions, the Existing Owners will be entitled to receive equivalent distributions from Brigham LLC on a pro rata basis. However, because we must pay taxes, amounts ultimately distributed as dividends to holders of our Class A common stock are expected to be less on a per share basis than the amounts distributed by Brigham LLC to the Existing Owners on a per unit basis.

Assuming Brigham LLC makes distributions to us and the Existing Owners in any given year, we expect to pay dividends in respect of our Class A common stock out of the portion, if any, of such distributions remaining after our payment of taxes and our expenses (any such portion, an “excess distribution”). However, because our board of directors may determine to pay or not pay dividends in respect of shares of our Class A common stock based on the factors described above, our holders of Class A common stock may not necessarily receive dividend distributions relating to excess distributions, even if Brigham LLC makes such distributions to us.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2018:

 

   

on an actual basis for our predecessor; and

 

   

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the transactions described under “Corporate Reorganization,” (ii) the sale of shares of our Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial offering price of $                per share (which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) and (iii) the application of the net proceeds from this offering as set forth under “Use of Proceeds.”

The information set forth in the table below is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other final terms of this offering. This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” and the financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of December 31, 2018  
     Predecessor(1)      As Adjusted(2)  
     (In thousands, except number of
shares and par value)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,985      $                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt, including current maturities:

     

Term loan facility(3)

     175,000     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 175,000      $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity:

     

Members’ contributed capital

     208,728     

Class A common stock—$0.01 par value; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, actual;              shares authorized,              shares issued and outstanding, pro forma

     —       

Class B common stock—$0.01 par value; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, actual;              shares authorized,              shares issued and outstanding, pro forma

     —       

Additional paid-in capital

     —       
     

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated earnings

     168,824     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity

   $ 377,552      $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interest

     

Total capitalization

   $ 552,552      $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Brigham Minerals was incorporated in June 2018. The data in this table has been derived from the historical consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus which pertain to the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of our accounting predecessor, Brigham Resources.

(2)

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) additional paid-in capital, total equity and total capitalization by approximately $                million, $                million and $                million, respectively, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of one million shares offered by us at an assumed offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) additional paid-in capital, total equity and total capitalization by approximately $                million, $                million and $                million, respectively, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(3)

Excludes loan closing costs of $4.6 million. See Note 7 “Long-Term Debt” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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DILUTION

Purchasers of our Class A common stock in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock for accounting purposes. Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018, after giving pro forma effect to our corporate reorganization, was approximately $                million, or $                per share of Class A common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our pro forma tangible net worth (tangible assets less total liabilities) by the total number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock that will be outstanding immediately prior to the closing of this offering including giving effect to the corporate reorganization. After giving effect to the sale of the shares in this offering and further assuming the receipt of the estimated net proceeds (after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses), our adjusted pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 would have been approximately $                million, or $                per share. This represents an immediate increase in the net tangible book value of $                 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution (i.e., the difference between the offering price and the adjusted pro forma net tangible book value after this offering) to new investors purchasing shares in this offering of $                 per share. The following table illustrates the per share dilution to new investors purchasing shares in this offering (assuming that 100% of our Class B common stock has been cancelled in connection with a redemption of Brigham LLC Units for Class A common stock):

 

Initial public offering price per share

      $                    

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2018 (after giving effect to the corporate reorganization)

   $                       

Increase per share attributable to new investors in the offering

   $       
  

 

 

    

As adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share (after giving effect to the corporate reorganization and this offering)

     
     

 

 

 

Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering

      $    
     

 

 

 

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) our as adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering by $                and increase (decrease) the dilution to new investors in this offering by $                per share, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The following table summarizes, on an adjusted pro forma basis as of December 31, 2018, the total number of shares of Class A common stock owned by existing stockholders (assuming that 100% of our Class B common stock has been cancelled in connection with a redemption of Brigham LLC Units for Class A common stock) and to be owned by new investors, the total consideration paid, and the average price per share paid by our existing stockholders and to be paid by new investors in this offering at $                , calculated before deduction of estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average Price
Per Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  
     (in millions)  

Existing stockholders

        $                                             $                    

New investors

                             $                             $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

        100   $          100   $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

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The data in the table excludes                  shares of Class A common stock initially reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plan.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the number of shares held by new investors will be increased to                 , or approximately     % of the total number of shares of Class A common stock.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

Brigham Minerals was formed in June 2018 and has limited historical financial operating results. The following table shows selected historical consolidated financial data, for the periods and as of the dates indicated, of our accounting predecessor, Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating, and selected pro forma financial data of Brigham Minerals. The selected historical consolidated financial data of our predecessor as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 were derived from the audited historical consolidated financial statements of our predecessor included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The selected unaudited pro forma statement of operations and balance sheet data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 has been prepared to give pro forma effect to (i) the reorganization transactions described under “—Corporate Reorganization” and (ii) this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as if each had been completed on January 1, 2018, in the case of the statement of operations data, and on December 31, 2018, in the case of the balance sheet data. This information is subject to and gives effect to the assumptions and adjustments described in the notes accompanying the unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected unaudited pro forma financial data is presented for informational purposes only, should not be considered indicative of actual results of operations that would have been achieved had such transactions been consummated on the dates indicated and does not purport to be indicative of statements of financial position or results of operations as of any future date or for any future period.

For a detailed discussion of the selected historical financial data contained in the following table, please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The following table should also be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” and the historical financial statements of Brigham Resources and the pro forma financial statements of Brigham Minerals included elsewhere in this prospectus. Among other things, the historical and pro forma financial statements include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the information in the following table.

 

     Brigham Minerals
Predecessor Historical
    Brigham Minerals
Pro Forma
 
     Year Ended
December 31, 
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017     2018  
                 (unaudited)  
    

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

      

Revenue:

      

Mineral and royalty revenue

   $ 59,758     $ 30,066     $                    

Lease bonus and other revenue

     7,506       10,842    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     67,264       40,908    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other operating income:

      

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties, net

     —         94,551    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expense:

      

Gathering, transportation and marketing

     3,944       1,754    

Severance and ad valorem taxes

     3,536       1,601    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     13,915       6,955    

General and administrative

     6,638       3,935    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expense

     28,033       14,245    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     39,231       121,214    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

      

Gain/(Loss) on derivative instruments, net

     424       (121  

Interest expense, net

     (7,446     (556  

Gain (loss) on sale and distribution of equity securities

     823       (4,222  

Other income, net

     110       305    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     33,142       116,620    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit)/expense

     (220     1,008    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Brigham Minerals
Predecessor Historical
     Brigham Minerals
Pro Forma
 
     Year Ended
December 31, 
     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018      2017      2018  
                   (unaudited)  
    

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Net income

   $ 33,362      $ 115,612      $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

        

Net income attributable to common stockholders

        

Net income per share attributable to common stockholders

        

Basic

        

Diluted

        

Weighted-average number of shares

        

Basic

        

Diluted

        

Other Financial Data:

        

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 53,146      $ 33,618      $    

Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus(1)

     45,640        22,776     

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,985      $ 6,886      $    

Total assets

     554,026        334,477     

Long-term debt, including current maturities

     170,705        27,000     

Total liabilities

     176,474        32,303     

Total equity

     377,552        302,174     

 

(1)

Please read “Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for the definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus to our most directly comparable financial measure, calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data” and the accompanying financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon events, risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, market prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs, production volumes, estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves, capital expenditures, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes and other uncertainties, as well as those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly in “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” all of which are difficult to predict. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Unless otherwise indicated, the historical financial information in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” reflects only the historical financial results of our predecessor, Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating, and does not give effect to the transactions described in “Corporate Reorganization.”

Overview

Brigham Minerals was formed to acquire and actively manage a portfolio of mineral and royalty interests in the core of what we view as the most active, highly economic, liquids-rich resource basins across the continental United States. Our primary business objective is to maximize risk-adjusted total return to our shareholders by both capturing growth in free cash flow from the continued development of our existing portfolio of 11,648 undeveloped horizontal drilling locations unburdened by development capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, as well as leveraging our highly experienced technical evaluation team to continue to execute upon our scalable business model of sourcing, methodically evaluating and integrating accretive minerals acquisitions in the core of top-tier, liquids-rich resource plays.

As of December 31, 2018, we owned approximately 68,800 net royalty acres across 38 counties within four of the most highly economic, liquids-rich basins in the continental United States, including the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, the SCOOP/STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the DJ Basin in Colorado and Wyoming and the Williston Basin in North Dakota. On a pro forma basis giving effect to our portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres at December 31, 2018 as if we had owned it since January 1, 2013, we estimate that the production volumes net to our interests would have grown at an approximate 48% compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, from the beginning of 2013 through December 31, 2018, despite crude oil prices decreasing substantially during that same time period. As of December 31, 2018, we received royalty revenue from 3,355 gross horizontal wells and believe we will see continued growth in production, revenue and free cash flow from 806 DUCs, an average of 43 horizontal rigs running on our interests over the last year and 685 horizontal drilling permits across our mineral and royalty interests (excluding Laramie County, Wyoming) that we believe will be drilled in the future.

Recent Developments

2018 Significant Acquisitions

In June 2018, we completed our largest acquisition to date in the Delaware Basin in Loving County, Texas and Lea County, New Mexico for approximately $41 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. We funded

 

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the transaction with equity capital contributions and borrowings under our prior revolving credit facility. The purchase price was allocated $22.8 million to evaluated properties and $18.2 million to unevaluated properties.

In June 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with an unrelated third party to acquire certain mineral interests in Reeves, Loving and Ward counties in the Delaware Basin for $25.8 million, of which $22.0 million and $3.8 million closed in the third and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively. The allocation of the purchase price was $18.4 million to evaluated properties and $7.4 million to unevaluated properties.

Term Loan Facility

On July 27, 2018, we entered into our term loan facility, which provides for an initial term loan of $125 million, a delayed draw term loan of $75 million and a revolving credit facility of $10 million for general corporate purposes. We used the proceeds of our term loan facility to repay the outstanding balance under our prior revolving credit facility and to fund mineral and royalty acquisitions. See “—Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity—Our Term Loan Facility.”

Business Environment

Commodity Prices

Historically, oil, natural gas and NGL prices have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. During the past five years, the posted price for WTI has ranged from a low of $26.19 per barrel in February 2016 to a high of $107.95 per barrel in June 2014. The Henry Hub spot market price for natural gas has ranged from a low of $1.49 per MMBtu in March 2016 to a high of $6.24 per MMBtu in January 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the posted price for oil was $45.15 per barrel and the Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas was $3.25 per MMBtu. Lower prices may not only decrease our revenues, but also potentially the amount of oil, natural gas and NGLs that our operators can produce economically.

Wells Spud and Turned to Production

Drilling on our mineral and royalty interests is driven by the exploration and production companies that operate our DSUs. We monitor horizontal rig activity in an effort to identify wells that have been spud on our interests, as well as completion reports available on state websites to ascertain when a well has turned to production, to assist us with forecasting near-term production, revenue and free cash flow. Total wells spud on our acreage for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased by 76% compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. During the same period, total wells spud on our acreage as a percentage of total wells spud in our basins remained relatively unchanged, while our average realized prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs increased by 24.5%, 22.9% and 48.9%, respectively. The following table shows the number of wells spud in each of our basins during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 according to information published by RSEG:

 

     Spud  
     2016     2017  
     Wells
Spud
On Our
Acreage
     Total
Wells
Spud
in Basin
     Our % Share
of Total
    Wells
Spud
On Our
Acreage
     Total
Wells
Spud
in Basin
     Our % Share
of Total
 

Delaware

     82        968        8     153        2,037        8

Midland

     16        1,352        1     57        2,147        3

SCOOP

     24        111        22     51        269        19

STACK

     44        390        11     56        592        9

DJ

     147        759        19     229        1,359        17

Williston

     91        539        17     199        716        28

 

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     Spud  
     2016     2017  
     Wells
Spud
On Our
Acreage
     Total
Wells
Spud
in Basin
     Our % Share
of Total
    Wells
Spud
On Our
Acreage
     Total
Wells
Spud
in Basin
     Our % Share
of Total
 

Other

     5        8        63     3        11        27
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     409        4,127        10 %       748        7,131        10 %  

Total wells turned to production on our acreage for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased by 94% compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. During the same period, total wells turned to production on our acreage as a percentage of total wells completed in our basins remained relatively unchanged. The following table shows the number of wells turned to production in each of our basins during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 according to information published by RSEG.

 

     Production  
     2016     2017  
     Wells
Turned to
Production
On Our
Acreage
     Total
Wells
Turned to
Production
in Basin
     Our %
Share
of Total
    Wells
Turned to
Production

On Our
Acreage
     Total
Wells
Turned to
Production

in Basin
     Our
Share
of Total
 

Delaware

     71        925        8     109        1,658        7

Midland

     14        1,193        1     32        1,845        2

SCOOP

     41        124        33     39        210        19

STACK

     31        337        9     42        608        7

DJ

     80        733        11     210        1,297        16

Williston

     62        750        8     159        1,104        14

Other

     12        13        92     6        31        19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     311        4,075        8     597        6,753        9

How We Evaluate Our Operations

We use a variety of operational and financial measures to assess our performance. Among the measures considered by management are the following:

 

   

volumes of oil, natural gas and NGLs produced;

 

   

number of rigs on location, permits, spuds, completions and wells turned-in-line;

 

   

commodity prices; and

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus.

Volumes of Oil, Natural Gas and NGLs Produced

In order to track and assess the performance of our assets, we monitor and analyze our production volumes from the various basins and resource plays that comprise our portfolio of properties. We also regularly compare projected volumes to actual reported volumes and investigate unexpected variances.

Number of Rigs on Location, Permits, Spuds, Completions and Wells Turned-In-Line

In order to track and assess the performance of our assets, we monitor and analyze the number of rigs currently drilling our properties. We also constantly monitor the number of permits, spuds, completions and wells on production that are applicable to our mineral and royalty interests in an effort to evaluate near-term production growth from the various basins and resource plays that comprise our asset base.

 

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Commodity Prices

The prices we receive for oil, natural gas and NGLs vary by geographical area. The relative prices of these products are determined by factors affecting global and regional supply and demand dynamics, such as economic and geopolitical conditions, production levels, availability of transportation, weather cycles and other factors. In addition, realized prices are influenced by product quality and proximity to consuming and refining markets. Any differences between realized prices and NYMEX prices are referred to as differentials. All of our production is derived from properties located in the United States.

Oil . The substantial majority of our oil production is sold at prevailing market prices, which fluctuate in response to many factors that are outside of our control. NYMEX light sweet crude oil, commonly referred to as WTI, is the prevailing domestic oil pricing index. The majority of our oil production is priced at the prevailing market price with the final realized price affected by both quality and location differentials.

The chemical composition of crude oil plays an important role in its refining and subsequent sale as petroleum products. As a result, variations in chemical composition relative to the benchmark crude oil, usually WTI, will result in price adjustments, which are often referred to as quality differentials. The characteristics that most significantly affect quality differentials include the density of the oil, as characterized by its API gravity, and the presence and concentration of impurities, such as sulfur.

Location differentials generally result from transportation costs based on the produced oil’s proximity to consuming and refining markets and major trading points.

Natural Gas . The NYMEX price quoted at Henry Hub is a widely used benchmark for the pricing of natural gas in the United States. The actual volumetric prices realized from the sale of natural gas differ from the quoted NYMEX price as a result of quality and location differentials.

Quality differentials result from the heating value of natural gas measured in Btus and the presence of impurities, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Natural gas containing ethane and heavier hydrocarbons has a higher Btu value and will realize a higher volumetric price than natural gas that is predominantly methane, which has a lower Btu value. Natural gas with a higher concentration of impurities will realize a lower volumetric price due to the presence of the impurities in the natural gas when sold or the cost of treating the natural gas to meet pipeline quality specifications.

Natural gas, which currently has a limited global transportation system, is subject to price variances based on local supply and demand conditions and the cost to transport natural gas to end-user markets.

NGLs. NGL pricing is generally tied to the price of oil, but varies based on differences in liquid components and location.

Hedging

We have in the past and may in the future enter into certain derivative instruments to partially mitigate the impact of commodity price volatility on our cash generated from operations. From time to time, such instruments may include variable-to-fixed-price swaps, fixed-price contracts, costless collars and other contractual arrangements. The impact of these derivative instruments could affect the amount of revenue we ultimately realize. Historically, we have only entered into minimal fixed-price swap contracts. Under fixed-price swap contracts, a counterparty is required to make a payment to us if the settlement price is less than the swap strike price. Conversely, we are required to make a payment to the counterparty if the settlement price is greater than the swap strike price. We may employ contractual arrangements other than fixed-price swap contracts in the future to mitigate the impact of price fluctuations. If commodity prices decline in the future, our hedging contracts may partially mitigate the effect of lower prices on our future revenue.

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2018, our gain on our commodity derivative instruments, net was $0.4 million. For the year ended December 31, 2017, our loss on commodity derivative instruments, net was $0.1 million. Our open oil and natural gas derivative contracts as of December 31, 2018 are detailed in “Note 6-Derivative Instruments” to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

In addition, the credit agreement governing our term loan facility allows us to hedge up to 85% of our reasonably anticipated projected production from our proved reserves for up to 66 months in the future. As of December 31, 2018, we had in place crude oil swaps through December 2019 covering 1% of our projected crude oil production from proved reserves, and as of December 31, 2017, we had in place crude oil swaps through September 2018 covering 1% of our projected crude oil production from proved reserves. We had no natural gas derivative contracts in place as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Ex Lease Bonus

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures used by our management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors, research analysts and others to assess the financial performance of our assets and their ability to sustain dividends over the long term without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before depreciation, depletion and amortization, interest expense, gain or loss on sale and distribution of equity securities, gain or loss on derivative instruments and income tax expense, less other income and gain or loss on sale of oil and gas properties. We define Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus as Adjusted EBITDA further adjusted to eliminate the impacts of lease bonus revenue we receive due to the unpredictability of timing and magnitude of the revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus do not represent and should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income, income from operations, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Our computation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA ex lease bonus may differ from computations of similarly titled measures of other companies. For further discussion, please read “Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Sources of Our Revenues

Our revenues are primarily derived from the mineral royalty payments we receive from our operators based on the sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from our interests. Mineral royalty revenues may vary significantly from period to period as a result of changes in volumes of production sold by our operators, production mix and commodity prices.

The following table presents the breakdown of our revenues for the following periods:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018     2017  

Revenue

    

Mineral and royalty revenues

    

Oil sales

     70     54

Natural gas sales

     11     13

NGL sales

     8     6
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total mineral and royalty revenue

     89     73
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018     2017  

Lease bonus revenue

     11     27
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Principle Components of Our Cost Structure

The following is a description of the principle components of our cost structure. However, as an owner of mineral and royalty interests, we are not obligated to fund drilling and completion capital expenditures to bring a horizontal well on line, lease operating expenses to produce our oil, natural gas and NGLs or the plugging and abandonment costs at the end of a well’s economic life. All of the aforementioned costs are borne entirely by the exploration and production company that has leased our mineral and royalty interests.

Gathering, Transportation and Marketing Expenses

Gathering, transportation and marketing expenses include the costs to process and transport our production to applicable sales points. Generally, the terms of the lease governing the development of our properties permits the operator to pass through these expenses to us by deducting a pro rata portion of such expenses from our production revenues.

Severance and Ad Valorem Taxes

Severance taxes are paid on produced oil, natural gas or NGLs based on either a percentage of revenues from production sold or the number of units of production sold at fixed rates established by federal, state or local taxing authorities. In general, the production taxes we pay correlate to changes in our oil, natural gas and NGL revenues, which is driven by our production volumes and prices received for our oil, natural gas and NGLs. We are also subject to ad valorem taxes in the counties where our production is located. Ad valorem taxes are generally based on the state or local government’s appraisal of the value of our oil, natural gas and NGL properties, which also trend with anticipated production, as well as oil, natural gas and NGL prices. Rates, methods of calculating property values and timing of payments vary across the different counties in which we own mineral and royalty interests.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) is the systematic expensing of the capitalized costs incurred to acquire and develop oil and natural gas properties. We use the full cost method of accounting, and, as such, all acquisition related costs are capitalized and amortized in aggregate based on the estimated economic productive lives of our properties. Depletion is the expense recorded based on the cost basis of our properties and the volume of hydrocarbons extracted during each respective period, calculated on a units-of-production basis. Estimates of proved reserves are a major component of our calculation of depletion. We adjust our depletion rates in the fourth quarter of each year based upon the year-end reserve report prepared by CG&A, unless circumstances indicate that there has been a significant change in reserves or costs.

General and Administrative

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses are costs incurred for overhead, including payroll and benefits for our staff, costs of maintaining our headquarters, costs of managing our properties, audit and other fees for professional services and legal compliance. As a result of becoming a public company, we anticipate incurring incremental G&A expenses relating to expenses associated with SEC reporting requirements, including annual and quarterly report to shareholders, tax return preparation and dividend expenses, Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance expenses, expenses associated with listing on the NYSE, independent auditor fees, legal expenses and investor relations expenses. These incremental G&A expenses are not reflected in the historical financial statements of our predecessor or the unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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Interest Expense

We finance a portion of our working capital requirements and acquisitions with borrowings under our term loan facility. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and our financing decisions. We reflect interest paid to the lenders under our term loan facility in interest expense. In connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to partially repay our outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility.

Income Tax Expense

Brigham Minerals is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes as a corporation. Texas imposes a franchise tax (commonly referred to as the Texas margin tax) at a rate of up to 1.00% on gross revenues less certain deductions, as specifically set forth in the Texas margin tax statute. A portion of our mineral and royalty interests are located in Texas basins.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017

The following table provides the components of our predecessor’s revenues and expenses for the periods indicated, as well as each period’s respective average prices and production volumes:

 

     Year Ended December 31,               
           2018                  2017                Variance      
     (dollars in thousands, except for realized prices)  

Production

          

Oil (MBbls)

     777        454        323       70.9

Natural gas (MMcf)

     2,507        1,768        739       41.8

NGLs (MBbls)

     222        109        113       103.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equivalents (MBoe)

     1,417        858        559       65.0

Equivalents per day (Boe/d)

     3,881        2,352        1,529       65.0

Revenues

          

Oil sales

   $ 47,040      $ 22,092      $ 24,948       112.9

Natural gas sales

     7,014        5,492        1,522       27.7

NGL sales

     5,704        2,482        3,222       129.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total mineral and royalty revenue

     59,758        30,066        29,692       98.8

Lease bonus and other revenue

     7,506        10,842        (3,336     (30.8 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 67,264      $ 40,908      $ 26,356       64.4

Other operating income:

          

Gain (loss) on sale of oil and gas properties, net

     —          94,551        (94,551     * ** 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized prices, without derivatives:

          

Oil ($/Bbl)

   $ 60.56      $ 48.61      $ 11.95       24.6

Natural gas ($/Mcf)

     2.80        3.11        (0.31     (10.0 )% 

NGLs ($/Bbl)

     25.72        22.71        3.01       13.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equivalents ($/Boe)

   $ 42.19      $ 35.02      $ 7.17       20.5

Realized prices, with derivatives(1):

          

Oil ($/Bbl)

   $ 59.59      $ 48.61      $ 10.98       22.6

Equivalents ($/Boe)

     41.66        35.02        6.64       19.0

Operating expenses

          

Gathering, transportation and marketing

   $ 3,944      $ 1,754      $ 2,190       124.9

Severance and ad valorem taxes

     3,536        1,601        1,935       120.8

Depreciation, depletion, and amortization

     13,915        6,955        6,960       100.1

 

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     Year Ended December 31,              
           2018                 2017               Variance      
     (dollars in thousands, except for realized prices)  

General and administrative

     6,638       3,935       2,703       68.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

   $ 28,033     $ 14,245     $ 13,788       96.8

Other income (expense)

        

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

   $ 424     $ (121   $ 545       (449.6 )% 

Interest expense, net

     (7,446     (556     (6,890     1,238.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

   $ (7,022   $ (677   $ (6,345     937.2

 

Note:

Individual variance amounts may not calculate due to rounding.

(1)

Hedged prices reflect the effect of our commodity derivative transactions on our average sales prices. Our calculation of such effects include realized gains and losses on cash settlements for commodity derivatives, which we do not designate for hedge accounting.

***

Calculation is not meaningful.

Revenues

Total revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 increased by 64%, or $26.4 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was attributable to a $29.7 million increase in mineral and royalty revenue during the period, partially offset by a $3.3 million decrease in lease bonus revenue. The increase in mineral and royalty revenue was primarily the result of increased drilling and completion activity on our mineral and royalty interests, which resulted in a 65% increase in production volumes to 3,881 Boe/d and a corresponding increase in revenue of $19.5 million. Realized commodity prices increased 20% resulting in an additional $10.2 million increase in mineral and royalty revenue.

Oil revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 113%, or $24.9 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. Oil production volumes increased 71% to 2,128 Boe/d resulting in a $15.7 million increase in oil revenue. The increase in oil production volumes for the period was primarily attributable to increased drilling and completion activity on our properties in Colorado, Texas, North Dakota and Oklahoma. Realized oil prices increased 25% to $60.56 per barrel, resulting in an additional increase in revenue of $9.2 million.

Natural gas revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 28%, or $1.5 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. Natural gas production volumes increased 42% to 6,869 Mcf/d resulting in a $2.3 million increase in natural gas sales. The increase in natural gas production volumes for the period was primarily attributable to increased drilling and completion activity on our properties in Texas, Colorado, North Dakota and Oklahoma. Realized natural gas prices decreased by 10% to $2.80 per Mcf resulting in an offsetting decrease in revenue of $0.8 million.

NGL revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 130%, or $3.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. NGL production volumes increased by 103% to 608 Boe/d, resulting in a $2.5 million increase in NGL sales, while realized NGL prices increased by 13% to $25.72 per barrel, resulting in an additional increase in revenue of $0.7 million.

Lease bonus revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 decreased by 31%, or $3.3 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in leasing activity on our interests in Oklahoma, partially offset by an increase in leasing activity in Texas. Other revenues include payments for right-of-way and surface damages and were not a significant portion of the overall amount.

Other operating income

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties, net. On February 28, 2017, Brigham Operating and Brigham Resources Midstream, LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Brigham Resources, closed on the sale of substantially all of their

 

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Southern Delaware Basin leasehold and related assets, including certain mineral and royalty interests owned by Brigham Resources, to a third-party public entity. The proceeds for mineral and royalty interests represented $156.7 million of the net adjusted sales price and consisted of cash of $111.1 million and shares valued at $45.6 million. The mineral and royalty interests sold represented approximately 12% in aggregate of Brigham Resources’ total proved reserves as of December 31, 2016. As a result of the sale, the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves was altered significantly and Brigham Resources recorded a gain of $94.6 million.

Operating and other expenses

Gathering, transportation and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 125%, or $2.2 million, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2017, which was largely driven by the 65% increase in our production volumes.

Severance and ad valorem taxes for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 121%, or $1.9 million, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2017, which was primarily due to higher severance taxes associated with oil revenue as a result of higher oil production volumes and higher oil prices.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 100%, or $7.0 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017, which was primarily due to an increase in depletion expense of $7.1 million. Higher production volumes increased our depletion expense by $4.1 million, and a higher depletion rate increased our depletion expense by $3.0 million.

General and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased by 69%, or $2.7 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017 as a result of increased headcount and incremental business development expenses.

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 increased $6.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2017 due to greater average outstanding borrowings and higher interest rates under our term loan facility. The need for greater borrowings was driven by our increased acquisition pace in 2018 relative to 2017.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recognized a gain on derivative instruments, net of $0.4 million, which is attributable to oil derivative instruments. We realized $0.8 million of losses on our settled derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized a net loss on derivative instruments of $0.1 million, which is attributable to derivative instruments based on the price of oil.

Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations to the

Historical Results of Operations of Our Predecessor

Our future results of operations may not be comparable to the historical results of operations of our predecessor for the periods presented, primarily for the reasons described below.

Corporate Reorganization

The historical consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus are based on the financial statements of our accounting predecessor, Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating, prior to our corporate reorganization. As a result, the historical consolidated financial data may not give you an accurate indication of what our actual results would have been if the corporate reorganization had been completed at the beginning of the periods presented or of what our future results of operations are likely to be.

Brigham Resources will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham LLC. After giving effect to the corporate reorganization and this offering, Brigham Minerals will own an approximate                 % interest in Brigham

 

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LLC (or                 % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). In addition, Brigham Minerals will be the sole managing member of Brigham LLC and will be responsible for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to Brigham LLC’s business.

Public Company Expenses

Upon completion of this offering, we expect to incur direct, incremental G&A expenses as a result of being a publicly traded company, including, but not limited to, costs associated with hiring new personnel, implementation of compensation programs that are competitive with our public company peer group, annual and quarterly reports to stockholders, tax return preparation, independent auditor fees, investor relations activities, registrar and transfer agent fees, incremental director and officer liability insurance costs and independent director compensation. These direct, incremental G&A expenses are not included in our historical results of operations.

Income Taxes

Brigham Minerals is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes as a corporation. Our predecessor, Brigham Resources, was treated as a flow-through entity, and is currently treated as a disregarded entity, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and as such, is generally not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the entity level. Rather, the tax liability with respect to its taxable income will be passed through to the members of Brigham LLC, including Brigham Minerals, following our corporate reorganization. Accordingly, the financial data attributable to Brigham Resources contains no provision for U.S. federal income taxes or income taxes in any state or locality (other than margin tax in the State of Texas). We estimate that Brigham Minerals would have been subject to U.S. federal, state and local taxes at a blended statutory rate of 36.5% of 2017 pre-tax earnings and would be subject to a blended statutory rate of 22.9% of 2018 pre-tax earnings. Based on blended statutory rates of 36.5% and 22.9% for 2017 and 2018, respectively, Brigham Minerals would have incurred pro forma income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 of approximately $42.6 million and $7.6 million, respectively.

Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity

Historically, our primary sources of liquidity have been capital contributions from the Existing Owners, borrowings under our debt arrangements and cash flows from operations. Following the completion of this offering, we expect our primary sources of liquidity to be the net proceeds retained from this offering, cash flows from operations, borrowings under our term loan facility or any other credit facility and proceeds from any future issuances of debt or equity securities. We expect our primary use of capital will be for the payment of dividends to our stockholders and for investing in our business, specifically the acquisition of additional mineral and royalty interests.

As a mineral and royalty interest owner, we incur the initial cost to acquire our interests, but thereafter do not incur any development capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, which are entirely borne by the operator. As a result, our only capital expenditures are related to our acquisition of additional mineral and royalty interests. The amount and allocation of future acquisition-related capital expenditures will depend upon a number of factors, including the number and size of acquisition opportunities, our cash flows from operations, investing and financing activities and our ability to assimilate acquisitions. For the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we incurred approximately $195.6 million and $101.4 million, respectively, for acquisition-related capital expenditures. We periodically assess changes in current and projected cash flows, acquisition and divestiture activities, debt requirements and other factors to determine the effects on our liquidity. Based upon our current oil, natural gas and NGL price expectations for the year ended December 31, 2019, following the closing of this offering, we believe that our cash flow from operations, additional borrowings under our term loan facility and a portion of the proceeds from this offering will provide us with sufficient liquidity to execute our current strategy. However, our ability to generate cash is subject to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control,

 

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including commodity prices, weather and general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors. If we require additional capital for acquisitions or other reasons, we may seek such capital through traditional reserve base borrowings, joint venture partnerships, asset sales, offerings of debt and equity securities or other means. If we are unable to obtain funds when needed or on acceptable terms, we may not be able to complete acquisitions that may be favorable to us.

As of December 31, 2018, we had $175.0 million outstanding under our term loan facility with $25.0 million remaining under the delayed draw down component and $10 million available under the related revolving credit facility. We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to partially repay the outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility.

Working Capital

Our working capital, which we define as current assets minus current liabilities, totaled $53.6 million and $20.1 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our collection of receivables has historically been timely, and losses associated with uncollectible receivables have historically not been significant. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amount of $0.4 million, which is included in general and administrative expenses.

When new wells are turned to sales, our collection of receivables has lagged approximately six months from initial production as operators complete the division order process, at which point we are paid in arrears. Our cash and cash equivalents balance totaled $32.0 million and $6.9 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We expect that our cash flows from operations and availability under our term loan facility or any other credit facility after application of the estimated net proceeds from this offering, as described under “Use of Proceeds,” will be sufficient to fund our working capital needs. We expect that the pace of our operators’ drilling of our undeveloped locations, production volumes, commodity prices and differentials to WTI and Henry Hub prices for our oil, natural gas and NGL production will be the largest variables affecting our working capital.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017  
     (In thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 31,444     $ 29,401  

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities

     (195,742     26,172  

Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities

     189,397       (82,647

Analysis of Cash Flow Changes Between the Year Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

Operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities is primarily affected by the prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs, production volumes, lease bonus revenue and changes in working capital. The 65% increase in production volumes and the 20% increase in realized prices during the year ended December 31, 2018 discussed above were offset by increases in operating expenses and accounts receivable. Typically, an operator makes initial payment related to a new well approximately six months after the well has come on line, often comprised of multiple months of production.

Investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities is primarily comprised of acquisitions of oil and natural gas mineral and royalty interests, net of dispositions. For the year ended December 31, 2018, our net cash used in investing activities was primarily a result of acquisitions of mineral and royalty interests totaling $195.6 million and additions to other fixed assets of $0.7 million. Our cash flows from investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 also reflects $0.9 million of proceeds from the sale of equity securities and a transfer of $0.4 million of these proceeds to restricted cash to be distributed to investors.

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2017, our net cash provided by investing activities was primarily a result of divestiture proceeds of $111.0 million from the February 2017 sale of mineral and royalty interests and proceeds of $17.9 million from a sale of equity securities, which was partially offset by the acquisition of mineral and royalty interests totaling $101.4 million.

Financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 included $46.0 million in net capital contributions from the Existing Owners and $213.4 million in additional borrowings under our prior revolving credit facility and new term loan facility combined, net of $4.6 million in associated loan closing costs. This was partially offset by payment of $70.0 million to pay off and terminate the prior revolving credit facility on July 28, 2018 using funds from the new term loan facility.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 included $94.5 million in net capital distributions to the Existing Owners, partially offset by $11.9 million in net borrowings under our prior revolving credit facility, net of $0.1 million in associated closing costs.

Our Term Loan Facility

On July 27, 2018, we entered into a term loan credit agreement with Owl Rock Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent (our “term loan facility”). Our term loan facility is subject to customary fees, guarantees of subsidiaries, restrictions and covenants, including certain restricted payments, and is collateralized by certain of our royalty and mineral properties.

Our term loan facility matures on July 27, 2024 and provides for a $125 million initial term loan and a delayed draw term loan (“DDTL”) of $75 million, which will be subject to certain customary conditions. In addition, a $10 million revolving credit facility is available for general corporate purposes. Our term loan facility bears interest at a rate per annum equal to, at our option, (a) the base rate plus 4.50%, or (b) the adjusted LIBOR rate for such interest period (subject to a 1.00% floor) plus 5.50%. Upon the consummation of this offering, each of the foregoing margins will decrease by 0.50% if at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter our total net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement governing our term loan facility) is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00.

Upon the consummation of this offering, our term loan facility will amortize at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum, though the credit agreement governing our term loan facility will require us to use at least 25% of our excess cash flow (as defined in the credit agreement) for any fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 to prepay the outstanding balance under our term loan facility if our total net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) is greater than 2.00 to 1.00. In addition, the entire outstanding balance of interest and principal must be repaid on the maturity date of July 27, 2024.

Under the credit agreement that governs our term loan facility, we must maintain an asset coverage ratio, which is the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) the present value of our and the other loan parties’ proved reserves (as set forth in the most recently delivered reserve report) that are subject to a mortgage in favor of the administrative agent under our term loan facility plus (ii) the Swap Mark-to-Market Value (as defined in the credit agreement) as of such date to (b) Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness (as defined in the credit agreement) as of such date of not less than 1.75 to 1.00.

As of December 31, 2018, we had $175.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility. The credit agreement governing our term loan facility also requires us to maintain compliance with a total net leverage ratio, which is the ratio, on a pro forma basis, of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness (as defined in the credit agreement) as of such date less up to $25 million of cash and certain permitted investments to (b) two times our Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) for the most recently completed Test Period (as defined in the credit agreement) of not more than 4.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

 

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Prior Revolving Credit Facility

Prior to entering into our term loan facility, we maintained a revolving credit facility (our “prior revolving credit facility”) with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders party thereto with commitments of $150 million (subject to a borrowing base). We paid the $70 million outstanding balance under our prior revolving credit facility with proceeds from our term loan facility.

Contractual Obligations

A summary of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018 is provided in the following table:

 

     2019      2020      2021      2022      2023      2024 and
Thereafter
     Total  
     (In thousands)  

Long-term debt obligations(1)

   $ 2,187      $ 8,480      $ 8,064      $ 7,668      $ 7,292      $ 141,309      $ 175,000  

Office lease

     538        654        672        689        474        111        3,138  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,725      $ 9,134      $ 8,736      $ 8,357      $ 7,766      $ 141,420      $ 178,138  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

As of December 31, 2018, we had $175 million outstanding under our term loan facility and $25 million of additional borrowing capacity available under the delayed draw term loan and $10 million of additional borrowing capacity available under the related revolving credit facility. We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to partially repay borrowings under our term loan facility. Please see “Use of Proceeds.”

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk, including the effects of adverse changes in commodity prices and interest rates as described below. The primary objective of the following information is to provide quantitative and qualitative information about our potential exposure to market risks. The term “market risk” refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in oil and natural gas prices and interest rates. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how we view and manage our ongoing market risk exposures. All of our market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than speculative trading.

Commodity Price Risk

Our major market risk exposure is in the pricing that our operators receive for the oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from our properties. Realized prices are primarily driven by the prevailing global prices for oil and prices for natural gas and NGLs in the United States. Pricing for oil, natural gas and NGLs has been volatile and unpredictable for several years, and we expect this volatility to continue in the future. During the past five years, the posted price for WTI has ranged from a low of $26.19 per barrel in February 2016 to a high of $107.95 per barrel in June 2014, and as of December 31, 2018, the posted price for oil was $45.15 per barrel. NGL prices generally correlate to the price of oil, and accordingly prices for these products have likewise declined and are likely to continue following that market. Prices for domestic natural gas have also fluctuated significantly over the last several years. During the past five years, the Henry Hub spot market price for natural gas has ranged from a low of $1.49 per MMBtu in March 2016 to a high of $6.24 per MMBtu in January 2018, and as of December 31, 2018, the Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas was $3.25 per MMBtu. The prices our operators receive for the oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from our properties depend on numerous factors beyond their and our control, some of which are discussed in “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Substantially all of our revenues are derived from royalty payments that are based on the price at which oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from the acreage underlying our interests is sold. Prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs are volatile due to factors beyond our control. A substantial or extended decline in commodity prices may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.”

 

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A $1.00 per barrel change in our realized oil price would have resulted in a $0.8 million change in our oil revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. A $0.10 per Mcf change in our realized natural gas price would have resulted in a $0.3 million change in our natural gas revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. A $1.00 per barrel change in NGL prices would have resulted in a $0.2 million change in our NGL revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. Royalties on oil sales contributed 70% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. Royalties on natural gas sales contributed 11% and royalties on NGL sales contributed 8% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018.

We have in the past and may in the future enter into derivative instruments, such as collars, swaps and basis swaps, to partially mitigate the impact of commodity price volatility. These hedging instruments allow us to reduce, but not eliminate, the potential effects of the variability in cash flow from operations due to fluctuations in oil, natural gas and NGL prices and provide increased certainty of cash flows for our debt service requirements. However, these instruments provide only partial price protection against declines in oil, natural gas and NGL prices and may partially limit our potential gains from future increases in prices. The credit agreement governing our term loan facility allows us to hedge up to 85% of our reasonably anticipated projected production from our proved reserves for up to 66 months in the future. As of December 31, 2018, we had in place crude oil swaps through December 2019 covering 1% of our projected crude oil production from proved reserves, and as of December 31, 2017, we had in place crude oil swaps through September 2018 covering 1% of our projected crude oil production from proved reserves. We had no natural gas derivative contracts in place as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Our open positions as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

Description & Production Period

   Volume      Weighted
Average Swap
Price
 
     (Bbl)      ($/Bbl)  

Crude Oil Swaps:

     

January 2019 — March 2019(1)

     20,000      $ 64.60  

April 2019 — June 2019

     15,000      $ 63.61  

July 2019 — September 2019

     15,000      $ 63.61  

October 2019 — December 2019

     15,000      $ 63.61  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     65,000      $ 63.91  

 

(1)

Includes swaps for 5,000 Bbl valued as an asset of $0.1 million that matured on December 31, 2018 and will be settled in January 2019.

Counterparty and Customer Credit Risk

Our derivative contracts expose us to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties. While we do not require counterparties to our derivative contracts to post collateral, we do evaluate the credit standing of such counterparties as we deem appropriate. The counterparties to our derivative contracts currently in place have investment grade ratings.

Our principal exposures to credit risk are through receivables generated by the production activities of our operators. The inability or failure of our significant operators to meet their obligations to us or their insolvency or liquidation may adversely affect our financial results. However, we believe the credit risk associated with our operators and customers is acceptable.

Interest Rate Risk

As of December 31, 2018, we had $175.0 million of debt outstanding under our term loan facility, with an assumed weighted average interest rate of 7.71%. Interest is calculated under the terms of the credit agreement governing our term loan facility at a rate per annum equal to, at our option, (a) the base rate plus 4.50%, or

 

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(b) the adjusted LIBOR rate for such interest period (subject to a 1.00% floor) plus 5.50%. Upon the consummation of this offering, each of the foregoing margins will decrease by 0.50% if at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter our total net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement governing our term loan facility) is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00. Assuming no change in the amount outstanding, the impact on interest expense of a 1% increase or decrease in the assumed weighted average interest rate would be approximately $1.8 million per year, with a corresponding decrease in our results of operations. We may use certain derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to variable interest rates in the future, but we do not currently have any interest rate hedges in place.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our predecessor’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our predecessor’s financial statements requires it to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates, and actual results may differ from these estimates.

A complete list of our predecessor’s significant accounting policies are described in the notes to our predecessor’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded prospectively.

Our predecessor’s consolidated financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates including quantities of oil, natural gas and NGL reserves that are the basis for the calculations of DD&A and impairment of oil and natural gas properties. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas and there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, reserve estimates may differ from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Our reserve estimates are determined by CG&A, an independent petroleum engineering firm. Other items subject to significant estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of oil and natural gas properties, valuation of derivative instruments and revenue accruals.

Receivables

Receivables consist of mineral and royalty income due from operators for oil and gas sales to purchasers. Those purchasers remit payment for production to the operator of the properties and the operator, in turn, remits payment to us. Receivables from third parties for which we did not receive actual information, either due to timing delays or due to the unavailability of data at the time when revenues are recognized, are estimated. Receivables from new wells turned in line for which we did not receive payment at the time revenues are recognized are estimated and recognized only when public production information is available. Volume estimates are based upon historical actual data if available, otherwise on engineering estimates. Pricing estimates are based upon actual prices realized in an area by adjusting the market price for the average basis differential from market on a basin-by-basin basis.

 

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We routinely review outstanding balances, assess the financial strength of our customers and record a reserve for amounts not expected to be fully recovered. We recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts for $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is included in general and administrative expenses. We did not record any allowance for doubtful accounts for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to certain risks, including changes in the prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs and interest rates. We have historically entered into derivative contracts to manage our exposure to these risks. Our risk management activity is generally accomplished through over-the-counter derivative contracts with large financial institutions. We do not enter into derivative instruments for speculative purposes. Derivative instruments are recognized at fair value. If a right of offset exists under master netting arrangements and certain other criteria are met, derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty are netted on the consolidated balance sheets. We do not specifically designate derivative instruments as cash flow hedges, even though they reduce our exposure to changes in oil and natural gas prices; therefore, gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized on a net basis in our predecessor’s consolidated statements of operations within loss on derivative instruments, net.

Oil and Gas Properties

We use the full cost method of accounting for our oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, all acquisition costs incurred for the purpose of acquiring mineral and royalty interests and certain related employee costs are capitalized into a full cost pool. Costs associated with general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred.

Capitalized costs are amortized using the units-of-production method. Under this method, the provision for depletion is calculated by multiplying total production for the period by a depletion rate. The depletion rate is determined by dividing the total unamortized cost base by net equivalent proved reserves at the beginning of the period.

Costs associated with unevaluated properties are excluded from the amortizable cost base until a determination has been made as to the existence of proved reserves. Unevaluated properties are reviewed periodically to determine whether the costs incurred should be reclassified to the full cost pool and subjected to amortization. The costs associated with unevaluated properties primarily consist of acquisition and leasehold costs and capitalized interest. Unevaluated properties are assessed for impairment on an individual basis or as a group if properties are individually insignificant. The assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: expectation of future drilling activity; past drilling results and activity; geological and geophysical evaluations; the assignment of proved reserves; and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. During any period in which these factors indicate an impairment, the cumulative acquisition costs incurred to date for such property are transferred to the full cost pool and are then subject to amortization. There was no impairment recorded for unevaluated properties in 2018 and 2017.

Sales and abandonments of oil and natural gas properties being amortized are accounted for as adjustments to the full cost pool, with no gain or loss recognized unless the adjustments would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves. A significant alteration would not ordinarily be expected to occur upon the sale of reserves involving less than 25% of the reserve quantities of a cost center.

Natural gas volumes are converted to Boe at the rate of six Mcf of natural gas to one Bbl of oil. This convention is not an equivalent price basis and there may be a large difference in value between an equivalent volume of oil versus an equivalent volume of natural gas.

Under the full cost method of accounting, total capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated depletion, may not exceed an amount equal to the present value of future net revenues from proved

 

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reserves, discounted at 10% per annum, plus the lower of cost or fair value of unevaluated properties (the ceiling limitation). A ceiling limitation is calculated at each reporting period. If total capitalized costs, net of accumulated DD&A, are greater than the ceiling limitation, a write-down or impairment of the full cost pool is required. A write-down of the carrying value of the full cost pool is a noncash charge that reduces earnings and impacts equity in the period of occurrence and typically results in lower depletion expense in future periods. Once incurred, a write-down cannot be reversed at a later date. The ceiling limitation calculation is prepared using the 12-month first day of the month oil and natural gas average prices, as adjusted for basis or location differentials, held constant over the life of the reserves (net wellhead prices). If applicable, these net wellhead prices would be further adjusted to include the effects of any fixed price arrangements for the sale of oil and natural gas.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the full cost ceiling value of our reserves was calculated based on the average posted first-day-of-the month prices for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, in accordance with SEC guidance. For oil and NGL volumes, the average WTI posted price was adjusted for quality, transportation fees and a regional price differential. NGL prices varied by basin from 22% to 41% and from 19% to 42% of the oil posted price during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price was adjusted for energy content, transportation fees and a regional price differential. All prices do not give effect to derivative transactions and are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. The average adjusted product prices, held constant over the remaining lives of the properties, are $61.31 and $47.80 per barrel of oil, $23.98 and $18.56 per barrel of NGL and $2.51 and $2.74 per Mcf of gas as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Using these prices, the net book value of oil and natural gas was below the ceiling limitation and no write-off was necessary.

Revenue Recognition

Royalty interests represent the right to receive revenues (oil and natural gas sales), less production and ad valorem taxes and post-production costs. Revenue is recorded when title passes to the purchaser. Royalty interests have no rights or obligations to explore, develop or operate the property once it is leased to a third-party operator and do not incur any of the costs of exploration, development and operation of the property.

We recognize revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. Revenues are considered realized or realizable and earned when: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

Pricing of oil, natural gas and NGL sales from the properties is primarily determined by supply and demand in the marketplace and can fluctuate considerably. We have no involvement or operational control over the volumes and method of sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs produced and sold from the properties.

To the extent actual volumes and prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs are unavailable for a given reporting period because of timing or information not received from third parties, the expected sales volume and prices for these properties are estimated and recorded within accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Receivables from new wells turned in line for which we did not receive payment at the time revenues are recognized are estimated and recognized only when public production information is available. Differences between estimates of revenue and the actual amounts are adjusted and recorded in the period that the actual amounts are known.

We earn lease bonus revenues and lease extension revenues (collectively referred to as “lease bonus revenue”) from leasing mineral interests to exploration and production companies in exchange for a royalty interest. Lease bonus revenues are recognized when received, at which time we give up the right to develop the land ourselves or to lease it to another party.

 

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—Recently Issued Accounting Standards” to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 included elsewhere in this prospectus, for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

Under the JOBS Act, we expect that we will meet the definition of an “emerging growth company,” which would allow us to take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act.

Internal Controls and Procedures

We are not currently required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley, and are therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. Upon becoming a public company, we will be required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley, which will require our management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We will not be required to make our first assessment of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 until the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2019. We will not be required to have our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 until our first annual report subsequent to our ceasing to be an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act. To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we will need to implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures and hire additional accounting, finance and legal staff.

Material Weaknesses and Remediation

Prior to the completion of this offering, Brigham Resources has been a private company that has required fewer accounting personnel to execute its accounting processes and supervisory resources to address its internal control over financial reporting, which we believed were adequate for a private company of its size and industry. In preparation for ongoing operations of a public company, we engaged third-party consultants to assist with the documentation, implementation and testing of enhanced accounting processes and control procedures required to meet the financial reporting requirements of a public company. Nevertheless, the design and execution of our controls has not been sufficiently tested by individuals with financial reporting oversight roles or by our third party consultants. In connection with the preparation and review of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, our management identified certain material weaknesses related to our risk assessment processes and certain controls related to revenues and certain recent transactions. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. After identifying such material weaknesses, which resulted in errors in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we reviewed our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 for additional potential accrual and presentation errors, which resulted in an immaterial correction of the presentation of gains and losses on sales of assets to include such gains and losses in other operating income for all periods presented. For more information regarding the impact of these material weaknesses on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and Our Class A Common Stock—We have identified and are in the process of remediating certain material weaknesses related to our risk assessment processes and certain controls related to revenues and certain recent transactions. We may identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, which

 

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may cause current and potential stockholders to lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock.” and Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

We are working to remediate the material weaknesses, which originated in our internal control over financial reporting described above. To date, we have taken steps to enhance our internal control environment, including implementing additional review procedures that we believe have remediated certain aspects of the identified material weaknesses. We have also engaged a third-party consultant to develop a plan for remediating the remaining aspects of the identified material weaknesses, including implementing additional review procedures, employing additional finance and accounting personnel and reevaluating our internal reporting procedures with respect to revenue recognition. Due to the material weaknesses described above, management performed additional analyses and procedures in order to conclude that our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 are fairly presented, in all material respects, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to remediate the material weaknesses described above or avoid potential future material weaknesses. In addition, we may identify additional control deficiencies, which could give rise to other material weaknesses, in addition to the material weaknesses described above.

Inflation

Inflation in the United States has been relatively low in recent years and did not have a material impact on our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. Although the impact of inflation has been insignificant in recent years, it is still a factor in the United States economy and our operators tend to experience inflationary pressure on the cost of oilfield services and equipment as increasing oil and natural gas prices increase drilling activity in the areas in which our properties are located.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Currently, neither we nor our predecessor have off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

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BUSINESS

Our Company

Overview

We formed our company in 2012 to acquire and actively manage a portfolio of mineral and royalty interests in the core of what we view as the most active, highly economic, liquids-rich resource basins across the continental United States. Our primary business objective is to maximize risk-adjusted total return to our shareholders by both capturing growth in free cash flow from the continued development of our existing portfolio of 11,648 undeveloped horizontal drilling locations unburdened by development capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, as well as leveraging our highly experienced technical evaluation team to continue to execute upon our scalable business model of sourcing, methodically evaluating and integrating accretive minerals acquisitions in the core of top-tier, liquids-rich resource plays.

Our portfolio is comprised of mineral and royalty interests across four of the most highly economic, liquids-rich resource basins in the continental United States, including the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, the SCOOP and STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the DJ Basin in Colorado and Wyoming and the Williston Basin in North Dakota. Our highly technical approach towards mineral acquisitions in the geologic core of top-tier resource plays has purposefully led to a concentrated portfolio covering 38 of the most highly active counties for horizontal drilling in the continental United States. According to RSEG, an affiliate of Warburg Pincus, as of December 31, 2018, operators have deployed 60% of the horizontal rig fleet, and 68% of the liquids-focused horizontal rig fleet, in the continental United States in these same 38 counties, which we believe will continue to result in the consistent long-term development of our asset base. On a pro forma basis giving effect to our portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres at December 31, 2018 as if we had owned it since January 1, 2013, we estimate that the production volumes net to our interests would have grown at an approximate 48% compound annual growth rate from the beginning of 2013 through December 31, 2018, despite crude oil prices decreasing substantially during that same time period, as illustrated by the following chart.

 

 

LOGO

 

Since inception, we have executed on our technically driven, disciplined acquisition approach and have closed 1,292 transactions with third-party mineral and royalty interest owners as of December 31, 2018. We have increased our mineral and royalty interests from approximately 10,200 net royalty acres as of December 31,

 

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2013, to approximately 68,800 net royalty acres as of December 31, 2018, which represents a 47% compound annual growth rate in our mineral and royalty interests over that period. See “—Our Company—Our Mineral and Royalty Interests” for a discussion of how we calculate net royalty acres.

The following table summarizes certain information regarding our net royalty acreage acquisitions during each year of our operations.

 

     2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018      Total  

Net Royalty Acres (NRAs) Acquired

     500        9,700        17,300        7,200        9,800        9,400        14,900        68,800  

Number of Acquisitions

     15        313        380        152        121        110        201        1,292  

Average NRAs per Acquisition

     33        31        46        47        81        85        74        53  

NRAs at Period End

     500        10,200        27,500        34,700        44,500        53,900        68,800        68,800  

By targeting core, top-tier mineral acreage, our interests have continued to see rapid development with a total of approximately 748 horizontal wells spud on our mineral and royalty interests during 2017. This significant activity has similarly translated into rapid production growth with our production volumes growing approximately 65% from 2017 to 2018. Further, our production volumes are comprised of high-value liquids with 70% of our volumes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 composed of crude oil and NGLs, which represents 88% of our mineral and royalty revenue for the period. The combined growth in our production volumes and the high percentage of liquids production have resulted in a 99% increase in our royalty revenue from 2017 to 2018. We expect to see future organic growth in our production, revenue and free cash flow from 806 DUCs across our interests and approximately 685 horizontal drilling permits as of December 31, 2018 (excluding Laramie County, Wyoming), all of which are expected to occur without additional capital expenditure outlays. Development of permits on our acreage is driven by robust and consistent rig activity on meaningful portions of our acreage. Over the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, there have been an average of 43 horizontal rigs across our acreage, developing an average 1,600 net mineral acres, which we believe provides visibility toward future production growth.

 

Average Quarterly Rigs on Acreage   Average Quarterly NMA Under Development
LOGO   LOGO

 

In addition to existing near-term development, our permitted horizontal drilling locations represent only approximately 6% of the remaining proved, probable and possible undeveloped horizontal drilling locations incorporated by CG&A in our reserve report as of December 31, 2018, thereby providing us with a substantial long-term drilling inventory on our acreage.

Our management team has a long history of identifying, acquiring, delineating, developing and successfully monetizing positions in liquids-rich resource basins. Prior to forming Brigham Resources, our Executive Chairman, Ben (Bud) Brigham, formed Brigham Exploration, where it oversaw the identification, acquisition, delineation and development of approximately 375,000 net acres in the Williston Basin prior to Brigham Exploration’s sale to Statoil in December 2011 for $4.4 billion. Brigham Exploration utilized its technical capabilities in the Williston Basin to identify and acquire highly prospective leasehold acreage with favorable

 

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geologic attributes and employed advanced drilling and completion technologies to cost-effectively extract oil and natural gas. Immediately following the sale of Brigham Exploration, a subset of our management team then formed Brigham Operating and executed on these same strategies in the Southern Delaware Basin in West Texas. By applying rigorous geologic evaluation criteria, Brigham Operating was an early entrant in the Southern Delaware Basin in Pecos County, Texas, where it assembled an approximate 80,185 net acre leasehold position in a largely contiguous block. Brigham Operating sold these assets to Diamondback Energy, Inc., in February 2017 for approximately $2.55 billion.

Our Mineral and Royalty Interests

Mineral interests are real-property interests that are typically perpetual and grant both ownership of the oil, natural gas and NGLs under a tract of land and the right to lease development rights to a third party. When those rights are leased, usually for a three-year primary term, we typically receive an upfront cash payment, known as lease bonus, and we retain a mineral royalty, which entitles us to a percentage of production or revenue.

As a mineral and royalty interest owner, we incur the initial cost to acquire our interests, but thereafter do not incur any development capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, which are entirely borne by the operator. Mineral and royalty owners only incur their proportionate share of severance and ad valorem taxes, as well as in some instances, gathering, transportation and marketing costs. As a result, operating margins and therefore free cash flow for a mineral and royalty interest owner are higher as a percentage of revenue than for a traditional exploration and production operating company.

As of December 31, 2018, our mineral and royalty interests consisted of approximately 48,100 net mineral acres, which have been leased to operators to explore for and develop our oil and natural gas rights at a weighted average royalty of 17.9%. Typically, within the minerals industry, mineral owners standardize ownership to a 12.5%, or 1/8 th , royalty interest, which is referred to as a “net royalty acre.” Our net mineral acres standardized to a 1/8 th royalty equate to approximately 68,800 net royalty acres. When standardized on a 100% royalty basis, these approximately 68,800 net royalty acres equate to approximately 8,600 “100% royalty acres.” Our approximately 68,800 net royalty acres are located within 1,367 DSUs, which are the areas designated in a spacing order or unit designation as a unit and within which operators drill wellbores to develop our oil and natural gas rights. Our DSUs, in aggregate, consist of a total of approximately 1,356,000 gross acres, which we refer to as our “gross DSU acreage.” Within our gross DSU acreage, we expect to have an interest in wells currently producing or that will be drilled in the future. The following table summarizes our mineral and royalty interest position and the conversion of our interests between net mineral acres, net royalty acres and 100% royalty acres as of December 31, 2018.

 

Net Mineral Acres

  

Weighted

Average

Royalty

  

Net Royalty
Acres(1)

  

100% Royalty
Acres(2)

  

Gross DSU Acres

  

Implied Average
Net Revenue
Interest per
Well(3)

48,100

   17.9%   

68,800

  

8,600

  

1,356,000

   0.6%

 

(1)

Standardized to a 1/8 th royalty (i.e., 48,100 net mineral acres * 17.9% / 12.5%).

(2)

Standardized to a 100% royalty (i.e., 68,800 net royalty acres * 12.5%).

(3)

Calculated as number of 100% royalty acres per gross DSU acre (i.e., 8,600 100% royalty acres / 1,356,000 gross DSU acres).

In addition to mineral interests, which represented approximately 97% of our net royalty acres as of December 31, 2018, we also own other types of non-cost-bearing interests, including:

 

   

Nonparticipating Royalty Interests . NPRIs are royalty interests that are carved out of mineral interests. NPRIs are typically perpetual and, similar to mineral interests, have the right to a percentage of production revenues extracted from the mineral and royalty acreage. NPRIs do not have the associated executive right to lease or to receive lease bonuses. We combine our mineral and NPRI assets into one

 

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category because they share many of the same characteristics due to the nature of the underlying interest. As of December 31, 2018, we owned approximately 1,700 net royalty acres of NPRIs.

 

   

Overriding Royalty Interests . ORRIs are royalty interests that burden the working interest ownership (e.g. lessee’s ownership) of a lease and represent the right to receive a fixed percentage of production or revenue from production from a lease. ORRIs remain in effect until the associated lease expires and are therefore not perpetual in nature. As of December 31, 2018, we owned approximately 400 net royalty acres of ORRIs.

Our Properties

Focus Areas

Our mineral and royalty interests are primarily located in six resource plays, which we refer to as our focus areas. These include the Delaware and Midland Basins in the Permian Basin, the SCOOP and STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin, the DJ Basin and the Williston Basin. The following chart shows our overall exposure to each of our primary focus areas based on our net royalty acres in each focus area as of December 31, 2018.

LOGO

 

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In addition, the following table summarizes certain information regarding our primary focus areas. Our average daily net production for the three months ended December 31, 2018 was comprised 55% of oil production, 28% of natural gas production and 17% of NGL production.

 

Basin

   Acreage as of December 31, 2018     Gross
Horizontal
Producing
Well
Count as of
December 31,
2018(4)
     Average Daily Net
Production for
Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2018(5) (Boe/d)
 
   Net
Mineral
Acres
     Weighted
Average

Royalty
    Net
Royalty
Acres(1)
     100%
Royalty
Acres(2)
     Gross
DSU
Acres
     Implied
Average
Net
Revenue
Interest
per
Well(3)
 

Delaware

     11,600        20.7     19,200        2,400        229,000        1.0     469        1,982  

Midland

     2,600        15.4     3,200        400        58,000        0.7     104        197  

SCOOP

     5,900        18.4     8,700        1,090        167,000        0.7     262        467  

STACK

     6,800        17.8     9,700        1,210        156,000        0.8     211        563  

DJ

     12,100        15.9     15,400        1,920        165,000        1.2     838        817  

Williston

    
5,200
 
     16.3     6,800        850        470,000        0.2     1,379        436  

Other

     3,900        18.6     5,800        730        111,000        0.7     92        118  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     48,100        17.9     68,800        8,600        1,356,000        0.6     3,355        4,579  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note:

Individual amounts may not add up to totals due to rounding.

(1)

Standardized to a 1/8 th royalty.

(2)

Standardized to a 100% royalty.

(3)

Calculated as number of 100% royalty acres per gross DSU acre.

(4)

Represents number of horizontal producing wells across all DSUs in which we participate.

(5)

Represents actual production plus allocated accrued volumes attributable to the period presented.

Permian Basin—Delaware and Midland Basins

The Permian Basin ranges from West Texas into southeastern New Mexico and is currently the most active area for horizontal drilling in the United States. The Permian Basin is further subdivided into the Delaware Basin in the west and the Midland Basin in the east. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 236 and 165 horizontal rigs running in the Delaware and Midland Basins, respectively. Based on our geologic and engineering data as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the Delaware Basin are prospective for seven or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Wolfcamp A, B, C and XY; First, Second and Third Bone Spring; and the Avalon. Our Delaware Basin mineral and royalty interests are located in Reeves, Loving, Ward, Pecos, Culberson and Winkler Counties, Texas with our remaining interests located in Lea County, New Mexico. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the Midland Basin are prospective for five or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Middle Spraberry; Lower Spraberry; and Wolfcamp A, B and C. Our Midland Basin mineral and royalty interests are located in Martin, Midland, Upton, Howard and Reagan Counties, Texas.

Anadarko Basin—SCOOP and STACK Plays

The SCOOP play (South Central Oklahoma Oil Province) is located in central Oklahoma in Grady, Garvin, Stephens and McClain Counties. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 32 horizontal rigs running in the SCOOP play. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the SCOOP play are prospective for two or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including multiple Woodford benches and the Springer Shale. In addition, operators are also currently testing other formations in the area

 

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including the Sycamore, Caney and Osage, which is also referred to as SCORE (Sycamore Caney Osage Resource Expansion). The STACK play (derived from Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties) is located in central Oklahoma in Kingfisher, Canadian, Caddo and Blaine Counties. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 70 horizontal rigs running in the STACK play. Based on our geologic and engineering data as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the STACK play are prospective for four or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including multiple benches within both the Meramec and Woodford formations.

DJ Basin

The DJ Basin is located in Northeast Colorado and Southeast Wyoming, with the majority of operator horizontal drilling activity located in Weld and Broomfield Counties, Colorado, and Laramie County, Wyoming. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 30 horizontal rigs running in the DJ Basin. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current delineation efforts by operators, we believe our mineral and royalty interests in the DJ Basin are prospective for four or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Niobrara A, B and C and Codell formations.

Williston Basin

The Williston Basin stretches from western North Dakota into eastern Montana with the majority of operator horizontal drilling activity located in Mountrail, Williams, and McKenzie Counties, North Dakota. As of December 31, 2018, according to RSEG, there were approximately 54 horizontal rigs running in the Williston Basin. Based on our geologic and engineering interpretations as well as current operator delineation efforts, we believe our mineral and royalty interests are prospective for two or more producing zones of economic horizontal development including the Bakken and multiple Three Forks benches. The majority of our interests are located in Mountrail, Williams and McKenzie Counties with additional interests owned in Divide, Burke, Dunn, Billings and Stark Counties, North Dakota and Richland County, Montana.

Other Counties

Our other interests are comprised of mineral and royalty interests owned in Carter and Love Counties, Oklahoma in what we refer to as the Extended Woodford play in the Marietta and Ardmore Basins and in Bradford, Sullivan and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays. Our interests in Carter and Love Counties are largely being developed by Exxon Mobil Corporation through their operating subsidiary XTO Energy, which currently has four horizontal rigs operating in the area. Our interests in Pennsylvania are largely being developed by Range Resources Corporation and Chief Oil & Gas LLC.

For more detailed information about the basins and regions described above, please read “Business—Our Properties—Focus Areas.”

 

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Prospective Undeveloped Horizontal Drilling Locations

We believe our production and free cash flow will grow through the drilling of the substantial undeveloped organic inventory of horizontal drilling locations located on our acreage. As of December 31, 2018, as reflected in our reserve report audited by CG&A, we have identified 11,648 gross proved, probable and possible undeveloped horizontal drilling locations across our gross DSU acreage. Furthermore, we believe additional optionality is possible through the delineation of additional horizontal formations including the Wolfcamp D and Jo Mill in the Permian Basin and the SCORE in the SCOOP and STACK plays, which are not currently reflected in our reserve reports as well as downspacing in existing formations. Nearly 47% of our total net horizontal undeveloped locations are located in the Delaware and Midland Basins, with another 24% located in the SCOOP and STACK plays of the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, as shown in the following table.

 

     Gross
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
     Percentage
of Total
Portfolio
    Net
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
     Percentage
of Total
Portfolio
 

Delaware Basin

     3,844        33     40.0        40

Midland Basin

     787        7     6.7        7

SCOOP

     1,021        9     7.2        7

STACK

     1,776        15     16.6        17

DJ Basin

     1,681        14     21.7        22

Williston

     1,619        14     2.9        3

Other

     920        8     5.5        5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     11,648        100     100.5        100

Note: Individual amounts may not total due to rounding.

Additionally, the following table provides a detailed summary of our inventory of horizontal drilling locations as of December 31, 2018.

 

Productive Horizons

   Gross
Horizontal

Undeveloped
Locations(1)
     Total Gross
Horizontal
Locations(2)
     DSUs(3)(4)      Gross
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
Per DSU(4)
     Total Gross
Horizontal
Locations

Per DSU(4)
     Net
Horizontal
Undeveloped

Locations(5)
 

Delaware Basin

                 

Wolfcamp A

     1,673        2,036        202        8.3        10.1        19.9  

Wolfcamp B

     912        981        243        3.8        4.0        10.6  

3rd BS/WC XY

     538        663        171        3.1        3.9        3.9  

2nd Bone Spring

     336        354        108        3.1        3.3        1.8  

Avalon

     144        163        63        2.3        2.6        0.6  

Other

     241        261        64        3.8        4.1        3.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     3,844        4,458        307        12.5        14.5        40.0  

Midland Basin

                 

Wolfcamp A

     193        244        62        3.1        3.9        1.7  

Wolfcamp B

     195        252        58        3.4        4.3        1.7  

Lower Spraberry

     302        326        55        5.5        5.9        2.4  

Other

     97        106        26        3.7        4.1        1.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     787        928        72        10.9        12.9        6.7  

SCOOP

                 

Woodford

     754        1,029        155        4.9        6.6        5.1  

Springer

     267        328        79        3.4        4.2        2.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,021        1,357        155        6.6        8.8        7.2  

STACK

                 

Woodford

     919        1,021        150        6.1        6.8        8.2  

Meramec

     857        1,036        134        6.4        7.7        8.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,776        2,057        168        10.6        12.2        16.6  

DJ Basin

                 

Niobrara

     1,248        2,022        185        6.7        10.9        16.2  

Codell

     433        659        139        3.1        4.7        5.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,681        2,681        185        9.1        14.5        21.7  

 

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Productive Horizons

   Gross
Horizontal

Undeveloped
Locations(1)
     Total Gross
Horizontal
Locations(2)
     DSUs(3)(4)      Gross
Horizontal
Undeveloped
Locations
Per DSU(4)
     Total Gross
Horizontal
Locations

Per DSU(4)
     Net
Horizontal
Undeveloped

Locations(5)
 

Williston Basin

                 

Bakken

     743        1,659        340        2.2        4.9        1.2  

Three Forks

     876        1,537        340        2.6        4.5        1.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Total

     1,619        3,196        343        4.7        9.3        2.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Other

     920        1,035        137        6.7        7.6        5.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Grand Total

     11,648        15,712        1,367        8.5        11.5        100.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

             

 

 

 

Note: Individual amounts may not total due to rounding.

 

(1)

Represents gross horizontal drilling locations across our gross DSU acreage.

(2)

Includes all undeveloped and developed wells in each horizon.

(3)

Represents the aggregate number of DSUs covering any of the applicable productive horizons as identified by CG&A.

(4)

The number of DSUs in each horizon and locations per DSU in each horizon do not total due to differing prospectivity of each horizon across each DSU. (i.e., not all horizons are booked in all DSUs).

(5)

A net well represents a 100% net revenue interest in a single gross well.

Third-Party Operators

Beyond our technical analysis to identify core, highly economic areas, an additional critical aspect of our evaluation process is to acquire mineral and royalty interests that will be drilled and completed by operators we believe will outperform their peers through the application of the latest drilling and completion technologies in each of our operating basins. The following chart summarizes our exposure to these operators based on the percentage of our net interests in the wells to be drilled by each operator.

 

LOGO

 

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In addition, the following table shows our exposure to each of these operators broken down by our primary focus areas based on the percentage of our net interests in the wells to be drilled by each operator as of December 31, 2018.

 

     Percentage as of December 31, 2018  

Operator

   Total
Portfolio
     Delaware      Midland      SCOOP      STACK      DJ
Basin
     Williston      Other  

Anadarko Petroleum

     10%        16%        —          —          —          15%        —          —    

Noble Energy

     9%        14%        —          —          —          16%        —          —    

Encana(1)

     6%        —          2%        22%        19%        *        5%        17%  

Continental Resources

     5%        —          —          45%        2%        —          14%        18%  

Devon Energy

     4%        1%        —          —          24%        —          —          *  

Marathon Oil

     4%        —          —          20%        14%        —          1%        2%  

Pioneer Natural Resources

     4%        —          56%        —          —          —          —          —    

XTO

     3%        6%        2%        —          —          —          6%        12%  

Cimarex Energy

     3%        4%        —          —          11%        —          —          3%  

Whiting Petroleum

     3%        —          —          —          —          13%        4%        —    

Extraction Oil and Gas

     3%        —          —          —          —          12%        —          —    

Halcon Resources

     2%        6%        —          —          —          —          2%        —    

EOG Resources

     2%        1%        —          *        —          9%        4%        —    

Patriot Resources

     2%        6%        —          —          —          —          —          —    

Diamondback Energy

     2%        4%        11%        —          —          —          —          —    

Concho Resources

     2%        5%        1%        —          —          —          —          —    

PDC Energy

     2%        1%        —          —          —          7%        —          —    

Chevron Corporation

     2%        4%        4%        —          —          —          —          —    

Verdad Oil and Gas

     2%        —          —          —          —          7%        —          —    

Occidental Petroleum

     2%        4%        *        —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     72%        72%        76%        87%        70%        79%        36%        52%  

Other Operators

     28%        28%        24%        13%        30%        21%        64%        48%  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     100%        100%        100%        100%        100%        100%        100%        100%  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note:

Individual amounts may not add up to totals due to rounding.

*

Less than 1%.

(1)

Pro forma for Encana Corporation’s acquisition of Newfield Exploration.

Business Strategies

Our primary business objective is to deliver an attractive risk-adjusted total return to our shareholders through (i) the growth of our free cash flow generated from our existing portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres, and (ii) the continued sourcing and execution of accretive mineral acquisitions in the core of highly economic, liquids-rich resource plays. We intend to accomplish this objective by executing the following strategies:

 

   

Capture growth in free cash flow through continued development of our mineral and royalty interests. We have targeted assets in the core of highly economic, liquids-rich resource plays, and we expect operators to continue deploying rigs and capital to develop our existing mineral and royalty interests, even in low commodity price environments. As of December 31, 2018, there were 806 DUCs across our acreage position, representing 13% of the DUCs estimated by the EIA in our primary focus areas (as defined by the EIA, Anadarko, Bakken, Niobrara and Permian). We believe this DUC inventory will contribute to our near-term free cash flow growth as operators complete and turn these DUCs to sales. Further, we expect to generate future free cash flow growth from ongoing drilling and permitting activity on our interests. Since inception, our interests have been actively drilled, with a total of 3,355 producing horizontal wells on our gross DSU acreage over the period. Over the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, there were an average of 43 rigs deployed across our acreage, with an average of approximately 1,600 net mineral acres under development per month. Additionally, operators continue to actively permit

 

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our interests, with approximately 90 new gross drilling permits issued per month over the last 12 months and a total of approximately 685 existing gross permitted drilling locations yet to be drilled across our gross DSU acreage as of December 31, 2018 (excluding Laramie County, Wyoming). As a result, we believe that our assets are positioned to provide substantial near- and long-term free cash flow growth without exposure to incremental capital expenditures or lease operating expenses associated with ongoing development.

 

   

Target a portfolio in the core areas of highly economic liquids-rich resource plays under premier operators. Our growing portfolio is driven by our acquisition strategy focused on core positions in top-tier, high-return, liquids-rich resource plays that we believe will continue to attract development capital throughout commodity price cycles. Our targeted approach has led us to acquire mineral and royalty interests in 38 selected counties that we consider to be some of the most economically prospective in the country, with 60% of the entire horizontal rig fleet in the continental United States active within those counties as of December 31, 2018. Based on an assumed $6 million per well, we estimate that operators deployed approximately $47.2 billion in drilling and completion capital expenditures to those counties during 2017 and $2.1 billion in drilling and completion capital expenditures to our gross DSU acreage. We believe that our focus on acquiring assets in the core of resource plays will also help to mitigate any negative impact of possible future declines in oil and natural gas prices, as operators have historically continued to deploy rigs and capital to these core areas even in lower commodity price environments. As an example, had we owned our portfolio of approximately 68,800 net royalty acres as of December 31, 2018 since January 1, 2013, we estimate that the pro forma production volumes net to our interests would have grown at an approximate 48% compound annual growth rate from the beginning of 2013 through December 31, 2018, despite average crude oil prices as of December 31, 2018 decreasing by 34% compared to the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

   

Leverage exploration and production technical expertise to evaluate acquisition opportunities. Our team’s technical expertise and extensive experience with exploration and production companies (i.e., operators) allows us to identify and acquire core mineral and royalty interests that we believe will be developed by premier operators. Our technical evaluation process for a potential mineral and royalty interest acquisition includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the following with respect to the associated mineral and royalty interests: (i) the existing producing wells, (ii) the number of productive formations anticipated to be developed, (iii) the number of wells anticipated to be developed per productive formation, (iv) the forecasted EURs of all wells per productive formation, (v) the oil and natural gas composition per productive formation and (vi) the anticipated performance of the operator expected to develop the interest. We analyze and estimate the economic returns of the operators to better understand the quality of the mineral interests relative to their other assets. We also evaluate operator performance relative to peers and formulate a drilling timeline, which is typically based on operator activity levels within a resource play and indications by that operator in public or regulatory filings regarding its future drilling and completion activities. As of December 31, 2018, we estimate that 73% of our undeveloped net wells will be drilled by operators who are currently running five or more rigs in the continental United States. If a potential transaction is comprised of multiple DSUs, we evaluate each DSU individually. We believe that acquiring mineral and royalty interests in core areas under top-performing, active operators enhances the probability that our undeveloped mineral and royalty interests will be converted to producing locations that will continue to generate free cash flow growth.

 

   

Capitalize on strong acquisition sourcing network. Our team leverages its extensive network of acquisition sources, including contacts developed during the 20 years prior to our formation while working as exploration and production operators as well as those developed since our formation in 2012. Since inception, we have sourced and originated a significant number of potential transactions and, through our rigorous underwriting and evaluation process, closed 1,292 mineral and royalty transactions. We believe we have developed a reputation in the minerals industry as a responsive, efficient and reliable acquirer, which continues to provide us consistent transaction opportunities in each of our target basins. During 2018, we increased our mineral and royalty interests by 28% or approximately 14,900 net royalty

 

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acres. In addition, we closed our largest single acquisition to date for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $41 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments, consisting of mineral and royalty interests in the Delaware Basin in Loving County, Texas and Lea County, New Mexico, under highly active, premier operators. As a public entity, we will continue to source transactions in the most attractive areas based on our analysis, with the objective of becoming a premier consolidator of mineral and royalty interests in the United States.

 

   

Maintain financial flexibility via conservative capital structure. We are committed to maintaining a conservative capital structure that will provide us with the financial flexibility to execute our acquisition strategy. Upon completion of this offering, we will have limited indebtedness and believe the proceeds from this offering, cash from operations, any remaining available borrowings under our term loan facility or any other credit facility and future potential access to the public capital markets will provide us with sufficient liquidity and financial flexibility to execute accretive acquisitions to further grow our production and free cash flow.

Competitive Strengths

We believe that the following competitive strengths will allow us to successfully execute our business strategies and to achieve our primary business objectives:

 

   

Experienced, technically focused team with significant mineral and royalty interest acquisition history and value-creation track record. Our management team has a proven track record of driving total return for shareholders, including sourcing opportunities, executing accretive acquisitions, maximizing asset development and monetizing assets. We have assembled a team of over 30 dedicated professionals, including a technical staff comprised of nine full-time, highly experienced geologists and reservoir engineers who apply a methodical evaluation approach focused on the same criteria as would an operator, while maintaining long-term disciplined underwriting criteria to target transactions in the core areas of liquids-rich resource basins. Our portfolio has been assembled over the past six years through the completion of over 1,292 transactions. Through December 31, 2018, our team has assembled approximately 68,800 net royalty acres in the core areas of premier, liquids-rich resource plays, and we intend to continue being an active acquirer of mineral and royalty interests in the future. We believe our team’s track record of success is exemplified by the historical value that has been created for public and private shareholders of both Brigham Exploration and Brigham Operating through the early-stage identification, acquisition and monetization of positions in liquids-rich resource plays in the Williston Basin and Southern Delaware in the Permian Basin, ultimately resulting in the sale of Brigham Exploration’s and Brigham Operating’s assets for an aggregate of $7.0 billion. Furthermore, during its time as a public company, Brigham Exploration’s enterprise value grew from $117.5 million at the time of its initial public offering to its eventual sale to Statoil for $4.4 billion.

 

   

Minerals and royalties are a perpetual asset class unburdened by both development capital expenditures and lease operating expenses, thereby driving significant free cash flow. Our mineral interests are a perpetual right to a fixed percentage of royalty revenues from the oil, natural gas and NGLs extracted from our interests. As a mineral and royalty owner, we do not incur any of the capital commitments related to drilling the undeveloped horizontal inventory on our interests, the ongoing lease operating expenses as minerals on our acreage are produced or the potential environmental or operational liabilities related to maintaining oil, natural gas and NGL production, including workovers and other well remediation and abandonment costs. As a result, we benefit from organic free cash flow growth associated with our mineral and royalty interests and believe that we realize higher margins over time with less exposure to risks than an exploration and production company. Finally, due to the perpetual nature of our mineral interests and the lack of future development costs, we benefit from: (i) the development of additional producing formations underlying our interests as operators delineate different horizons, (ii) the drilling of additional wells per producing formation as operators determine optimal well spacing, (iii) improved EURs as operators continuously improve drilling and completion techniques, and

 

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(iv) incremental lease bonus payments when we have the opportunity to lease existing open acreage or to re-lease acreage that has expired or is not held by production under the terms of our leases.

 

   

Multi-year drilling inventory in the core of four active liquids-rich resource basins. As of December 31, 2018, we had interests in approximately 3,355 producing horizontal wells across 1,367 identified DSUs, or an average of 2.5 producing horizontal wells per DSU. As reflected in our reserve report audited by CG&A, 11,648 horizontal drilling locations are yet to be drilled by operators across those 1,367 DSUs, which we believe will drive future free cash flow growth. These undeveloped horizontal drilling locations are located across (i) four liquids-rich, target basins including the Permian, SCOOP/STACK plays in the Anadarko, DJ and Williston; (ii) a diverse portfolio of operators including Noble, Anadarko, Encana and Continental; and (iii) a number of productive formations including the Wolfcamp, Bone Spring, Avalon, Woodford, Springer, Meramec, Niobrara, Codell, Bakken and Three Forks benches. In addition, we expect operators will continue to delineate additional geologic zones and optimize well spacing across our acreage, leading to incremental locations that we do not currently include in our inventory.

 

   

Portfolio of high-quality operators developing our position. We expect our mineral and royalty interests to be converted from undeveloped to producing by a portfolio of high-quality operators who deploy the latest drilling and completion technologies and have significant access to capital, including Anadarko, Noble, Encana and Continental, as well as other best-in-class operators throughout our core areas. As of December 31, 2018, we have exposure to the top five operators by permit, drilling activity and gross operated production in each of the plays in which our mineral and royalty interests are located. As of December 31, 2018, we estimate that 73% of our undeveloped net wells will be drilled by operators who are currently running five or more rigs in the continental United States. Because of our exposure to the most active operators within the core of each of our basins, we believe that capital will continue to be deployed in low commodity price environments to convert our drilling inventory into producing locations, thereby increasing our free cash flow.

Oil, Natural Gas and NGLs Data

Proved, Probable and Possible Reserves

Evaluation and Audit of Proved, Probable and Possible Reserves. Our proved, probable and possible reserve estimates as of December 31, 2018 are based on evaluations prepared by our management team and audited by CG&A, our independent petroleum engineers, and our proved, probable and possible reserve estimates as of December 31, 2017 were prepared by CG&A. CG&A performed audits of the internally prepared reserves estimates on the entirety of our reported proved, probable and possible reserves as of December 31, 2018. The purpose of this audit was to provide additional assurance on the reasonableness of internally prepared reserves estimates. Our proved reserves are, in the aggregate, reasonable and within the established audit tolerance guidelines of 10%. The reports of CG&A contain further discussion of the reserves estimates and its audit procedure.

Within CG&A, the technical person primarily responsible for preparing the reserve estimates set forth in the reserve reports incorporated herein is Todd Brooker. Prior to joining CG&A, Mr. Brooker worked in Gulf of Mexico drilling and production engineering at Chevron USA. Mr. Brooker has been an employee of CG&A since 1992. His responsibilities include reserve and economic evaluations, fair market valuations, field studies, pipeline resource studies and acquisition/divestiture analysis. His reserve reports are routinely used for public company SEC disclosures. His experience includes significant projects in both conventional and unconventional resources in every major U.S. producing basin and abroad, including oil and gas shale plays, coalbed methane fields, waterfloods and complex, faulted structures. Mr. Brooker graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. He is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE).

Mr. Brooker meets or exceeds the requirements with regard to qualifications, independence, objectivity and confidentiality set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves

 

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Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. CG&A does not own an interest in any of our properties, nor is it employed by us on a contingent basis. Summaries of CG&A’s reports with respect to our proved, probable and possible reserve estimates as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

We maintain an internal staff of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals who worked closely with our independent reserve engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of the data used to calculate our proved, probable and possible reserves relating to our properties. Our internal technical team members meet with our independent reserve engineers periodically during the period covered by the proved, probable and possible reserve report to discuss the assumptions and methods used in the proved, probable and possible reserve estimation process. We provide historical information to CG&A for our properties, such as ownership interest, oil and natural gas production, well test data, commodity prices and our estimates of our operators’ operating and development costs. Hal Hogsett is primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of our reserve estimates. Mr. Hogsett has substantial reservoir and operations experience having worked as a petroleum engineer since 2009 and is supported by our engineering and geoscience staff. Prior to joining our Company in 2017, Mr. Hogsett worked at Apache Corporation and Antero Resources Corporation.

The preparation of our proved, probable and possible reserve estimates were completed in accordance with our internal control procedures. These procedures, which are intended to ensure reliability of reserve estimations, include the following:

 

   

review and verification of historical production data, which data is based on actual production as reported by our operators;

 

   

review by Hal Hogsett, our Vice President of Reservoir Engineering, of all of our reported proved, probable and possible reserves, including the review of all significant reserve changes and all new PUDs additions;

 

   

verification of property ownership by our land department;

 

   

review of reserve estimates by Mr. Hogsett or under his direct supervision; and

 

   

direct reporting responsibilities by Mr. Hogsett to our Chief Executive Officer.

Estimation of Proved Reserves. In accordance with rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to companies involved in oil and natural gas producing activities, proved reserves are those quantities of oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations. The term “reasonable certainty” means deterministically, the quantities of oil and/or natural gas are much more likely to be achieved than not, and probabilistically, there should be at least a 90% probability of recovering volumes equal to or exceeding the estimate. All of our proved reserves as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were estimated using a deterministic method. The estimation of reserves involves two distinct determinations. The first determination results in the estimation of the quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas and the second determination results in the estimation of the uncertainty associated with those estimated quantities in accordance with the definitions established under SEC rules. The process of estimating the quantities of recoverable reserves relies on the use of certain generally accepted analytical procedures. These analytical procedures fall into four broad categories or methods: (i) production performance-based methods; (ii) material balance-based methods; (iii) volumetric-based methods; and (iv) analogy. These methods may be used singularly or in combination by the reserve evaluator in the process of estimating the quantities of reserves. Reserves for proved developed producing wells were estimated using production performance methods for the vast majority of properties. Certain new producing properties with very little production history were forecast using a combination of production performance and analogy to similar production, both of which are considered to provide a reasonably high degree of accuracy. Non-producing reserve estimates, for developed and undeveloped properties, were forecast using analogy methods. This method provides a reasonably high degree of accuracy for predicting proved developed non-producing and PUDs for our properties, due to the abundance of analog data.

 

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To estimate economically recoverable proved reserves and related future net cash flows, we considered many factors and assumptions, including the use of reservoir parameters derived from geological and engineering data that cannot be measured directly, economic criteria based on current costs and the SEC pricing requirements and forecasts of future production rates.

Under SEC rules, reasonable certainty can be established using techniques that have been proven effective by actual production from projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir or by other evidence using reliable technology that establishes reasonable certainty. Reliable technology is a grouping of one or more technologies (including computational methods) that have been field tested and have been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. To establish reasonable certainty with respect to our estimated proved reserves, the technologies and economic data used in the estimation of our proved reserves have been demonstrated to yield results with consistency and repeatability, and include production and well test data, downhole completion information, geologic data, electrical logs, radioactivity logs, core data, and historical well cost and operating expense data.

Estimation of Probable Reserves . Estimates of probable reserves are inherently imprecise. When producing an estimate of the amount of oil, natural gas and NGLs that is recoverable from a particular reservoir, an estimated quantity of probable reserves is an estimate of those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered. Estimates of probable reserves are also continually subject to revisions based on production history, results of additional exploration and development, price changes and other factors.

When deterministic methods are used, it is as likely as not that actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the sum of estimated proved plus probable reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50% probability that the actual quantities recovered will equal or exceed the proved plus probable reserves estimates. All of our probable reserves as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were estimated using a deterministic method, which involves two distinct determinations: an estimation of the quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas and an estimation of the uncertainty associated with those estimated quantities in accordance with the definitions established under SEC rules. The process of estimating the quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas reserves uses the same generally accepted analytical procedures as are used in estimating proved reserves, namely production performance-based methods, material balance-based methods, volumetric-based methods and analogy. In the case of probable reserves, the recoverable reserves cannot be said to have a “high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered”, but are “as likely as not to be recovered.” The lower degree of certainty can come from several factors including: (1) direct offset production that does not meet an economic threshold, despite localized averages that do meet that threshold, (2) an increased distance from offset production to the probable location of over one mile but under three miles, (3) a perceived risk of communication or depletion from nearby producers, (4) a perceived risk of attempting new drilling or completion technologies that have not been used in direct offset production or (5) an uncertainty regarding geologic positioning that could affect recoverable reserves. When considering the factors referenced above, the lower degree of certainty of our probable reserves came from a combination of these factors depending upon the applicable basin. Many of the probable locations assigned in our reserve reports had few uncertainties and resemble proved undeveloped locations except for their distance from commercial production. Other probable locations had uncertainties related to not only distance from commercial production, but also related to well spacing and development timing. In general, we did not book probable locations if there was geologic uncertainty or if there was not commercial production to support such locations.

Estimation of Possible Reserves . Estimates of possible reserves are also inherently imprecise. When producing an estimate of the amount of oil, natural gas and NGLs that is recoverable from a particular reservoir, an estimated quantity of possible reserves is an estimate that might be achieved, but only under more favorable circumstances than are likely. Estimates of possible reserves are also continually subject to revisions based on production history, results of additional exploration and development, price changes and other factors.

When deterministic methods are used, the total quantities ultimately recovered from a project have a low probability of exceeding proved plus probable plus possible reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there

 

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should be at least a 10% probability that the total quantities ultimately recovered will equal or exceed the proved plus probable plus possible reserves estimates. All of our possible reserves as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were estimated using a deterministic method, which involves two distinct determinations: an estimation of the quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas and an estimation of the uncertainty associated with those estimated quantities in accordance with the definitions established under SEC rules. The process of estimating the quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas reserves uses the same generally accepted analytical procedures as are used in estimating proved reserves, namely production performance-based methods, material balance-based methods, volumetric-based methods and analogy. In the case of possible reserves, the recoverable reserves cannot be said to be “as likely as not to be recovered”, but “might be achieved, but only under more favorable circumstances than are likely.” The lower degree of certainty can come from several factors including: (1) direct offset production that does not meet an economic threshold, despite localized averages that do meet that threshold, (2) an increased distance from offset production to the possible location of over one mile but under five miles, (3) a perceived risk of communication or depletion from nearby producers, (4) a perceived risk of attempting new drilling or completion technologies that have not been used in direct offset production or (5) an uncertainty regarding geologic positioning that could affect recoverable reserves. When considering the factors referenced above, the lower degree of certainty of our possible reserves came from a combination of these factors depending upon the applicable basin. Many of the possible locations assigned in our reserve reports had few uncertainties and resemble proved undeveloped locations except for their distance from commercial production. Other possible locations had uncertainties related to not only distance from commercial production, but also related to well spacing and development timing. In general, we did not book possible locations if there was geologic uncertainty or if there was not commercial production to support such location.

Summary of Reserves. The following table presents our estimated net proved, probable and possible reserves as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, based on our proved, probable and possible reserve estimates as of such dates, which have been prepared or audited, as applicable, by CG&A, our independent petroleum engineering firm, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. All of our proved, probable and possible reserves are located in the United States.

 

     December 31,
2018(1)
     December 31,
2017(2)
 

Estimated proved developed reserves:

                          

Oil (MBbls)

     6,067        2,804  

Natural gas (MMcf)

     21,735        13,028  

NGLs (MBbls)

    
1,898
 
     1,185  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)

     11,588        6,160  

Estimated proved undeveloped reserves:

     

Oil (MBbls)

    
6,923
 
     5,920  

Natural gas (MMcf)

    
30,062
 
     25,373  

NGLs (MBbls)

    
3,220
 
     2,795  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)

    
15,153
 
     12,944  

Estimated proved reserves:

     

Oil (MBbls)

     12,990        8,724  

Natural gas (MMcf)

     51,797        38,401  

NGLs (MBbls)

    
5,118
 
     3,980  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)

     26,741        19,104  

Estimated probable reserves:

     

Oil (MBbls)(3)

     14,854        11,882  

Natural gas (MMcf)(3)

     66,682        47,659  

NGLs (MBbls)(3)

     7,560        5,654  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)(3)

     33,528        25,479  

Estimated possible reserves:

     

Oil (MBbls)(3)

    
10,302
 
     7,426  

Natural gas (MMcf)(3)

     29,775        21,846  

NGLs (MBbls)(3)

    
3,545
 
     2,738  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)(3)

     18,810        13,805  

 

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     December 31,
2018(1)
     December 31,
2017(2)
 

Oil and Natural Gas Prices:

     

Oil—WTI posted price per Bbl

   $ 65.66      $ 51.34  

Natural gas—Henry Hub spot price per MMBtu

   $ 3.12      $ 2.99  

 

(1)

Our estimated net proved, probable and possible reserves were determined using average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months in accordance with SEC guidance. For oil and NGL volumes, the average West Texas Intermediate posted price of $65.66 per barrel as of December 31, 2018 was adjusted for quality, transportation fees and a regional price differential. NGL prices varied by basin from 22% to 41% of the WTI posted price. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price of $3.12 per MMBtu as of December 31, 2018 was adjusted for energy content, transportation fees and a regional price differential. All prices do not give effect to derivative transactions and are held constant throughout the lives of the proved properties. The average adjusted product prices weighted by production over the remaining lives of the properties are $61.31 per barrel of oil, $23.98 per barrel of NGL and $2.51 per Mcf of gas as of December 31, 2018.

(2)

Our estimated net proved, probable and possible reserves were determined using average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months in accordance with SEC guidance. For oil and NGL volumes, the average WTI posted price of $51.34 per barrel as of December 31, 2017 was adjusted for quality, transportation fees and a regional price differential. NGL prices varied by basin from 19% to 42% of the WTI posted price. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price of $2.99 per MMBtu as of December 31, 2017 was adjusted for energy content, transportation fees and a regional price differential. All prices do not give effect to derivative transactions and are held constant throughout the lives of the proved properties. The average adjusted product prices weighted by production over the remaining lives of the properties are $47.80 per barrel of oil, $18.56 per barrel of NGL and $2.74 per Mcf of gas as of December 31, 2017.

(3)

All of our estimated probable and possible reserves are classified as undeveloped.

Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating volumes of economically recoverable oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. As a result, the estimates of different engineers often vary. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production may justify revisions of such estimates. Accordingly, reserve estimates often differ from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and natural gas and of future net revenues are based on a number of variables and assumptions, all of which may vary from actual results, including geologic interpretation, prices and future production rates and costs. Please read “Risk Factors.”

Additional information regarding our proved, probable and possible reserves can be found in the notes to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus and the proved, probable and possible reserve reports as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

PUDs

As of December 31, 2018, we estimated our PUD reserves to be 6,923 MBbls of oil, 30,062 MMcf of natural gas and 3,220 MBbls of NGLs, for a total of 15,153 MBoe. As of December 31, 2017, we estimated our PUD reserves to be 5,920 MBbls of oil, 25,373 MMcf of natural gas and 2,795 MBbls of NGLs, for a total of 12,944 MBoe. PUDs will be converted from undeveloped to developed as the applicable wells begin production.

 

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The following tables summarize our changes in PUDs during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 (in MBoe):

 

     Proved
Undeveloped
Reserves
 
     (unaudited)  

Balance, December 31, 2016

     9,950  

Acquisitions of reserves

     2,442  

Extensions and discoveries

     3,057  

Divestiture of minerals in place

     (1,238

Revisions of previous estimates

     284  

Transfers to estimated proved developed

     (1,551
  

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2017

     12,944  
  

 

 

 

Acquisitions of reserves

     3,967  

Extensions and discoveries

     1,168  

Revisions of previous estimates

     (1,103

Transfers to estimated proved developed

     (1,823
  

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2018

     15,153  
  

 

 

 

Changes in PUDs that occurred during 2017 were primarily due to:

 

   

the acquisition of additional mineral and royalty interests located in the Permian, DJ, Anadarko and Williston Basins in multiple transactions, which included 2,442 MBoe of additional PUDs;

 

   

well additions, extensions and discoveries of approximately 3,057 MBoe, as 547 horizontal well locations were converted from probable, possible and contingent resources to proved undeveloped, due to continuous activity and delineation of additional zones on our mineral and royalty interests;

 

   

the divestiture of 1,238 MBoe through one sale of mineral and royalty interests located in the Permian Basin;

 

   

the conversion of approximately 1,551 MBoe in PUD reserves into proved developed reserves as 156 horizontal locations were drilled; and

 

   

positive volume revisions of 1,651 MBoe attributable to increased recovery in close proximity to our mineral and royalty interests, partially offset by negative revisions of approximately 1,367 MBoe in PUDs, of which 940 MBoe was due to development configuration and well spacing changes on our DJ Basin acreage by our operators and 427 MBoe was due to operator development timing adjustments.

Changes in PUDs that occurred during 2018 were primarily due to:

 

   

the acquisition of additional mineral and royalty interests located in the Permian, DJ, Anadarko and Williston Basins in multiple transactions, which included 3,967 MBoe of additional PUDs;

 

   

well additions, extensions and discoveries of approximately 1,168 MBoe, as 183 horizontal well locations were converted from probable, possible and contingent resources to PUDs due to continuous activity and delineation of additional zones on our mineral and royalty interests;

 

   

the conversion of approximately 1,823 MBoe in PUD reserves into proved developed reserves as 314 horizontal locations were drilled; and

 

   

positive revisions of 309 MBoe attributable to pricing was offset by negative revisions of 1,100 MBoe due to changes in development timing as well as 312 MBoe attributable to unit configuration and EUR adjustments to existing PUD locations.

 

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As a mineral and royalty interests owner, we do not incur any capital expenditures or lease operating expenses in connection with the development of our PUDs, which costs are borne entirely by the operator. As a result, during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, we did not have any expenditures to convert PUDs to proved developed reserves.

We identify drilling locations based on our assessment of current geologic, engineering and land data. This includes DSU formation and current well spacing information derived from state agencies and the operations of the exploration and production companies drilling our mineral and royalty interests. We generally do not have evidence of approval of our operators’ development plans, however we use a deterministic approach to define and allocate locations to proved reserves. While many of our locations qualify as geologic PUDs, we limit our PUDs to the quantities of oil and gas that are reasonably certain to be recovered in the next five years. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, approximately 57% and 66%, respectively, of our total proved reserves were classified as PUDs.

Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Production Prices and Costs

Production and Price History

The following table sets forth information regarding net production of oil, natural gas and NGLs, and certain price and cost information for each of the periods indicated:

 

     Our Predecessor  
     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017  

Production data:

    

Oil (MBbls)

     777       454  

Natural gas (MMcf)

     2,507       1,768  

NGLs (MBbls)

     222       109  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total (MBoe)(1)(2)

     1,417       858  

Average realized prices(3):

    

Oil (per Bbl)

   $ 60.56     $ 48.61  

Natural gas (per Mcf)

     2.80       3.11  

NGLs (per Bbl)

     25.72       22.71  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total (per Boe)(2)

   $ 42.19     $ 35.02  

Average costs (per Boe):

    

Gathering, transportation, and marketing expenses

   $ 2.78     $ 2.04  

Severance and ad valorem taxes

     2.50       1.87  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     9.82       8.10  

General and administrative expenses(4)

     4.69       4.59  

Interest and related fees

     5.26       0.65  

(Gain)/Loss on derivative instruments, net

     (0.30     0.14  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 24.75     $ 17.39  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

May not sum or recalculate due to rounding.

(2)

“Btu-equivalent” production volumes are presented on an oil-equivalent basis using a conversion factor of six Mcf of natural gas per barrel of “oil equivalent,” which is based on approximate energy equivalency and does not reflect the price or value relationship between oil and natural gas.

(3)

Excludes the effect of commodity derivative instruments.

(4)

General and administrative expenses do not include additional expenses we would have to incur as a result of being a public company.

 

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Productive Wells

Productive wells consist of producing horizontal wells, wells capable of production and exploratory, development or extension wells that are not dry wells. As of December 31, 2018, we owned mineral and royalty interests in 3,355 gross productive horizontal wells, which consisted of 3,064 oil wells and 291 natural gas wells.

We do not own any working interests in any wells. Accordingly, we do not own any net wells as such term is defined by Item 1208(c)(2) of Regulation S-K.

Acreage

The following table sets forth information relating to our acreage for our mineral and royalty interests as of December 31, 2018:

 

Basin

   Gross DSU
Acreage
     Net Royalty
Acreage
     100% Royalty
Acreage
 

Delaware

     229,000        19,200        2,400  

Midland

     58,000        3,200        400  

SCOOP

     167,000        8,700        1,090  

STACK

     156,000        9,700        1,210  

DJ

     165,000        15,400        1,920  

Williston

     470,000        6,800        850  

Other

     111,000        5,800        730  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,356,000        68,800        8,600  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The vast majority of our mineral and royalty interests are leased to our operators with 72% of our 61,800 leased net royalty acres being held by production as of December 31, 2018. In addition, we had 7,000 net royalty acres that were not leased as of December 31, 2018.

Drilling Results

The following table sets forth information with respect to the number of wells turned to production on our properties during the periods indicated. The information should not be considered indicative of future performance, nor should it be assumed that there is necessarily any correlation among the number of productive wells drilled, the quantities of reserves found and the economic value. Productive wells are those that produce commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, whether or not they produce a reasonable rate of return. As a mineral and royalty interest owner, we generally are not provided information as to whether any wells drilled on the properties underlying our acreage are classified as exploratory.

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2016      2017      2018  

Development wells:

                                                           

Productive

     313        603        679  
        

Dry(1)

     —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     313        603        679  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

We are not aware of any dry holes drilled on the acreage underlying our mineral and royalty interests during the relevant periods.

As of December 31, 2017, we had 806 wells on our properties in the process of drilling, completing or dewatering, or shut in awaiting infrastructure, that are not reflected in the above table.

 

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Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters

Oil, natural gas and NGL exploration, development and production operations are subject to stringent laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to protection of the environment or occupational health and safety. These laws and regulations have the potential to impact production on our properties, including requirements to:

 

   

obtain permits to conduct regulated activities;

 

   

limit or prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas;

 

   

restrict the types, quantities and concentration of materials that can be released into the environment in the performance of drilling and production activities;

 

   

initiate investigatory and remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former or current operations, such as restoration of drilling pits and plugging of abandoned wells;

 

   

apply specific health and safety criteria addressing worker protection; and

 

   

impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from operations.

Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, including monetary penalties, the imposition of strict, joint and several liability, investigatory and remedial obligations and the issuance of injunctions limiting or prohibiting some or all of the operations on our properties. Moreover, these laws, rules and regulations may restrict the rate of oil, natural gas and NGL production below the rate that would otherwise be possible. The regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects profitability. The trend in environmental regulation has been to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment, and thus, any changes in environmental laws and regulations or re-interpretation of enforcement policies that result in more stringent and costly construction, drilling, water management, completion, emission or discharge limits or waste handling, disposal or remediation obligations could increase the cost to our operators of developing our properties. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of operations on our properties, causing our operators to incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims for damage to property, natural resources or persons.

Increased costs or operating restrictions on our properties as a result of compliance with environmental laws could result in reduced exploratory and production activities on our properties and, as a result, our revenues and results of operations. The following is a summary of certain existing environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, each as amended from time to time, to which operations on our properties are subject.

Hazardous Substances and Waste Handling

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or “CERCLA,” also known as the Superfund law, and comparable state laws impose liability without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct on certain classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. Under CERCLA, these “responsible persons” may include the owner or operator of the site where the release occurred, and entities that transport, dispose of or arrange for the transport or disposal of hazardous substances released at the site. These responsible persons may be subject to joint and several strict liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some instances, third parties to act in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover from the responsible classes of persons the costs they incur. It is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third-parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment.

 

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The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state laws control the management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. These laws and regulations govern the generation, storage, treatment, transfer and disposal of wastes generated. Drilling fluids, produced waters and most of the other wastes associated with the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas and NGLs, if properly handled, are currently exempt from regulation as hazardous waste under RCRA and, instead, are regulated under RCRA’s less stringent non-hazardous waste provisions, state laws or other federal laws. However, it is possible that certain oil, natural gas and NGL drilling and production wastes now classified as non-hazardous could be classified as hazardous wastes in the future. For example, in December 2016, the EPA and environmental groups entered into a consent decree to address the EPA’s alleged failure to timely assess its RCRA Subtitle D criteria regulations exempting certain exploration and production related oil, natural gas and NGL wastes from regulation as hazardous wastes under RCRA. The consent decree requires the EPA to propose a rulemaking no later than March 15, 2019 for revision of certain Subtitle D criteria regulations pertaining to oil, natural gas and NGL wastes or to sign a determination that revision of the regulations is not necessary. If the EPA proposes rulemaking for revised oil and natural gas regulations, the consent decree requires that the EPA take final action following notice and comment rulemaking no later than July 15, 2021. Any such change could result in an increase in the costs to manage and dispose of wastes, which could increase the costs of our operators’ operations.

Certain of our properties have been used for oil and natural gas exploration and production for many years. Although the operators may have utilized operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under our properties, or on or under other offsite locations where these petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes have been taken for recycling or disposal. Our properties and the petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes disposed or released thereon may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, the owner or operator could be required to remove or remediate previously disposed wastes, to clean up contaminated property and to perform remedial operations such as restoration of pits and plugging of abandoned wells to prevent future contamination or to pay some or all of the costs of any such action.

Water Discharges and NORM

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the “Clean Water Act,” and analogous state laws impose restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil, into federal and state waters. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. Obtaining permits has the potential to delay the development of oil and natural gas projects. In addition, federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the Clean Water Act and analogous state laws and regulations. Spill prevention, control and countermeasure plan requirements imposed under the Clean Water Act require appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event of a hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak. In addition, the Clean Water Act and analogous state laws require individual permits or coverage under general permits for discharges of storm water runoff from certain types of facilities. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended, or “OPA,” amends the Clean Water Act and establishes strict liability and natural resource damages liability for unauthorized discharges of oil into waters of the United States. OPA requires owners or operators of certain onshore facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans for responding to a worst case discharge of oil into waters of the United States.

In addition, naturally occurring radioactive material (“NORM”) is brought to the surface in connection with oil and gas production. Concerns have arisen over traditional NORM disposal practices (including discharge through publicly owned treatment works into surface waters), which may increase the costs associated with management of NORM.

 

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Air Emissions

The CAA and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources through air emissions permitting programs and also impose various monitoring and reporting requirements. These laws and regulations may require our operators to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent air permit requirements or incur development expenses to install and utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions. For example, in June 2016 the EPA finalized rules regarding criteria for aggregating multiple small surface sites into a single source for air-quality permitting purposes applicable to the oil and gas industry. This rule could cause small facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source, thereby triggering more stringent air permitting processes and requirements. Any such requirements could increase the costs of development and production on our properties, potentially impairing the economic development of our properties. Obtaining permits has the potential to delay the development of oil and natural gas projects. Federal and state regulatory agencies may impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with air permits or other requirements of the CAA and associated state laws and regulations.

Climate Change

In response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment, the EPA has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the CAA that, among other things, establish PSD, construction and Title V operating permit reviews for certain large stationary sources. Facilities required to obtain PSD permits for their GHG emissions also will be required to meet “best available control technology” standards that will be established on a case-by-case basis. EPA rulemakings related to GHG emissions could adversely affect our operators’ operations and restrict or delay their ability to obtain air permits for new or modified sources. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore oil and gas production sources in the United States on an annual basis, which include gathering and boosting facilities.

Furthermore, in June 2016, the EPA finalized rules that establish new controls for emissions of methane from new, modified or reconstructed sources in the oil and natural gas source category, including production, processing, transmission and storage activities. The rules include first-time standards to address emissions of methane from equipment and processes across the source category. However, over the past year the EPA has taken several steps to delay implementation of the June 2016 methane rule, and the agency proposed a separate rulemaking in June 2017 to stay the methane requirements for a period of two years and revisit implementation of the standards in their entirety. In September 2018, the EPA proposed amendments to the standards, including rescission of certain requirements and revisions to other requirements such as fugitive emissions monitoring frequency. As a result of these developments, substantial uncertainty exists with respect to the future implementation of the EPA’s methane rules.

The U.S. Congress has not considered adopting federal legislation to reduce GHG emissions in recent years. In the absence of such federal climate change legislation, a number of state and regional cap and trade programs have emerged that typically require major sources of GHG emissions, such as electric power plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs. Other states have passed renewable energy mandates, and recently automakers have announced their intention to increase production of electric powered vehicles in response to concerns related to climate change. In addition, in December 2015, over 190 countries, including the United States, reached an agreement to reduce global GHG emissions, known as the Paris Treaty. The Paris Treaty entered into force in November 2016. In August 2017, however, the U.S. State Department informed the United Nations that the United States plans to withdraw from the Paris Treaty, but may later pursue negotiations either to reenter the Paris Treaty on different terms or establish a new framework. The Paris Treaty provides for a four-year exit process beginning in November 2016, which would result in an effective exit date of November 2020. Although it is not possible at this time to predict how legislation or new regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions would impact our properties, any such future laws and regulations imposing reporting obligations or limitations on emissions of GHGs could require the operators of our properties to make

 

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significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on their results of operations, competitive position or financial condition. Such requirements could also adversely affect demand for the oil, natural gas and NGLs produced, all of which could reduce production attributable to our properties and our results of operations.

Recently, activists concerned about the potential effects of climate change have directed their attention at sources of funding for fossil-fuel energy companies, which has resulted in certain financial institutions, funds and other sources of capital restricting or eliminating their investment in oil and natural gas activities. Ultimately, this could make it more difficult to secure funding for exploration and production activities, which could adversely impact the development of our properties and our results of operations. Notwithstanding potential risks related to climate change, the International Energy Agency estimates that global energy demand will continue to rise and will not peak until after 2040 and that oil and gas will continue to represent a substantial percentage of global energy use over that time. Finally, it should be noted that some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, droughts and other extreme climatic events; if any such effects were to occur, they could require the operators of our properties to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on their results of operations, competitive position or financial condition.

Hydraulic Fracturing Activities

A substantial portion of the production on our properties involved the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques. Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of oil, natural gas and NGLs from dense subsurface rock formations. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, sand and chemical additives under pressure into the formation to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production.

Hydraulic fracturing typically is regulated by state oil and natural gas commissions or similar agencies, but the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the SDWA over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuel in fracturing fluids and issued permitting guidance that applies to such activities. Additionally, the EPA issued final CAA regulations in 2012 and in June 2016 governing performance standards, including standards for the capture of emissions of methane and VOCs released during hydraulic fracturing and separately published in June 2016 an effluent limit guideline final rule prohibiting the discharge of wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and natural gas extraction facilities to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. In September 2018, the EPA proposed amendments to its methane standards, including rescission of certain requirements and revisions to other requirements such as fugitive emissions monitoring frequency.

Also, in December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources “under some circumstances,” noting that the following hydraulic fracturing water cycle activities and local- or regional-scale factors are more likely than others to result in more frequent or more severe impacts: water withdrawals for fracturing in times or areas of low water availability; surface spills during the management of fracturing fluids, chemicals or produced water; injection of fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity; injection of fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources; discharge of inadequately treated fracturing wastewater to surface waters; and disposal or storage of fracturing wastewater in unlined pits.

In addition, various state and local governments have implemented, or are considering, increased regulatory oversight of hydraulic fracturing through additional permit requirements, operational restrictions, disclosure requirements, well construction and temporary or permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing in certain areas. For example, Texas, Colorado and North Dakota, among others, have adopted regulations that impose new or more

 

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stringent permitting, disclosure, disposal and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. States could also elect to prohibit high volume hydraulic fracturing altogether. In addition to state laws, local land use restrictions, such as city ordinances, may restrict drilling in general and/or hydraulic fracturing in particular. If new federal, state or local laws or regulations that significantly restrict hydraulic fracturing are adopted, such legal requirements could result in delays, eliminate certain drilling and injection activities and make it more difficult or costly to perform hydraulic fracturing. Any such regulations limiting or prohibiting hydraulic fracturing could result in decreased oil, natural gas and NGL exploration and production activities and, therefore, adversely affect the development of our properties.

Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act (the “ESA”) restricts activities that may affect endangered and threatened species or their habitats. The designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could cause our operators to incur additional costs or become subject to operating delays, restrictions or bans in the affected areas. Recently, there have been renewed calls to review protections currently in place for the dunes sagebrush lizard, whose habitat includes the Permian Basin, and to reconsider listing the species under the ESA. To the extent species are listed under the ESA or similar state laws, or previously unprotected species are designated as threatened or endangered in areas where our properties are located, operations on those properties could incur increased costs arising from species protection measures and face delays or limitations with respect to production activities thereon.

Employee Health and Safety

Operations on our properties are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, or “OSHA,” and comparable state statutes, whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act and comparable state statutes require that information be maintained concerning hazardous materials used or produced in operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens.

Title to Properties

Prior to completing an acquisition of mineral and royalty interests, we perform a title review on each tract to be acquired. Our title review is meant to confirm the quantum of mineral and royalty interest owned by a prospective seller, the property’s lease status and royalty amount as well as encumbrances or other related burdens. For our Texas properties, we obtain a limited title memorandum rendered by an oil and gas law firm. As a result, title examinations have been obtained on a significant portion of our properties.

In addition to our initial title work, operators often will conduct a thorough title examination prior to leasing and/or drilling a well. Should an operator’s title work uncover any further title defects, either we or the operator will perform curative work with respect to such defects. An operator generally will not commence drilling operations on a property until any material title defects on such property have been cured.

We believe that the title to our assets is satisfactory in all material respects. Although title to these properties is in some cases subject to encumbrances, such as customary interests generally retained in connection with the acquisition of oil and gas interests, non-participating royalty interests and other burdens, easements, restrictions or minor encumbrances customary in the oil and natural gas industry, we believe that none of these encumbrances will materially detract from the value of these properties or from our interest in these properties.

 

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Competition

The oil and natural gas business is highly competitive in the exploration for and acquisition of reserves, the acquisition of minerals and oil and natural gas leases and personnel required to find and produce reserves. Many of our competitors not only own and acquire mineral and royalty interests but also explore for and produce oil and natural gas and, in some cases, carry on midstream and refining operations and market petroleum and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. By engaging in such other activities, our competitors may be able to develop or obtain information that is superior to the information that is available to us. In addition, certain of our competitors may possess financial or other resources substantially larger than we possess. Our ability to acquire additional minerals and properties and to discover reserves in the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment.

In addition, oil and natural gas products compete with other forms of energy available to customers, primarily based on price. These alternate forms of energy include electricity, coal, and fuel oils. Changes in the availability or price of oil and natural gas or other forms of energy, as well as business conditions, conservation, legislation, regulations, and the ability to convert to alternate fuels and other forms of energy may affect the demand for oil and natural gas.

Seasonality of Business

Weather conditions affect the demand for, and prices of, natural gas and can also delay drilling activities, disrupting our overall business plans. Additionally, some of the areas in which our properties are located are adversely affected by seasonal weather conditions, primarily in the winter and spring. During periods of heavy snow, ice or rain, our operators may be unable to move their equipment between locations, thereby reducing their ability to operate our wells, reducing the amount of oil and natural gas produced from the wells on our properties during such times. Additionally, extended drought conditions in the areas in which our properties are located could impact our operators’ ability to source sufficient water or increase the cost for such water. Furthermore, demand for natural gas is typically higher during the winter, resulting in higher natural gas prices for our natural gas production during our first and fourth quarters. Certain natural gas users utilize natural gas storage facilities and purchase some of their anticipated winter requirements during the summer, which can lessen seasonal demand fluctuations. Seasonal weather conditions can limit drilling and producing activities and other oil and natural gas operations in a portion of our operating areas. Due to these seasonal fluctuations, our results of operations for individual quarterly periods may not be indicative of the results that we may realize on an annual basis.

Employees

As of December 31, 2018, we had 30 full-time employees. We hire independent contractors on an as needed basis. We have no collective bargaining agreements with our employees. We believe that our employee relationships are satisfactory. Please see “Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” for a discussion regarding the entity that has historically employed our employees.

Legal Proceedings

We are party to lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business. We cannot predict the outcome of any such lawsuits with certainty, but management believes it is remote that pending or threatened legal matters will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.

 

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Due to the nature of our business, we are, from time to time, involved in other routine litigation or subject to disputes or claims related to our business activities, including workers’ compensation claims and employment related disputes. In the opinion of our management, none of these other pending litigation, disputes or claims against us, if decided adversely, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, free cash flow or results of operations.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the names, ages and titles of our directors and executive officers.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

   59    Executive Chairman

Robert M. Roosa.

   49    Chief Executive Officer and Director

Blake C. Williams

   32    Chief Financial Officer

Harold D. Carter

   80    Director

John A. Holland

   37    Director

W. Howard Keenan, Jr.

   68    Director

James R. Levy

   43    Director

Richard Stoneburner

   65    Director

John R. Sult

   59    Director

The following table sets forth the names, ages and titles of certain of our other key employees.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Geoff Boyd

   36    Vice President of Acquisitions

S. Bradley Burris

   39    Vice President of Land

Hamilton W. Hogsett

   32    Vice President of Reservoir Engineering

Kevin J. L’abbé

   38    Vice President of Exploration

A. Dax McDavid

   38    Vice President of Exploration

Jordan K. Spearman

   34    Vice President of Business Development

Set forth below is a description of the backgrounds of our directors, executive officers and other key employees. Unless otherwise indicated, references to positions held at Brigham Minerals or our company include positions held at Brigham LLC, Brigham Resources and/or Brigham Minerals, LLC.

Directors and Executive Officers

Ben Bud M. Brigham—Executive Chairman . Ben “Bud” M. Brigham is our founder and has served as our executive chairman since our inception in November 2012. In addition to founding our company in 2012, Mr. Brigham founded Brigham Operating in 2012 and served as its chairman until the sale of substantially all of its asset to Diamondback Energy, Inc. in February 2017. Mr. Brigham also founded Atlas Permian Sand, LLC in 2017, Brigham Development, LLC in 2013 and Anthem Ventures, LLC in 2011. Prior to such time, Mr. Brigham founded Brigham Exploration Company in 2017 (the second entity founded by Mr. Brigham with such name) to pursue non-operated interests in the Permian Basin. Mr. Brigham formed the initial Brigham Exploration in 1990 and served as its President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board until its sale to Statoil in December 2011. Prior to founding Brigham Exploration in 1990, Mr. Brigham served for six years as an exploration geophysicist with Rosewood Resources, and as a seismic data processing geophysicist for Western Geophysical. Mr. Brigham earned a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics from the University of Texas. Mr. Brigham has served on the National Petroleum Council, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Independent Producers Association of America, the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists and The Bureau of Economic Geology Visiting Committee. Mr. Brigham was inducted into the All American Wildcatters in April 2012 and the University of Texas Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee in April 2015. Mr. Brigham was selected to serve on our board of directors due to his knowledge of the industry and leadership of our company since its inception.

Robert M. Roosa—Chief Executive Officer and Director . Robert M. Roosa has served as our President since our inception in November 2012, as our Chief Executive Officer since July 2017 and as a director of our company since May 2018. Mr. Roosa served as the President of Anthem Ventures and assisted Mr. Brigham with

 

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a number of family ventures between January 2012 and January 2017. Mr. Roosa served various roles, including Director of Finance and Investor Relations, while at Brigham Exploration from 2006 until its sale to Statoil in December of 2011. From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Roosa held a series of positions at Exxon Mobil Corporation in the Corporate Treasurer’s Department. Prior to 2000, Mr. Roosa worked for Cooper Industries in its Corporate Controllers and Audit Groups and with Deloitte & Touche LLP in its audit function. Mr. Roosa graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Master of Business Administration in 2000 and from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 1992. Mr. Roosa was selected to serve on our board of directors due to his knowledge of the industry and leadership of our company since its inception.

Blake C. Williams—Chief Financial Officer . Blake C. Williams has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 2017. Mr. Williams previously served as Director of Finance and Marketing for Brigham Operating from January 2015 to June 2017 and as Corporate Finance Associate from January 2013 to December 2014. He was responsible for all aspects of corporate finance, including capital budgeting, financial analysis and acquisition evaluation, as well as midstream strategy and marketing. From 2008 to 2012, Mr. Williams was a natural gas trader and scheduler at Vega Energy, an asset management and consulting firm that works with customers in the natural gas distribution and storage sectors. Mr. Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

Harold D. Carter—Director . Harold D. Carter has served as a director of our company since 2013. Mr. Carter has over 50 years of oil and gas industry experience and has been an independent consultant since 1990. Prior to consulting, Mr. Carter served as Executive Vice President of Pacific Enterprises Oil Company (USA). Before that, Mr. Carter was employed for 20 years by Sabine Corporation, ultimately serving as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1986 to 1989. Mr. Carter was a founding partner in Brigham Exploration and was a director from 1997 until 2011 when the company was sold to Statoil. Mr. Carter is a director of Abraxas Petroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: AXAS) and Longview Energy Company, a private exploration and production company. He currently is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Also, he is a former President of the American Association of Professional Landmen and the Dallas Petroleum Club. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Petroleum Land Management from The University of Texas at Austin and completed the Program for Management Development at the Harvard University Business School. Mr. Carter was selected to serve on our board of directors in light of his energy industry knowledge.

John A. Holland—Director . John A. Holland has served as a director of our company since August 2018. Mr. Holland joined Warburg Pincus in 2010 and is currently a Managing Director in the energy group. Previously, he worked as an investment professional at GTCR, a middle-market private equity firm, and as an analyst at UBS Investment Bank. He is a director of ATX Energy Partners Holdings, LLC, Conquest Completion Services LLC, Hawkwood Energy LLC, and Rubicon Oilfield International. Mr. Holland holds an A.B. in economics with honors from the University of Chicago and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Mr. Holland was selected to serve on our board of directors in light of his financial and energy industry knowledge.

W. Howard Keenan, Jr.—Director. W. Howard Keenan, Jr. has served as a director of our company since April 2013. Mr. Keenan has over 40 years of experience in the financial and energy businesses. Since 1997, he has been a Member of Yorktown Partners LLC, a private investment manager focused on the energy industry. From 1975 to 1997, he was in the Corporate Finance Department of Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. and active in the private equity and energy areas, including the founding of the first Yorktown Partners fund in 1991. Mr. Keenan also serves on the Boards of Directors of the following public companies: Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE: AR), Antero Midstream Corporation (NYSE: AM), Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NYSE: METC) and Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE: SOI). In addition, he is serving or has served as a director of multiple Yorktown Partners portfolio companies. Mr. Keenan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University. Mr. Keenan was selected to serve on our board of directors in light of his financial and energy industry knowledge.

 

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James R. Levy—Director . James R. Levy has served as a director of our company since 2013. Mr. Levy joined Warburg Pincus in 2006 and is currently a Managing Director in the energy group. Previously, he worked at Kohlberg & Company, a middle-market private equity investment firm, and Wasserstein Perella & Co. He is a director of Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE: AR), ATX Energy Partners, LLC, Chisholm Energy Holdings, LLC, Citizen Energy Holdings, LLC, Hawkwood Energy, LLC, Independence Resources Management, LLC, Laredo Petroleum Inc. (NYSE: LPI) and Terra Energy Partners LLC. Additionally, he is a Trustee of Prep for Prep. Mr. Levy received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Yale University. Mr. Levy was selected to serve on our board of directors in light of his finance skills and energy industry knowledge.

Richard Stoneburner—Director . Richard Stoneburner has served as a director of our company since May 2018. Mr. Stoneburner joined Pine Brook in April 2013 and is a managing director on the energy investment team. Mr. Stoneburner represents Pine Brook as a director of Accelerate Resources Holdings, LLC, Pursuit Oil & Gas, LLC, Red Bluff Resources, LLC and Sagauro Resources, LLC. Mr. Stoneburner has over 41 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He served as president of the North America Shale Production Division for BHP Billiton Petroleum from 2011 to 2012. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Stoneburner served as president and chief operating officer of Petrohawk Energy Corporation. He was also its chief operating officer from 2007 to 2009 and led their exploration activities as vice president and then executive vice president of exploration from 2003 to 2007. Mr. Stoneburner began his career as a geologist in 1977 and held positions at Texas Oil and Gas Corp., Weber Energy Corp., Hugoton Energy Corp. and 3TEC Energy Corp. Mr. Stoneburner is on the board of directors of Yuma Exploration and Production Company, Inc. and Tamboran Resources Limited and is an advisor to Ayata. He also serves on the advisory council of The Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, on the visiting committee of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, is a board member of Switch Energy Alliance and Memorial Assistance Ministries. He is also President and a board member of the Houston Producers Forum. Mr. Stoneburner holds a B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in Geological Sciences from Wichita State University. Mr. Stoneburner was selected to serve on our board of directors in light of his energy industry knowledge.

John R. “J.R.” Sult—Director . J.R. Sult has served as a director of our company since May 2018. Since August 2016, Mr. Sult has served on several public company boards as described below and has continued to evaluate additional potential opportunities. Mr. Sult served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Marathon Oil Corporation from September 2013 until August 2016. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of El Paso Corporation (“El Paso”) from March 2010 until May 2012 where he previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from November 2009 until March 2010, and as Senior Vice President and Controller from November 2005 until November 2009. During the period from May 2012 to October 2012, Mr. Sult evaluated additional potential opportunities. Mr. Sult also served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and director of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., the general partner of El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., from July 2010 until May 2012, where he previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from November 2009 until July 2010, and as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Controller from August 2007 until November 2009. Mr. Sult also served as Chief Accounting Officer of El Paso and as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Controller of El Paso’s Pipeline Group from November 2005 to November 2009. Prior to joining El Paso, Mr. Sult served as Vice President and Controller of Halliburton Energy Services from August 2004 until October 2005. Prior to joining Halliburton, Mr. Sult managed an independent consulting practice that provided a broad range of finance and accounting advisory services and assistance to public companies in the energy industry. Prior to private practice, Mr. Sult was an audit partner with Arthur Andersen LLP. He graduated from Washington & Lee University with a B.S. with Special Attainments in Commerce.

 

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Mr. Sult joined the board of directors of Dynegy, Inc. in October 2012, where he served as audit committee chairman and joined the board of directors of Vistra Energy Corp. (NYSE: VST) in April 2018 in connection with its merger with Dynegy, Inc. Mr. Sult has also served on the Board of Directors of Jagged Peak Energy Inc. (NYSE: JAG) since January 2017 and serves as the chairman of its audit committee.

We believe that Mr. Sult, through his experience in executive financial positions with large public companies, brings significant knowledge of accounting, capital structures, finance, financial reporting, strategic planning and forecasting to our Board. In addition, Mr. Sult’s qualification as an “audit committee financial expert” provides an essential skill set relevant to his service on our board of directors and as the chairman of our audit committee.

Other Key Employees

Geoff Boyd—Vice President of Acquisitions . Geoff Boyd has served as our Vice President of Acquisitions since February 2012. Before joining our company in 2012, Mr. Boyd served as Vice President of Acquisitions at Bridgepoint Minerals for four years. He has experience purchasing mineral and royalty interests in oil and liquids-rich resource plays across the United States. Mr. Boyd graduated from The University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 2005.

S. Bradley Burris—Vice President of Land . Brad Burris has served as our Vice President of Land since September 2018, as our Land Manager from January 2017 to September 2018 and as our Senior Landman from September 2016 to January 2017. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Burris served as a Senior Landman from January 2011 to August 2016 and as a Landman from June 2010 to December 2010 at Hilcorp Energy Company, working in the Eagle Ford shale, the Utica shale and conventional plays in both East and South Texas. Mr. Burris’s career began at BP America Production Company in January 2006 where he served as Land Negotiator. Mr. Burris earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, cum laude, from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law.

Hamilton (Hal) W. Hogsett—Vice President of Reservoir Engineering . Hal Hogsett has served as our Vice President of Reservoir Engineering since September 2018. Mr. Hogsett previously was our Reservoir Engineering Manager from September 2017 to July 2018 after relocating in August 2017 to join our company. Before joining our company, Mr. Hogsett served in various reservoir engineering roles with Antero Resources Corporation from March 2012 to July 2017 and in various engineering capacities with Apache Corporation from June 2009 to March 2012. Mr. Hogsett graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering.

Kevin J. L’abbé—Vice President of Exploration . Kevin L’abbé has served as our Vice President of Exploration for the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions since September 2018. He previously served as our Exploration Manager from January 2017 to September 2018. He joined our company as a Geologist in October 2012. Mr. L’abbé’s previous experience includes a position as Exploration and Development Geologist with Petro-Harvester Oil & Gas LLC from 2011 to 2012 and as Exploration Geologist with Marion Energy Inc. from 2006 to 2011. Mr. L’abbé earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geology from the University of Texas.

A. Dax McDavid—Vice President of Exploration . A. Dax McDavid has served as our Vice President of Exploration for the Permian and Williston Basins since September 2018. He previously served as our Exploration Manager from January 2017 to September 2018 and as a Geologist from February 2013 to January 2017. Mr. McDavid began his career in 2003 as a Geologist for Stalker Energy, L.P., an independent onshore exploration and development company, working conventional plays across South Texas and the Gulf Coast. Mr. McDavid earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Geology from the University of Texas.

Jordan K. Spearman—Vice President of Business Development . Jordan Spearman has served as our Vice President of Business Development since September 2018 and as our Business Development Manager since

 

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March 2017. He previously served as a landman for our company from September 2013 to March 2017. His prior experience includes founding and operating Bar S Oil & Gas, LLC, a land brokerage firm serving both the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford shale, in September 2013. He held a position as Land Negotiator from 2008 to 2009 at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Mr. Spearman graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Energy Commerce with an emphasis in Petroleum Land Management.

Board of Directors

Upon the closing of this offering, it is anticipated that we will have eight directors, and we plan to appoint one additional director within one year of the listing of our common stock on the NYSE.

In connection with this offering, we will enter into a stockholders’ agreement with each of the Sponsors. The stockholders’ agreement will provide the Sponsors with the right to designate a certain number of nominees to our board of directors so long as the Sponsors and their respective affiliates collectively beneficially own a specified amount of the outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders’ Agreement.”

In evaluating director candidates, we will assess whether a candidate possesses the integrity, judgment, knowledge, experience, skills and expertise that are likely to enhance the board of directors’ ability to manage and direct our affairs and business, including, when applicable, to enhance the ability of the committees of the board of directors to fulfill their duties. Our directors hold office until the earlier of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.

Our directors will be divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. Class I, Class II and Class III directors will serve until our annual meetings of stockholders in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Messrs. Levy, Stoneburner and Keenan will be assigned to Class I, Messrs. Holland, Roosa and Carter will be assigned to Class II, and Messrs. Sult and Brigham will be assigned to Class III. At each annual meeting of stockholders held after the initial classification, directors will be elected to succeed the class of directors whose terms have expired. This classification of our board of directors could have the effect of increasing the length of time necessary to change the composition of a majority of the board of directors. In general, at least two annual meetings of stockholders will be necessary for stockholders to effect a change in a majority of the members of the board of directors.

Director Independence

The board of directors is in the process of reviewing the independence of our directors using the independence standards of the NYSE. Currently, we anticipate that our board of directors will determine that each of Messrs. Levy, Sult, Holland, Keenan, Carter and Stoneburner are independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards currently in effect and that Messrs. Sult and Carter are independent within the meaning of 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors currently has an audit committee and will establish a compensation committee and a nomination and governance committee prior to the consummation of this offering. In addition, our board of directors may establish such other committees as it determines necessary or advisable from time to time. We anticipate that each of the standing committees of the board of directors will have the composition and responsibilities described below.

Audit Committee

Rules implemented by the NYSE and the SEC require us to have an audit committee comprised of at least three directors who meet the independence and experience standards established by the NYSE and the Exchange

 

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Act, subject to transitional relief during the one-year period following the completion of the offering contemplated by this prospectus. Mr. Sult is currently the sole member and chairman of our audit committee and, prior to completion of the offering, we expect to appoint Messrs. Carter and Holland as members of our audit committee. Although our board of directors has not made such determination yet, we anticipate that our board of directors will determine that Messrs. Sult, Carter and Holland are independent under the rules of the NYSE and the SEC. As required by the rules of the SEC and listing standards of the NYSE, the audit committee will consist solely of independent directors within one year following the completion of this offering. SEC rules also require that a public company disclose whether or not its audit committee has an “audit committee financial expert” as a member. An “audit committee financial expert” is defined as a person who, based on his or her experiences, possesses the attributes outlined in such rules. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Sult satisfies the definition of an “audit committee financial expert.”

This committee oversees, reviews, acts on and reports on various auditing and accounting matters to our board of directors, including: the selection of our independent accountants, the scope of our annual audits, fees to be paid to the independent accountants, the performance of our independent accountants, our accounting practices and the selection and performance of our independent reserves engineers. In addition, the audit committee oversees our compliance programs relating to legal and regulatory requirements. We have adopted an audit committee charter defining the committee’s primary duties in a manner consistent with the rules of the SEC and applicable stock exchange or market standards, which will be available on our website prior to the completion of this offering. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus.

Compensation Committee

We will establish a compensation committee prior to completion of this offering. We anticipate that the compensation committee will consist of four directors, Messrs. Levy, Stoneburner, Keenan and Carter, of whom Messrs. Levy, Stoneburner, Keenan and Carter will be “independent” under the rules of the SEC, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the NYSE. This committee will establish salaries, incentives and other forms of compensation for officers and other employees. Our compensation committee will also administer our incentive compensation and benefit plans. We expect to adopt a compensation committee charter defining the committee’s primary duties in a manner consistent with the rules of the SEC, the PCAOB and applicable stock exchange or market standards.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

We will establish a nominating and corporate governance committee prior to completion of this offering. We anticipate that the nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of four directors, Messrs. Levy, Stoneburner, Keenan and Carter, of whom Messrs. Levy, Stoneburner, Keenan and Carter will be “independent” under the rules of the SEC, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the NYSE. This committee will identify, evaluate and recommend qualified nominees to serve on our board of directors; develop and oversee our internal corporate governance processes; and maintain a management succession plan. We expect to adopt a nominating and corporate governance committee charter defining the committee’s primary duties in a manner consistent with the rules of the SEC and NYSE standards.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers serve on the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has an executive officer that serves on our board or compensation committee. No member of our board is an executive officer of a company in which one of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of that company.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to our employees, directors and officers, in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities

 

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laws and the corporate governance rules of the NYSE. Any waiver of this code may be made only by our board of directors and will be promptly disclosed as required by applicable U.S. federal securities laws and the corporate governance rules of the NYSE.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will adopt corporate governance guidelines in accordance with the corporate governance rules of the NYSE.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

We are currently considered an “emerging growth company,” within the meaning of the Securities Act, for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules. In accordance with such rules, we are required to provide a Summary Compensation Table and an Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End Table, as well as limited narrative disclosures regarding executive compensation for our last completed fiscal year. Further, our reporting obligations extend only to our “named executive officers,” who are the individuals who served as our principal executive officer, our next two other most highly compensated officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year and up to two additional individuals who would have been considered one of our next two most highly compensated officers except that such individuals did not serve as executive officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year. Accordingly, our named executive officers are:

 

Name

  

Principal Position

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

   Executive Chairman

Robert M. Roosa

   Chief Executive Officer and Director

Blake C. Williams

   Chief Financial Officer

Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes, with respect to our named executive officers, information relating to compensation earned for services rendered in all capacities during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Name and Principal Position

   Year      Salary
($)
     Bonus
($)(1)
     Option
Awards
($)(2)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
     Total
($)
 

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

(Executive Chairman)

     2018      $ 193,788      $ 42,533      —      $ 6,454      $ 242,775  
     2017      $ 227,116      $ 59,490      —      $ 6,207      $ 292,813  

Robert M. Roosa

(Chief Executive Officer and Director)

     2018      $ 395,375      $ 91,305      —      $ 39,603      $ 526,283  
     2017      $ 350,180      $ 122,500      —      $ 36,832      $ 509,512  

Blake Williams

(Chief Financial Officer)(4) .

     2018      $ 242,000      $ 25,800      —      $ 39,603      $ 307,403  
     2017      $ 108,381      $ 70,000      —      $ 37,511      $ 215,892  

 

(1)

Amounts in this column reflect discretionary bonuses earned by our named executive officers during the applicable fiscal year.

(2)

For Mr. Williams, the amount shown in this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of incentive units in Brigham Resources (the “Incentive Units”) granted during fiscal year 2018, based on the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions on the grant date, as determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which was $0 because the performance conditions associated with the Incentive Units were not deemed probable at the time of grant. The Incentive Units are not designed with a threshold, target or maximum potential payout level; however, our best estimate of the aggregate grant date fair value of the Incentive Units that could have been reported under FASB ASC Topic 718 if the applicable performance conditions had been deemed probable and occur at the grant date would have been $675,910. The Incentive Units are intended to constitute “profits interests” and represent actual (non-voting) equity interests that have no liquidation value for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the date of grant but are designed to gain value only after the underlying assets have realized a certain level of growth and return to those persons who hold certain other classes of equity. We believe that, despite the fact that the Incentive Units do not require the payment of an exercise price, these awards are most similar economically to stock options and, as such, they are properly classified as “options” for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules under the definition provided in Item 402(m)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K since these awards have “option-like features.” The Incentive Units are divided into two classes and each class is further divided into four tiers. For more information on the Incentive Units, see the “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End” table and “—Additional Narrative Disclosures—Incentive Units” below.

 

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(3)

Amounts in this column reflect for the applicable fiscal year: (a) matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan (as defined below) made on behalf of our named executive officers and (b) health and welfare plan premiums paid for the benefit of our named executive officers. See “—Additional Narrative Disclosures—Other Benefits” below for more information on matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan.

(4)

Mr. Williams began serving as our Chief Financial Officer on June 15, 2017. As a result, the amount shown in the “Salary” column for Mr. Williams for fiscal year 2017 reflects amounts earned from June 15, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End

The following table reflects information regarding outstanding equity-based awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2018.

 

      Option Awards (1)  

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable (2)
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable (2)
     Option
Exercise
Price ($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
 

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

           

Series M-1 Incentive Units

     1,200        —          N/A        N/A  

Series M-2 Incentive Units

     1,200        —          N/A        N/A  

Series M-3 Incentive Units

     1,200        —          N/A        N/A  

Series M-4 Incentive Units

     1,200        —          N/A        N/A  

Series Z-1 Incentive Units

     520        130        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-2 Incentive Units

     520        130        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-3 Incentive Units

     520        130        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-4 Incentive Units

     520        130        N/A        N/A  

Robert M. Roosa

           

Series M-1 Incentive Units

     1,000        —          N/A        N/A  

Series M-2 Incentive Units

     1,000        —          N/A        N/A  

Series M-3 Incentive Units

     1,000        —          N/A        N/A  

Series M-4 Incentive Units

     1,000        —          N/A        N/A  

Series Z-1 Incentive Units

     280        70        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-2 Incentive Units

     280        70        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-3 Incentive Units

     280        70        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-4 Incentive Units

     280        70        N/A        N/A  

Blake C. Williams

           

Series M-1 Incentive Units

     41        164        N/A        N/A  

Series M-2 Incentive Units

     41        164        N/A        N/A  

Series M-3 Incentive Units

     41        164        N/A        N/A  

Series M-4 Incentive Units

     41        164        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-1 Incentive Units

     69.2        89.3        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-2 Incentive Units

     69.2        89.3        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-3 Incentive Units

     69.2        89.3        N/A        N/A  

Series Z-4 Incentive Units

     69.2        89.3        N/A        N/A  

 

(1)

This table reflects information regarding Incentive Units granted to our named executive officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2018. For more information on the Incentive Units, see “—Additional Narrative Disclosures—Incentive Units” below.

(2)

Awards reflected as “Exercisable” are Incentive Units that have vested while awards reflected as “Unexercisable” are Incentive Units that have not yet vested.

 

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Additional Narrative Disclosures

Compensation Philosophy

As a general matter, our executive compensation programs are designed to be:

 

   

Performance-Based

   

A significant portion of total compensation will be performance-based.

   

Performance metrics will focus business strategy and corporate objectives on total shareholder return.

   

Awards will be leveraged to achievement of performance goals and the creation of shareholder value.

 

   

Shareholder-Aligned

   

Long-term incentives will be equity-based and will represent a significant portion of the total compensation of executives and other key employees.

   

The design of long-term incentive awards will focus on the creation of shareholder value and encourage retention through the use of multi-year vesting schedules.

 

   

Competitive

   

Our compensation program will be competitive with the market and support the company’s ability to attract and retain key talent.

   

Total compensation will be perceived as fair and equitable, both internally and externally.

 

   

Clear and Well-Communicated

   

Straightforward, transparent compensation programs deliver a strong, clear message.

   

Compensation programs that conform with prevailing market practices and corporate governance standards provide transparency and comfort to shareholders.

   

Appropriately managing risk within the compensation program facilitates the creation of shareholder value.

Following the consummation of this offering, we expect that our named executive officers will receive (i) an annualized base salary, (ii) the grant of equity-based awards (with approximately one-half of such awards subject to time-based vesting conditions and the other one-half of such awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions) and (iii) eligibility to participate in employee benefits on the same basis as our other employees.

Base Salary

Each named executive officer’s base salary is a fixed component of compensation that does not vary depending on the level of performance achieved. Base salaries are determined for each named executive officer based on his position and responsibility. Historically, the board of managers of our predecessor reviewed the base salaries for each named executive officer annually as well as at the time of any promotion or significant change in job responsibilities and, in connection with each review, such board of managers considered individual and company performance over the course of the applicable year.

Effective as of October 1, 2018, the annualized base salary of our named executive officers was set as follows:

 

                     Name                    

   Base Salary  

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

   $ 250,000  

Robert M. Roosa

   $ 500,000  

Blake C. Williams

   $ 350,000  

 

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Cash Bonuses

We do not maintain a formal bonus program for our named executive officers. However, our named executive officers have historically been eligible to receive discretionary bonuses, based in part upon pre-established performance criteria, to recognize their significant contributions and aid in our retention efforts. Historically, the board of managers of our predecessor has determined whether each named executive officer is eligible to receive a cash bonus for a given year and sets the amount of such cash bonus.

Going forward, our named executive officers are not expected to be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus.

Other Benefits

We offer participation in broad-based retirement, health and welfare plans to all of our employees, including our named executive officers who are eligible to participate in such plans on the same basis as all other employees. We maintain a plan intended to provide benefits under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “401(k) Plan”), where employees are allowed to contribute portions of their base compensation into a retirement account in order to encourage all employees, including any participating named executive officers, to save for the future. For the 2018 plan year, we provided an effective matching contribution equal to 100% of the first 6% of an employee’s eligible compensation.

Incentive Units

In 2013 and 2015, each of our named executive officers were granted Incentive Units and in 2018, Mr. Williams was granted Incentive Units, in each case, pursuant to the limited liability company agreement governing Brigham Resources at the time. The Incentive Units are intended to constitute “profits interests” and represent actual (non-voting) equity interests that have no liquidation value for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the date of grant but are designed to gain value only after the underlying assets realize a certain level of growth and return to those persons who hold certain other classes of equity. The Incentive Units are divided into two classes, Series M units and Series Z units. The Series M units granted to our named executive officers in 2013 are fully vested. The Series Z units granted to our named executive officers in 2015 vested as to 20% on the applicable date of grant and an additional 20% on each of the first three anniversaries of such date of grant in 2016, 2017 and 2018, such that the Series Z units granted to our named executive officers in 2015 are 80% vested. The remaining 20% of such Series Z units will vest on the fourth anniversary of the applicable date of grant in 2019, subject to continued employment by us through such vesting date. In addition, in 2018, Mr. Williams was granted additional Incentive Units, specifically 820 Series M units and 384 Series Z units. The Series M and Series Z units granted to Mr. Williams in 2018 vested as to 20% on the applicable date of grant and will vest as to an additional 20% on each of the first four anniversaries of such date of grant, subject to continued employment by us through such vesting dates.

In connection with this offering, Brigham Equity Holdings will undergo a reorganization transaction in order to preserve the economic rights and vesting provisions applicable to the Incentive Units. As a result of such transaction, (i) holders of units other than Incentive Units and holders of vested Incentive Units will receive a number of Brigham LLC Units determined based on the value attributable to such units (assuming all unvested Incentive Units are vested) and (ii) holders of unvested Incentive Units will receive a number of Brigham LLC Units determined in the same manner when and if such Incentive Units vest. In addition, the rights of holders of vested Incentive Units and holders of unvested Incentive Units to a pro rata share of any Brigham LLC Units attributable to unvested Incentive Units that are ultimately forfeited prior to vesting will be preserved. This will be accomplished through Brigham Equity Holdings holding the Brigham LLC Units attributable to unvested Incentive Units until such time as such Incentive Units vest, and the holders of both vested and unvested Incentive Units retaining certain rights in Brigham Equity Holdings.

Compensation Following This Offering

In connection with this offering, we intend to grant our named executive officers equity-based awards under the 2019 Plan (as defined under “—2019 Long Term Incentive Plan” below), which will consist of (i) for Messrs.

 

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Roosa and Williams, restricted stock units subject to time-based vesting (“RSUs”) and (ii) for Messrs. Brigham, Roosa and Williams, restricted stock units subject to performance-based vesting (“PSUs”). Mr. Brigham will only receive PSUs. For Messrs. Roosa and Williams, approximately one-half of the overall value of their equity-based awards will consist of RSUs while the other one-half of the overall value of their equity-based awards will consist of PSUs.

The RSUs are expected to vest in equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the applicable date of grant, so long as the named executive officer remains continuously employed by us through each vesting date. It is anticipated that Mr. Roosa will receive a number of RSUs that have a fair market value on the applicable date of grant equal to at least $2,250,000 while Mr. Williams will receive a number of RSUs that have a fair market value on the applicable date of grant equal to at least $1,000,000, provided that the number of RSUs granted will ultimately depend on the value of our company at the time of grant.

The PSUs will be eligible to be earned based on the total shareholder return (“TSR”) of our company for a three-year performance period, so long as the named executive officer remains continuously employed by us through the end of such performance period (other than Mr. Brigham who must remain continuously employed by us through the end of a two-year service period). Between 0% and 200% of the PSUs are expected to be eligible to be earned based on our achieving an absolute TSR on an annualized basis based on the following pre-established annual return goals:

 

Level of Achievement

  

Pre-Established Annual Return Goal

   Number of PSUs Earned
Threshold    10% annualized return (1.33x)    50%
Target    15% annualized return (1.52x)    100%
Maximum    25% annualized return (1.95x)    200%

In addition, the Administrator (as defined under “—2019 Long Term Incentive Plan” below) will retain discretion to adjust the number of PSUs earned based on our relative TSR as compared to a benchmarking peer group over the three-year performance period. The Administrator may increase the number of PSUs that have been earned by 20% if our TSR is in the top decile of the benchmarking peer group or decrease the number of PSUs that have been earned by 20% if our TSR is in the bottom decile of the benchmarking peer group. It is anticipated that our named executive officers will receive a number of PSUs that have a fair market value on the applicable date of grant, based on target, between (i) $6,000,000 and $7,500,000 for Mr. Brigham, (ii) at least $2,250,000 for Mr. Roosa and (iii) at least $1,000,000 for Mr. Williams, provided that the target number of PSUs granted will ultimately depend on the value of our company at the time of grant.

Once vested or earned, as applicable, the RSUs and PSUs will be settled in shares of our common stock.

2019 Long Term Incentive Plan

In connection with this offering, we intend to adopt an omnibus equity incentive plan, the Brigham Minerals, Inc. 2019 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”), for the employees, consultants and directors of Brigham Minerals and its affiliates who perform services for us. The following description of the 2019 Plan is based on the form we anticipate adopting, but the 2019 Plan has not yet been adopted and the provisions discussed below remain subject to change. As a result, the following description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the final form of the 2019 Plan once adopted.

The 2019 Plan will provide for potential grants of: (i) incentive stock options qualified as such under U.S. federal income tax laws (“incentive options”); (ii) stock options that do not qualify as incentive stock options (“nonstatutory options” and, together with incentive options, “options”); (iii) stock appreciation rights (“SARs”); (iv) restricted stock awards (“restricted stock awards”); (v) restricted stock units (“restricted stock units” or “RSUs”); (vi) bonus stock (“bonus stock awards”); (vii) dividend equivalents; (viii) other stock-based awards;

 

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(ix) cash awards; and (x) substitute awards (referred to collectively herein with the other awards as the “awards”). The vesting, exercise or settlement of awards may be subject to the achievement of one or more performance criteria selected by the Administrator.

Eligibility

Our employees, consultants and non-employee directors, and employees, consultants and non-employee directors of our affiliates, will be eligible to receive awards under the 2019 Plan.

Administration

Our board of directors, or a committee thereof (as applicable, the “Administrator”), will administer the 2019 Plan pursuant to its terms and all applicable state, federal or other rules or laws. The Administrator will have the power to determine to whom and when awards will be granted, determine the amount of awards (measured in cash or in shares of our common stock), proscribe and interpret the terms and provisions of each award agreement (the terms of which may vary), accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an award, delegate duties under the 2019 Plan and execute all other responsibilities permitted or required under the 2019 Plan.

Securities to be Offered

Subject to adjustment in the event of any distribution, recapitalization, split, merger, consolidation or similar corporate event, a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to 12% of our Class A common stock (on a fully diluted basis) outstanding upon the completion of this offering will be available for delivery pursuant to awards under the 2019 Plan. If an award under the 2019 Plan is forfeited, settled for cash or expires without the actual delivery of shares, any shares subject to such award will again be available for new awards under the 2019 Plan.

Types of Awards

Options . We may grant options to eligible persons including: (i) incentive options (only to our employees or those of our subsidiaries) which comply with Section 422 of the Code; and (ii) nonstatutory options. The exercise price of each option granted under the 2019 Plan will be stated in the option agreement and may vary; however, the exercise price for an option must not be less than the fair market value per share of common stock as of the date of grant (or 110% of the fair market value for certain incentive options), nor may the option be re-priced without the prior approval of our stockholders. Options may be exercised as the Administrator determines, but not later than ten years from the date of grant. The Administrator will determine the methods and form of payment for the exercise price of an option (including, in the discretion of the Administrator, payment in common stock, other awards or other property) and the methods and forms in which common stock will be delivered to a participant.

SARs. A SAR is the right to receive a share of common stock, or an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of one share of the common stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR, as determined by the Administrator. The exercise price of a share of common stock subject to the SAR shall be determined by the Administrator, but in no event shall that exercise price be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. The Administrator will have the discretion to determine other terms and conditions of an SAR award.

Restricted stock awards . A restricted stock award is a grant of shares of common stock subject to a risk of forfeiture, performance conditions, restrictions on transferability and any other restrictions imposed by the Administrator in its discretion. Restrictions may lapse at such times and under such circumstances as determined by the Administrator. Except as otherwise provided under the terms of the 2019 Plan or an award agreement, the holder of a restricted stock award will have rights as a stockholder, including the right to vote the common stock

 

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subject to the restricted stock award or to receive dividends on the common stock subject to the restricted stock award during the restriction period. The Administrator shall provide, in the restricted stock award agreement, whether the restricted stock will be forfeited upon certain terminations of employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, common stock distributed in connection with a stock split or stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, will be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the restricted stock award with respect to which such common stock or other property has been distributed.

Restricted stock units . RSUs are rights to receive common stock, cash, or a combination of both at the end of a specified period. The Administrator may subject RSUs to restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) to be specified in the RSU award agreement, and those restrictions may lapse at such times determined by the Administrator. Restricted stock units may be settled by delivery of common stock, cash equal to the fair market value of the specified number of shares of common stock covered by the RSUs, or any combination thereof determined by the Administrator at the date of grant or thereafter. Dividend equivalents on the specified number of shares of common stock covered by RSUs may be paid on a current, deferred or contingent basis, as determined by the Administrator on or following the date of grant.

Bonus stock awards . The Administrator will be authorized to grant common stock as a bonus stock award. The Administrator will determine any terms and conditions applicable to grants of common stock, including performance criteria, if any, associated with a bonus stock award.

Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents entitle a participant to receive cash, common stock, other awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of our common stock, or other periodic payments at the discretion of the Administrator. Dividend equivalents may be granted on a free-standing basis or in connection with another award (other than a restricted stock award or a bonus stock award).

Other Stock-Based Awards . Other stock-based awards are awards denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, the value of our common stock.

Cash Awards . Cash awards may be granted on a free-standing basis, as an element of or a supplement to, or in lieu of any other award.

Substitute Awards . Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other award granted under the 2019 Plan or under another equity incentive plan or any other right of an eligible person to receive payment from us. Awards may also be granted under the 2019 Plan in substitution for similar awards held for individuals who become participants as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity by or with the Company or one of our affiliates.

Certain Transactions

If any change is made to our capitalization, such as a stock split, stock combination, stock dividend, exchange of shares or other recapitalization, merger or otherwise, which results in an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding shares of common stock, appropriate adjustments will be made by the Administrator in the shares subject to an award under the 2019 Plan. The Administrator will also have the discretion to make certain adjustments to awards in the event of a change in control, such as accelerating the vesting or exercisability of awards, requiring the surrender of an award, with or without consideration, or making any other adjustment or modification to the award that the Administrator determines is appropriate in light of such transaction.

Plan Amendment and Termination

Our board of directors may amend or terminate the 2019 Plan at any time; however, stockholder approval will be required for any amendment to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or exchange listing

 

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standards. The Administrator will not have the authority, without the approval of stockholders, to amend any outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right to reduce its exercise price per share. The 2019 Plan will remain in effect for a period of ten years (unless earlier terminated by our board of directors).

Clawback

All awards under the 2019 Plan will be subject to any clawback or recapture policy adopted by the Company, as in effect from time to time.

Director Compensation

Brigham Minerals, the issuer of Class A common stock in this offering, was formed in June 2018. No obligations with respect to compensation for directors have been accrued or paid for any periods following such formation date. Individuals serving on the board of managers of our predecessor did not receive any compensation for their services on such board during fiscal year 2017 or 2018.

Going forward, we believe that attracting and retaining qualified non-employee directors will be critical to the future value growth and governance of our company. We also believe that a significant portion of the total compensation package for our non-employee directors should be equity-based to align the interest of directors with our stockholders.

We are currently reviewing the non-employee director compensation packages provided by certain peer companies and intend to implement a non-employee director compensation program in connection with this offering.

Directors who are also our employees will not receive any additional compensation for their service on our board of directors.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock that, upon the consummation of our corporate reorganization and this offering, will be owned by:

 

   

each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock;

 

   

each of our directors;

 

   

our Named Executive Officers; and

 

   

all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

All information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by the respective 5% or more stockholders, directors or Named Executive Officers, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, the mailing address of each listed beneficial owner is c/o Brigham Minerals, Inc., 5914 W. Courtyard Dr., Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78730.

 

    Shares Beneficially
Owned Before this
Offering
    Shares Beneficially Owned After this Offering (Assuming No
Exercise of the Underwriters’  Option to Purchase Additional
Shares)(2)
 

Name of Beneficial Owner(1)

  Class A Common Stock     Class B Common
Stock
    Combined
Voting Power(3)
 
        Number             %         Number     %     Number     %     Number     %  

5% Shareholders :

               

Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC(4)

                                           

Yorktown Partners LLC(5)

                                           

PBRA, LLC(6)

                                           

Directors and Named Executive Officers :

               

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

                                           

Robert M. Roosa

                                           

Blake C. Williams

                                           

Harold D. Carter

                                           

John A. Holland(7)

                                           

W. Howard Keenan, Jr.(8)

                                           

James R. Levy(7)

                                           

Richard Stoneburner(9)

                                           

John R. Sult

                                           

Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (                     Persons)

                                           

 

(1)

The amounts and percentages of Class A common stock and Class B common stock beneficially owned are reported on the bases of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. Securities that can be so acquired are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing such person’s ownership percentage, but not for purposes of computing any other person’s percentage. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest. Except as otherwise indicated in these footnotes, each of the beneficial owners has, to our knowledge, sole voting and investment power with respect to the indicated shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, except to the extent this power may be shared with a spouse.

 

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(2)

Subject to the terms of the Brigham LLC Agreement, the Existing Owners, subject to certain limitations, will have the right to require Brigham LLC to redeem all or a portion of their Brigham LLC Units for shares of Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit redeemed. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Brigham LLC Agreement.” Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, a person has beneficial ownership of a security as to which that person, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares voting power and/or investment power of such security and as to which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days. The Company has the option to deliver cash in lieu of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise by an Existing Owner of the Redemption Right. As a result, beneficial ownership of Class B common stock and Brigham LLC Units is not reflected as beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock for which such units and stock may be redeemed. The number of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Brigham LLC Units to be issued to the Existing Owners is based on the implied equity value of Brigham LLC immediately prior to this offering, based on an initial public offering price of $            per share of Class A common stock, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. Any increase or decrease of the assumed initial public offering price will result in an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Class A common stock received by the holders of Incentive Units in Brigham LLC, but will not affect the aggregate numbers of shares of Class A common stock held by the Existing Owners. At an assumed public offering price of $             (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), Incentive Unit holders will receive             million shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock. A $1.00 increase in the assumed public offering price would increase the aggregate number of shares to be received by the Incentive Unit holders by             million shares. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed public offering price would decrease the aggregate number of shares to be received by the Incentive Unit holders by            million shares. See “Corporation Reorganization,” “Description of Capital Stock—Class A Common Stock” and “Description of Capital Stock—Class B Common Stock.”

(3)

Represents percentage of voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock voting together as a single class. The Existing Owners will hold one share of Class B common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit that they own. Each share of Class B common stock has no economic rights, but entitles the holder thereof to one vote for each Brigham LLC Unit held by such holder. Accordingly, the Existing Owners collectively have a number of votes in Brigham Minerals equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units that they hold.

(4)

Includes shares that will be collectively owned by certain affiliates of Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC (“Warburg Pincus US”), including: (1) Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPPE E&P XI-A Brigham”), (2) Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WP XI E&P Partners-A Brigham”), (3) Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPPE E&P XI Brigham”), (4) Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WP XI E&P Partners-B Brigham”), (5) WP Brigham Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WP Brigham Holdings”), (6) Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPE E&P-A Brigham”), (7) Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPE E&P Partners-A Brigham”), (8) Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPE E&P Brigham”), (9) Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPE E&P Partners-B Brigham”), (10) WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPE Partners E&P Brigham”), (11) WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPE Brigham Holdings”), and (12) WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPE Partners Brigham Holdings,” and together with the entities in (1) through (11), the “WP Group”).

Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPPE E&P XI-A”), is the sole member of WPPE E&P XI-A Brigham. Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners – A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WP XI E&P Partners-A”), is the sole member of WP XI E&P Partners-A Brigham. Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPE E&P-A”), is the sole and

 

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managing member of WPE E&P-A Brigham. Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPE E&P Partners-A”), is the sole and managing member of WPE E&P Partners-A Brigham. Effective as of July 16, 2018, Brigham Minerals is the sole and managing member of WPPE E&P XI Brigham, WP XI E&P Partners-B Brigham, WPE E&P Brigham, WPE E&P Partners-B Brigham and WPE Partners E&P Brigham. Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Brigham Parent Holding”) is the sole shareholder of Brigham Minerals.

Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WP XI E&P GP”), is the (i) general partner of each of WP Brigham Holdings, WPPE E&P XI-A, WP XI E&P Partners-A and Brigham Parent Holdings. Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WP XI E&P LLC”), is the general partner of WP XI E&P GP. Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WP Partners E&P XI LLC”), is the sole member of WP XI E&P LLC. Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPP II US”), is the managing member of WP Partners E&P XI LLC. Warburg Pincus US is the general partner of WPP II US.

Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WPE E&P GP”), is the general partner of each of WPE Brigham Holdings, WPE Partners Brigham Holdings, WPE E&P-A and WPE E&P Partners-A. Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WPE E&P LLC,” and together with WP XI E&P GP, WP XI E&P LLC, WP Partners E&P XI LLC, WPE E&P GP, WPP II US and Warburg Pincus US, the “Warburg Pincus GP Entities”), is the general partner of WPE E&P GP. WPP II US is the managing member of WPE E&P LLC. As noted above, Warburg Pincus US is the general partner of WPP II US. Warburg Pincus is the manager of each of WP Brigham Holdings, WPPE E&P XI-A, WP XI E&P Partners-A, WPE Brigham Holdings, WPE Partners Brigham Holdings, WPE E&P-A and WPE E&P Partners-A. Charles R. Kaye and Joseph P. Landy are the Managing Members of Warburg Pincus US and the Managing Members and Co-Chief Executive Officers of Warburg Pincus and, as such, may be deemed to control each of the foregoing entities. Messrs. Kaye and Landy disclaim beneficial ownership of all shares held by such entities.

(5)

Includes shares owned by Yorktown Energy Partners IX, L.P. (“Yorktown IX”), shares owned by Yorktown Energy Partners X, L.P. (“Yorktown X”) and shares owned by YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP (“YT Brigham” and together with Yorktown IX and Yorktown X, each, a “Yorktown Fund”).

Yorktown IX Company LP is the sole general partner of Yorktown IX. Yorktown IX Associates LLC is the sole general partner of Yorktown IX Company LP. As a result, Yorktown IX Associates LLC may be deemed to share the power to vote or direct the vote or to dispose or direct the disposition of the common stock owned by Yorktown IX. Yorktown IX Company LP and Yorktown IX Associates LLC disclaim beneficial ownership of the common stock held by Yorktown IX in excess of their pecuniary interest therein. W. Howard Keenan, Jr. is a manager of Yorktown IX Associates LLC. Mr. Keenan disclaims beneficial ownership of the common stock held by Yorktown IX. None of Yorktown IX Associates LLC, Yorktown IX Company LP or Yorktown IX beneficially owns any of the common stock held by any other

Yorktown Fund. Yorktown X Company LP is the sole general partner of Yorktown X.

Yorktown X Associates LLC is the sole general partner of Yorktown X Company LP. As a result, Yorktown X Associates LLC may be deemed to share the power to vote or direct the vote or to dispose or direct the disposition of the common stock owned by Yorktown X. Yorktown X Company LP and Yorktown X Associates LLC disclaim beneficial ownership of the common stock held by Yorktown X in excess of their pecuniary interest therein. W. Howard Keenan, Jr. is a manager of Yorktown X Associates LLC. Mr. Keenan disclaims beneficial ownership of the common stock held by Yorktown X. None of Yorktown X Associates LLC, Yorktown X Company LP or Yorktown X beneficially owns any of the common stock held by any other Yorktown Fund.

YT Brigham Company LP is the sole general partner of YT Brigham. YT Brigham Associates LLC is the sole general partner of YT Brigham Company LP. As a result, YT Brigham Associates LLC may be deemed to share the power to vote or direct the vote or to dispose or direct the disposition of the common stock owned by YT Brigham. YT Brigham Company LP and YT Brigham Associates LLC disclaim beneficial

 

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ownership of the common stock held by YT Brigham in excess of their pecuniary interest therein. W. Howard Keenan, Jr. is a manager of YT Brigham Associates LLC. Mr. Keenan disclaims beneficial ownership of the common stock held by YT Brigham. None of YT Brigham Company LP, YT Brigham Associates LLC or YT Brigham beneficially owns any of the common stock held by any other Yorktown Fund.

 

(6)

Consists of shares of common stock held indirectly by Pine Brook Capital Partners II, L.P. (“Pine Brook Fund II”). Pine Brook Road Associates II, L.P. is the general partner of Pine Brook Fund II. Pine Brook Road Advisors, L.P., acting through an affiliate, serves as investment manager to Pine Brook Fund II. PBRA, LLC controls both Pine Brook Road Associates II, L.P. and Pine Brook Road Advisors, L.P. Howard Newman is the sole member of PBRA, LLC and has investment and voting control over the shares held or controlled by Pine Brook Fund II. The address of each of the entities identified in this note is c/o Pine Brook Road Partners, LLC, 60 East 42nd Street, 50th Floor, New York, NY 10165. Howard Newman, PBRA, LLC, Pine Brook Road Associates II, L.P. and Pine Brook Road Advisors, L.P. each disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein, if any.

(7)

All shares of common stock indicated as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person are included because of his affiliation with Warburg Pincus, due to which the Reporting Person may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) in an indeterminate portion of the shares of common stock owned by Warburg Pincus and its affiliated entities. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of common stock attributable to Warburg Pincus and its affiliated entities except to the extent of his direct pecuniary interest therein. See “Management—Directors and Executive Officers” for a description of the Reporting Person’s affiliation with Warburg Pincus.

(8)

All shares of common stock indicated as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person are included because of his affiliation with Yorktown, due to which the Reporting Person may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) in an indeterminate portion of the shares of common stock owned by Yorktown and its affiliated entities. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of common stock attributable to Yorktown and its affiliated entities except to the extent of his direct pecuniary interest therein. See “Management—Directors and Executive Officers” for a description of the Reporting Person’s affiliation with Yorktown.

(9)

All shares of common stock indicated as indirectly owned by the Reporting Person are included because of his affiliation with Pine Brook, due to which the Reporting Person may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) in an indeterminate portion of the shares of common stock owned by Pine Brook and its affiliated entities. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of common stock attributable to Pine Brook and its affiliated entities except to the extent of his direct pecuniary interest therein. See “Management—Directors and Executive Officers” for a description of the Reporting Person’s affiliation with Pine Brook.

 

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CORPORATE REORGANIZATION

Corporate Restructuring

Brigham Minerals was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in June 2018 by an affiliate of Warburg Pincus. Brigham Minerals and certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus, Yorktown and Pine Brook, our management and our other Existing Owners currently, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals, own all of the membership interests in Brigham Equity Holdings, which in turn indirectly owns all of the outstanding membership interests in the Minerals Subsidiaries.

Brigham Minerals acquired an indirect interest in Brigham Resources on July 16, 2018, in a series of restructuring transactions that are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the July 2018 restructuring. In the July 2018 restructuring, certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus contributed all of their respective interests in certain wholly owned “blocker” entities through which they held interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. The contribution agreement effecting the July 2018 restructuring is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. As a result of the July 2018 restructuring, Brigham Minerals became wholly owned by an entity affiliated with Warburg Pincus, and Brigham Minerals indirectly owned a membership interest in Brigham Resources. The other Existing Owners held all of the remaining outstanding membership interests of Brigham Resources.

On November 20, 2018, Brigham Resources underwent a second series of restructuring transactions that are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the November 2018 restructuring. In the November 2018 restructuring, Brigham Resources became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Equity Holdings, and Brigham Equity Holdings became wholly owned by the Existing Owners, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals. As a result of the foregoing transactions, there was no change in the control or economic interests of the Existing Owners in Brigham Resources, although their ownership became indirect through Brigham Equity Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary, Brigham LLC.

Following this offering and the reorganization transactions described below, Brigham Minerals will be a holding company whose sole material asset will consist of direct and indirect membership interests of Brigham LLC, which will wholly own Brigham Resources. Brigham Resources will continue to wholly own the Minerals Subsidiaries, which own all of our operating assets. After the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this prospectus, Brigham Minerals will be the sole managing member of Brigham LLC and will be responsible for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to Brigham LLC’s business.

Prior to our corporate reorganization, all of the interests in Brigham Operating will be distributed, directly or indirectly, to the Existing Owners. As a result, neither Brigham Minerals nor Brigham LLC will own any direct or indirect interest in Brigham Operating at the time of the offering.

In connection with this offering,

 

   

Brigham Equity Holdings will distribute all of its equity interests in Brigham LLC, other than its interests in Brigham LLC attributable to certain unvested incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, to the Existing Owners and Brigham Minerals (which will result in the ownership in Brigham LLC of our Existing Owners with respect to unvested incentive units remaining consolidated in Brigham Equity Holdings);

 

   

all of the outstanding membership interests in Brigham LLC held by the Existing Owners will be converted into a single class of common units in Brigham LLC, which we refer to in this prospectus as Brigham LLC Units;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will issue              shares of Class A common stock to purchasers in this offering in exchange for the proceeds of this offering;

 

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Following the restructuring, each Brigham Unit Holder, other than Brigham Minerals and its subsidiaries, will receive a number of shares of Class B common stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such Brigham Unit Holder following this offering; and

 

   

Brigham Minerals will contribute the net proceeds of this offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units such that Brigham Minerals holds a total number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding following this offering.

After giving effect to these transactions and this offering and assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is not exercised:

 

   

the Existing Owners will own all of our Class B common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

the Existing Owners will own              shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

investors in this offering will own              shares, or      %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC; and

 

   

the Existing Owners will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full:

 

   

the Existing Owners will own all of our Class B common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

the Existing Owners will own              shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

investors in this offering will own             shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC; and

 

   

the Existing Owners will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC.

Each share of Class B common stock has no economic rights but entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by our stockholders, generally. Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. We do not intend to list Class B common stock on any stock exchange.

Following this offering, under the Brigham LLC Agreement, each Brigham Unit Holder will, subject to certain limitations, have a Redemption Right to cause Brigham LLC to acquire all or a portion of its Brigham LLC Units for, at Brigham LLC’s election, (i) shares of our Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification and other similar transactions or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. We will determine whether to issue shares of Class A common stock or cash based on facts in existence at the time of the decision, which we expect would include the relative value of the Class A common stock (including trading prices for the Class A common stock at the time), the cash purchase price, the availability of other sources of liquidity (such as an issuance of preferred stock) to acquire the Brigham LLC Units and alternative uses for such cash. Alternatively, upon the exercise of the Redemption Right, Brigham Minerals (instead of Brigham LLC) will have a Call Right to, for administrative convenience, acquire each tendered Brigham LLC Unit directly from the redeeming Brigham Unit Holder for, at its election, (x) one share of Class A common stock or (y) an equivalent amount of cash. In connection with any redemption of Brigham LLC Units pursuant to the Redemption Right or acquisition pursuant to our Call Right, the corresponding number of shares

 

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of Class B common stock will be cancelled. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Brigham LLC Agreement.” The Existing Owners will have the right, under certain circumstances, to cause us to register the offer and resale of their shares of Class A common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

The following diagram indicates our simplified ownership structure immediately following this offering and the transactions related thereto (assuming that the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is not exercised):

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Certain of the interests of our management in Brigham LLC will be held indirectly through Brigham Equity Holdings. Brigham Equity Holdings will directly own              Brigham LLC Units, representing an approximate         % interest in Brigham LLC. See “—Existing Owners’ Ownership” for a discussion of the interests held by the Existing Owners.

 

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Existing Owners’ Ownership

The table below sets forth the percentage ownership of the Existing Owners prior to this offering and after the consummation of this offering.

 

     Percentage
Ownership in
Brigham Minerals
Prior to this
Offering
     Percentage
Ownership in
Brigham LLC
Prior to this
Offering(2)
    Equity Interests Following this Offering  

Existing Owners(1)

  Brigham
LLC Units
     Class A
Common
Stock
     Class B
Common
Stock
     Combined
Voting
Power (%)
 

Warburg Pincus

                              

Yorktown

                              

Pine Brook

                              

Other executive officers

                              

Other employees

                              

Other investors

                                                                                          
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
        100.0                  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

The number of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Brigham LLC Units to be issued to the Existing Owners is based on the implied equity value of Brigham LLC immediately prior to this offering, based on the initial public offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock (which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus). At the initial public offering price of $             , Incentive Unit holders will receive approximately            million shares of Class A common stock.

(2)

Includes Brigham LLC Units received with respect to the conversion of vested Incentive Units.

Offering

Only Class A common stock will be sold to investors in this offering. Immediately following this offering, there will be              shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding and              shares of Class A common stock reserved for redemptions of Brigham LLC Units and shares of Class B common stock pursuant to the Brigham LLC Agreement. We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering related expenses, will be approximately $             million. We intend to contribute all of the net proceeds from this offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for Brigham LLC Units. Brigham LLC will use the net proceeds to partially repay the outstanding indebtedness under our term loan facility and the remaining net proceeds to fund our future mineral and royalty acquisitions.

As a result of our corporate reorganization and the offering described above (and prior to any redemptions of Brigham LLC Units):

 

   

the investors in this offering will collectively own              shares of Class A common stock (or              shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares);

 

   

the Existing Owners will hold              shares of Class A common stock;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will hold             Brigham LLC Units;

 

   

the Existing Owners will hold                  shares of Class B common stock and a corresponding number of Brigham LLC Units;

 

   

assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, the investors in this offering will collectively hold     % of the voting power in us (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares); and

 

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assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, the Existing Owners will hold     % of the voting power in us (or     % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).

Holding Company Structure

Our post-offering organizational structure will allow certain Existing Owners to retain their equity ownership in Brigham LLC, a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investors in this offering and other Existing Owners will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in the form of shares of Class A common stock in Brigham Minerals, and Brigham Minerals is classified as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Existing Owners and Brigham Minerals will generally incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any taxable income of Brigham LLC.

In addition, pursuant to Brigham Minerals’ certificate of incorporation and the Brigham LLC Agreement, Brigham Minerals’ capital structure and the capital structure of Brigham LLC will generally replicate one another and will provide for customary antidilution mechanisms in order to maintain the one-for-one redemption ratio between the Brigham LLC Units and Brigham Minerals’ Class A common stock, among other things.

The holders of Brigham LLC Units, including Brigham Minerals, will generally incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any taxable income of Brigham LLC and will be allocated their proportionate share of any taxable loss of Brigham LLC. The Brigham LLC Agreement will provide, to the extent cash is available, for distributions pro rata to the holders of Brigham LLC Units in an amount generally intended to allow such holders to satisfy their respective income tax liabilities with respect to their allocable share of the income of Brigham LLC, based on certain assumptions and conventions, provided that the distribution will be sufficient to allow Brigham Minerals to satisfy its actual tax liabilities.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Historical Transactions with Affiliates

Sponsor Contributions

For the three years ended December 31, 2018, we drew a total of approximately $163.0 million in capital contributions from our Sponsors to fund our operations. After our corporate reorganization, our Sponsors will have no further capital commitments.

Other Transactions with Affiliates

Brigham Land Management (“BLM”) provides the Company with land brokerage services. The services are provided at market prices and are periodically verified by third party quotes. BLM is owned by Vince Brigham, an advisor to the Company and brother of Ben M. Brigham, founder of the Company and Executive Chairman of the Board. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company paid BLM $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, for land brokerage services. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the liabilities recorded for services performed by BLM during the respective periods were immaterial.

Brigham Exploration Company (“BEXP”), owned by Ben M. Brigham, leases some of the Company’s acreage at market rates. For the year ended December 31, 2017, BEXP paid the Company $0.6 million. There were no payments for the year ended December 31, 2018.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company borrowed $7.0 million from Brigham Operating at an interest rate of 7.0% which loan was repaid prior to September 30, 2018.

Brigham LLC Agreement

The Brigham LLC Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and the following description of the Brigham LLC Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

In accordance with the terms of the Brigham LLC Agreement, pursuant to the Redemption Right, the Brigham Unit Holders will generally have the right to require Brigham LLC to redeem their Brigham LLC Units for, at Brigham LLC’s election, (i) shares of our Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications and other similar transactions or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. Alternatively, upon the exercise of the Redemption Right, Brigham Minerals (instead of Brigham LLC) will have the right under its Call Right to, for administrative convenience, acquire the tendered Brigham LLC Units directly from the tending Brigham Unit Holder by paying, at its option, either (i) the number of shares of Class A common stock such Existing Owner would have received in the proposed redemption or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. The Brigham Unit Holders will be permitted to redeem their Brigham LLC Units for shares of our Class A common stock on a quarterly basis, subject to certain de minimis allowances. In addition, any redemptions involving                  or more Brigham LLC Units (subject to the discretion of Brigham Minerals to permit redemptions of a lower number of units) may occur at any time. As the Brigham Unit Holders redeem their Brigham LLC Units, our membership interest in Brigham LLC will be correspondingly increased, the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding will be increased, and the number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding will be reduced.

Under the Brigham LLC Agreement, subject to the obligation of Brigham LLC to make tax distributions and to reimburse Brigham Minerals for its corporate and other overhead expenses, Brigham Minerals will have the right to determine when distributions will be made to the holders of Brigham LLC Units and the amount of any

 

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such distributions. Following this offering, if Brigham Minerals authorizes a distribution, such distribution will be made to the holders of Brigham LLC Units on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective percentage ownership of Brigham LLC Units.

The holders of Brigham LLC Units, including Brigham Minerals, will generally incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any taxable income of Brigham LLC and will be allocated their proportionate share of any taxable loss of Brigham LLC. Net profits and net losses of Brigham LLC generally will be allocated to holders of Brigham LLC Units on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective percentage ownership of Brigham LLC Units, except that certain non-pro rata adjustments will be required to be made to reflect built-in gains and losses and tax depletion, depreciation and amortization with respect to such built-in gains and losses. The Brigham LLC Agreement will provide, to the extent cash is available, for pro rata distributions to the holders of Brigham LLC Units in an amount generally intended to allow such holders to satisfy their respective income tax liabilities with respect to their allocable share of the income of Brigham LLC, based on certain assumptions and conventions, provided that the distribution will be sufficient to allow Brigham Minerals to satisfy its actual tax liabilities.

The Brigham LLC Agreement will provide that, except as otherwise determined by us or in connection with the exercise of Brigham Minerals’ Call Right, at any time Brigham Minerals issues a share of its Class A common stock or any other equity security, the net proceeds received by Brigham Minerals with respect to such issuance, if any, shall be concurrently invested in Brigham LLC, and Brigham LLC shall issue to Brigham Minerals one Brigham LLC Unit or other economically equivalent equity interest. Conversely, if at any time any shares of Brigham Minerals’ Class A common stock are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired, Brigham LLC shall redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire an equal number of Brigham LLC Units held by Brigham Minerals, upon the same terms and for the same price, as the shares of our Class A common stock are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired.

Under the Brigham LLC Agreement, the members have agreed that the Existing Owners and/or one or more of their affiliates will be permitted to engage in business activities or invest in or acquire businesses that may compete with our business or do business with any client of ours.

Brigham LLC will be dissolved only upon the first to occur of (i) the sale of substantially all of its assets or (ii) an election by us to dissolve the company. Upon dissolution, Brigham LLC will be liquidated and the proceeds from any liquidation will be applied and distributed in the following manner: (i) first, to creditors (including to the extent permitted by law, creditors who are members) in satisfaction of the liabilities of Brigham LLC, (ii) second, to establish cash reserves for contingent or unforeseen liabilities and (iii) third, to the members in proportion to the number of Brigham LLC Units owned by each of them.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the closing of this offering, we will enter into a registration rights agreement with the Existing Owners (the “Initial Holders”). Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, we have agreed to register the sale of shares of our Class A common stock under certain circumstances.

Demand Rights

At any time after the lock-up period described in “Underwriting,” and subject to the limitations set forth below, any Initial Holder (or its permitted transferees) has the right to require us by written notice to prepare and file a registration statement registering the offer and sale of a certain number of its shares of Class A common stock. Generally, we are required to file such registration statement within 30 days of such written notice. Subject to certain exceptions, we will not be obligated to effect a demand registration within 90 days after the closing of any underwritten offering of shares of our Class A common stock requested by an Initial Holder.

 

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We are also not obligated to effect any demand registration in which the amount of Class A common stock to be registered has an aggregate value of less than $50 million. Once we are eligible to effect a registration on Form S-3, any such demand registration may be for a shelf registration statement. We will be required to use all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of any such registration statement until all shares covered by such registration statement have been sold.

In addition, any Initial Holder (or its permitted transferees) then able to effectuate a demand registration has the right to require us, subject to certain limitations, to effect a distribution of any or all of its shares of Class A common stock by means of an underwritten offering.

Piggyback Rights

Subject to certain exceptions, if at any time we propose to register an offering of Class A common stock or conduct an underwritten offering, whether or not for our own account, then we must notify the Initial Holders (or their permitted transferees) of such proposal (i) at least five business days before the anticipated filing date (in the case of the registration of an offering) or (ii) reasonably in advance of commencement (in the case of an underwritten offering), to allow them to include a specified number of their shares in that registration statement or underwritten offering, as applicable.

Conditions and Limitations; Expenses

These registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares to be included in a registration and our right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances. We will generally pay all registration expenses in connection with our obligations under the registration rights agreement, regardless of whether a registration statement is filed or becomes effective.

Stockholders’ Agreement

In connection with this offering, we will enter into a stockholders’ agreement with the Sponsors. Among other things, the stockholders’ agreement will provide the right to designate nominees to our board of directors as follows:

 

   

so long as Warburg Pincus and its affiliates collectively own at least 15% of our Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class), Warburg Pincus can designate up to two nominees to our board of directors;

 

   

so long as Warburg Pincus and its affiliates collectively own at least 7.5% but less than 15% of our Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class), Warburg Pincus can designate one director to our board of directors;

 

   

so long as Pine Brook and its affiliates collectively own at least 7.5% of our Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class), Pine Brook can designate one nominee to our board of directors; and

 

   

so long as Yorktown and its affiliates collectively own at least 7.5% of our Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class), Yorktown can designate one nominee to our board of directors.

Pursuant to the stockholders’ agreement, we will be required to take all necessary actions, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including with respect to any fiduciary duties under Delaware law), to cause the election of the nominees designated by the Sponsors. Each of Warburg Pincus, Pine Brook and Yorktown will be entitled to designate the replacement for any of their respective board designees whose board service terminates prior to the end of such director’s term.

In addition, the stockholders’ agreement will provide that for so long as any Sponsor and its affiliates collectively own at least 7.5% of the outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a

 

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single class), we will be required to take all necessary actions to cause each of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee to include in its membership at least one director designated by each such Sponsor, except to the extent that such membership would violate applicable securities laws or stock exchange rules. The rights granted to the Sponsors to designate directors are additive to and not intended to limit in any way the rights that the Sponsors or any of their respective affiliates may have to nominate, elect or remove our directors under our certificate of incorporation, bylaws or the DGCL.

Furthermore, so long as the Sponsors and their respective affiliates collectively own at least 30% of the outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class), we have agreed not to take, and will cause our subsidiaries not to take, the following actions (or enter into an agreement to take such actions) without the prior consent of a majority of the shares of Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class) beneficially owned by the Sponsors and their respective affiliates, subject to certain exceptions:

 

   

commencing or consenting to any case or proceeding of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding;

 

   

increasing or decreasing the size of our board of directors; and

 

   

any amendment, modification or waiver of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws.

 

Furthermore, so long as the Sponsors and their respective affiliates collectively own at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class), we have agreed not to take, and will cause our subsidiaries not to take, the following actions (or enter into an agreement to take such actions) without the prior consent of a majority of the shares of Class A and Class B common stock (taken as a single class) beneficially owned by the Sponsors and their respective affiliates:

 

   

consummate any acquisition for consideration of greater than $150 million; and

 

   

any issuance of preferred or senior equity securities.

Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions

Prior to the closing of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a policy for approval of Related Party Transactions. A “Related Party Transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we or any of our subsidiaries was, is or will be a participant, the amount of which involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A “Related Person” means:

 

   

any person who is, or at any time during the applicable period was, one of our executive officers or one of our directors;

 

   

any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock;

 

   

any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of a director, executive officer or a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock; and

 

   

any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest.

We anticipate that our board of directors will adopt a written related party transactions policy prior to the completion of this offering. Pursuant to this policy, we expect that our audit committee will review all material facts of all Related Party Transactions.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Upon completion of this offering, the authorized capital stock of Brigham Minerals will consist of             shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which             shares will be issued and outstanding, of             shares of Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which             shares will be issued and outstanding, and             shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which no shares will be issued and outstanding.

The following summary of the capital stock and amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws of Brigham Minerals does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Class A Common Stock

Voting Rights . Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Class A common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

Dividend Rights . Subject to prior rights and preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares or series of preferred stock, holders of Class A common stock are entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the shares of Class A common stock held by them such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments.

Liquidation Rights . Upon our liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or other winding up, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to receive ratably the assets available for distribution to the stockholders after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any of our outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Other Matters . The shares of Class A common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights and are not subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our Class A common stock. In connection with this offering, our legal counsel will opine that, subject to the qualifications and limitations stated in such opinion, the shares of our Class A common stock to be issued pursuant to this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. A copy of such opinion of our legal counsel, including a discussion of the qualifications and limitations thereto, is included as Exhibit 5.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Class B Common Stock

Generally . In connection with the reorganization and this offering, each Existing Owner will receive one share of Class B common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit that it holds. Shares of Class B common stock will not be transferrable except in connection with a permitted transfer of a corresponding number of Brigham LLC Units. Accordingly, each Existing Owner will have a number of votes in Brigham Minerals equal to the aggregate number of Brigham LLC Units that it holds.

Voting Rights . Holders of shares of our Class B common stock are entitled to one vote per share held of record on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock and

 

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Class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except with respect to the amendment of certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class B common stock so as to affect them adversely, which amendments must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the shares affected by the amendment, voting as a separate class, or as otherwise required by applicable law.

Dividend Rights . Holders of our Class B common stock do not have any right to receive dividends, unless the dividend consists of shares of our Class B common stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or redeemable for shares of Class B common stock paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of our Class B common stock and a dividend consisting of shares of Class A common stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or redeemable for shares of Class A common stock on the same terms is simultaneously paid to the holders of Class A common stock.

Liquidation Rights . Holders of our Class B common stock do not have any right to receive a distribution upon a liquidation or winding up of Brigham Minerals.

Preferred Stock

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize our board of directors, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further stockholder approval, to establish and to issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, covering up to an aggregate of            shares of preferred stock. Each class or series of preferred stock will cover the number of shares and will have the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions determined by the board of directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, voting rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights and redemption rights. Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law

Some provisions of Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisitions of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.

These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection and our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Delaware Law

We will elect not to be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. In general, those provisions prohibit a Delaware corporation, including those whose securities are listed for

 

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trading on the NYSE, from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

the transaction is approved by the board of directors before the date the interested stockholder attained that status;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or

 

   

on or after such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Our Amended and Restated Bylaws

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective upon the closing of this offering, may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Some of these provisions will not apply until our Sponsors and their respective affiliates no longer collectively beneficially own (or otherwise have the right to vote or direct the vote of) more than 50% of our outstanding shares of common stock (the Trigger Event), as described below. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our Class A common stock.

Among other things, upon the completion of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will:

 

   

establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. Our amended and restated bylaws specify the requirements as to form and content of all stockholders’ notices. These requirements may preclude stockholders from bringing matters before the stockholders at an annual or special meeting;

 

   

provide our board of directors the ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock. This ability makes it possible for our board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company;

 

   

provide that the authorized number of directors constituting our board of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law or, if applicable, the rights of holders of a series of our preferred stock, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office, even if less than a quorum (prior to such time, vacancies may also be filled by stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares);

 

   

provide that our bylaws can be amended by the board of directors;

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders, subject to the rights of the holders of any

 

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series of our preferred stock with respect to such series (prior to such time, such actions may be taken without a meeting by written consent of holders of common stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize such action at a meeting);

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of our then outstanding shares of common stock (prior to such time, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our then outstanding shares of common stock);

 

   

provide that, after the Trigger Event, special meetings of our stockholders may only be called by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of directors serving at the time of such vote (prior to such time, a special meeting may also be called at the request of our stockholders holding a majority of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors voting together as a single class);

 

   

provide for our board of directors to be divided into three classes of directors, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered three-year terms, other than directors that may be elected by holders of our preferred stock, if any. This system of electing and removing directors may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors;

 

   

provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in voting power of all then outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to remove any or all of the directors from office, and such removal may only be for “cause”; and

 

   

prohibit cumulative voting on all matters.

Corporate Opportunity

Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, to the extent permitted by law:

 

   

our Sponsors and their affiliates have the right to, and have no duty to abstain from, exercising such right to, conduct business with any business that is competitive or in the same line of business as us, do business with any of our clients or customers, or invest or own any interest publicly or privately in, or develop a business relationship with, any business that is competitive or in the same line of business as us;

 

   

if our Sponsors or their affiliates acquire knowledge of a potential transaction that could be a corporate opportunity, they have no duty to offer such corporate opportunity to us; and

 

   

we have renounced any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, such corporate opportunities.

Forum Selection

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for:

 

   

any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;

 

   

any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders;

 

   

any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee of ours arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; or

 

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any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee of ours that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and to have consented to, this forum selection provision. Although we believe these provisions will benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, employees and agents. This provision would not apply to claims brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, the enforceability of similar exclusive forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with one or more actions or proceedings described above, a court could rule that this provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is inapplicable or unenforceable.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL. Delaware law provides that directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:

 

   

for any breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

for unlawful payment of dividend or unlawful stock repurchase or redemption, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment, repeal or modification of these provisions will be prospective only and would not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions that occurred prior to any such amendment, repeal or modification.

Our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our amended and restated bylaws also will permit us to purchase insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of that person’s actions as our officer, director, employee or agent, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our current and future directors and officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We believe that the limitation of liability provision that will be in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the indemnification agreements will facilitate our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.

Registration Rights

For a description of registration rights with respect to our Class A common stock, see the information under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

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Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Listing

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “MNRL.”

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our Class A common stock. Future sales of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the availability of such shares for sale in the public market, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock prevailing from time to time. As described below, only a limited number of shares will be available for sale shortly after this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale. Nevertheless, sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market after such restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our Class A common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity-related capital at a time and price we deem appropriate.

Sales of Restricted Shares

Upon the closing of this offering, we will have outstanding an aggregate of              shares of Class A common stock. Of these shares, all of the             shares of Class A common stock (or              shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised) to be sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless the shares are held by any of our “affiliates” as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All remaining shares of Class A common stock held by existing stockholders will be deemed “restricted securities” as such term is defined under Rule 144. The restricted securities were issued and sold by us in private transactions and are eligible for public sale only if registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, which rules are summarized below.

In addition, subject to certain limitations and exceptions, pursuant to the terms of the Brigham LLC Agreement, the Existing Owners will each have the right to redeem all or a portion of their Brigham LLC Units for Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications, or, at our election, an equivalent amount of cash. Upon consummation of this offering, the Existing Owners will hold Brigham LLC Units, all of which will be redeemable for shares of our Class A common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Brigham LLC Agreement.” The shares of Class A common stock we issue upon such redemptions would be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 described below. However, upon the closing of this offering, we intend to enter into a registration rights agreement with the Existing Owners that will require us to register under the Securities Act these shares of Class A common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

As a result of the lock-up agreements described below and the provisions of Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act, the shares of our Class A common stock (excluding the shares to be sold in this offering) that will be available for sale in the public market are as follows:

 

   

no shares will be eligible for sale on the date of this prospectus or prior to 180 days after the date of this prospectus; and

 

   

shares will be eligible for sale upon the expiration of the lock-up agreements, beginning 180 days after the date of this prospectus when permitted under Rule 144 or Rule 701; and

 

   

shares will be eligible for sale, upon exercise of vested options, upon the expiration of the lock-up agreements, beginning 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

Lock-up Agreements

We, all of our directors and executive officers and certain of our stockholders and employees have agreed or will agree that, subject to certain exceptions and under certain conditions, for a period of 180 days after the date

 

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of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, dispose of or hedge any shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock. See “Underwriting” for a description of these lock-up provisions.

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144 under the Securities Act as currently in effect, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months (including any period of consecutive ownership of preceding non-affiliated holders) would be entitled to sell those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliated person (who has been unaffiliated for at least the past three months) who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least one year would be entitled to sell those shares without regard to the provisions of Rule 144.

A person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is deemed to be an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of one percent of the then outstanding shares of our Class A common stock or the average weekly trading volume of shares of our Class A common stock reported through the NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of notice of the sale. Such sales are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701 under the Securities Act, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who purchase or otherwise receive shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of this offering are entitled to sell such shares 90 days after the effective date of this offering in reliance on Rule 144, without having to comply with the holding period requirement of Rule 144 and, in the case of non-affiliates, without having to comply with the public information, volume limitation or notice filing provisions of Rule 144. The SEC has indicated that Rule 701 will apply to typical stock options granted by an issuer before it becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, along with the shares acquired upon exercise of such options, including exercises after the date of this prospectus.

Stock Issued Under Employee Plans

We intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register shares issuable under our long-term incentive plan. This registration statement on Form S-8 is expected to be filed following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and will be effective upon filing. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement may be made available for sale in the open market following the effective date, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us, Rule 144 restrictions applicable to our affiliates or the lock-up restrictions described above.

Registration Rights

For a description of registration rights with respect to our Class A common stock, see the information under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the acquisition and holding of shares of common stock by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA), non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plans that are not subject to the foregoing but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a “Plan”).

This summary is based on the provisions of ERISA and the Code (and related regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations) as of the date of this registration statement. This summary does not purport to be complete, and no assurance can be given that future legislation, court decisions, regulations, rulings or pronouncements will not significantly modify the requirements summarized below. Any of these changes may be retroactive and may thereby apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment or release. This discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive, nor should it be construed as investment or legal advice.

General Fiduciary Matters

ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of an ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.

In considering an investment in shares of common stock with a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should consider the Plan’s particular circumstances and all of the facts and circumstances of the investment and determine whether the acquisition and holding of shares of common stock is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, or any Similar Law relating to the fiduciary’s duties to the Plan, including, without limitation:

 

   

whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws;

 

   

whether, in making the investment, the ERISA Plan will satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws;

 

   

whether the investment is permitted under the terms of the applicable documents governing the Plan;

 

   

whether the acquisition or holding of the shares of common stock will constitute a “prohibited transaction” under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (please see discussion under “—Prohibited Transaction Issues” below); and

 

   

whether the Plan will be considered to hold, as plan assets, (i) only shares of common stock or (ii) an undivided interest in our underlying assets (please see the discussion under “—Plan Asset Issues” below).

Prohibited Transaction Issues

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of

 

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ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that engages in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes, penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. The acquisition and/or holding of shares of common stock by an ERISA Plan with respect to which the issuer, the initial purchaser or a guarantor is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption.

Because of the foregoing, shares of common stock should not be acquired or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan unless such acquisition and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or a similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

Plan Asset Issues

Additionally, a fiduciary of a Plan should consider whether the Plan will, by investing in us, be deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that we would become a fiduciary of the Plan and our operations would be subject to the regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules of the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.

The Department of Labor (the “DOL”) regulations provide guidance with respect to whether the assets of an entity in which ERISA Plans acquire equity interests would be deemed “plan assets” under some circumstances. Under these regulations, an entity’s assets generally would not be considered to be “plan assets” if, among other things:

 

  (a)

the equity interests acquired by ERISA Plans are “publicly-offered securities” (as defined in the DOL regulations)—i.e., the equity interests are part of a class of securities that is widely held by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and each other, are freely transferable, and are either registered under certain provisions of the federal securities laws or sold to the ERISA Plan as part of a public offering under certain conditions;

 

  (b)

the entity is an “operating company” (as defined in the DOL regulations)—i.e., it is primarily engaged in the production or sale of a product or service, other than the investment of capital, either directly or through a majority-owned subsidiary or subsidiaries; or

 

  (c)

there is no significant investment by “benefit plan investors” (as defined in the DOL regulations)—i.e., immediately after the most recent acquisition by an ERISA Plan of any equity interest in the entity, less than 25% of the total value of each class of equity interest (disregarding certain interests held by persons (other than benefit plan investors) with discretionary authority or control over the assets of the entity or who provide investment advice for a fee (direct or indirect) with respect to such assets, and any affiliates thereof) is held by ERISA Plans, IRAs and certain other Plans (but not including governmental plans, foreign plans and certain church plans), and entities whose underlying assets are deemed to include plan assets by reason of a Plan’s investment in the entity.

 

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Due to the complexity of these rules and the excise taxes, penalties and liabilities that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries, or other persons considering acquiring and/or holding shares of our common stock on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment and whether an exemption would be applicable to the acquisition and holding of shares of common stock. Purchasers of shares of common stock have the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their acquisition and holding of shares of common stock complies with the fiduciary responsibility rules of ERISA and does not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or applicable Similar Laws. The sale of shares of common stock to a Plan is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such Plan or that such investment is appropriate for any such Plan.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock by a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) that holds our Class A common stock as a “capital asset” (generally property held for investment). This summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements and conclusions.

This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances. In addition, this summary does not address the Medicare tax on certain investment income, U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws, any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or any tax treaties. This summary also does not address tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:

 

   

banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions;

 

   

tax-exempt or governmental organizations;

 

   

qualified foreign pension funds (or any entities all of the interests of which are held by a qualified foreign pension fund);

 

   

dealers in securities or foreign currencies;

 

   

persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

traders in securities that use the mark-to-market method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or holders of interests therein;

 

   

persons deemed to sell our Class A common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

persons that acquired our Class A common stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan;

 

   

certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; and

 

   

persons that hold our Class A common stock as part of a straddle, appreciated financial position, synthetic security, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment or risk reduction transaction.

PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

 

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Non-U.S. Holder Defined

For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of our Class A common stock that is not for U.S. federal income tax purposes a partnership or any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (i) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more United States persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) which has made a valid election under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner, upon the activities of the partnership and upon certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, we urge partners in partnerships (including entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) considering the purchase of our Class A common stock to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock by such partnership.

Distributions

Distributions of cash or property on our Class A common stock, if any, will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will instead be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in our Class A common stock (and will reduce such tax basis) and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common stock. See “—Gain on Disposition of Class A Common Stock.”

Subject to the withholding requirements under FATCA (as defined below) and with respect to effectively connected dividends, each of which is discussed below, any distribution made to a non-U.S. holder on our Class A common stock generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate. To receive the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) certifying qualification for the reduced rate.

Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are treated as attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States) generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons (as defined under the Code). Such effectively connected dividends will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax (including backup withholding discussed below) if the non-U.S. holder satisfies certain certification requirements by providing the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI certifying eligibility for exemption. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax (at a 30% rate or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which will include effectively connected dividends.

 

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Gain on Disposition of Common Stock

Subject to the discussions below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock unless:

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met;

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States); or

 

   

our Class A common stock constitutes a United States real property interest by reason of our status as a United States real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and as a result such gain is treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States.

A non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on the amount of such gain, which generally may be offset by U.S. source capital losses.

A non-U.S. holder whose gain is described in the second bullet point above or, subject to the exceptions described in the next paragraph, the third bullet point above, generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons (as defined under the Code) unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes whose gain is described in the second bullet point above, then such gain would also be included in its effectively connected earnings and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which may be subject to a branch profits tax (at a 30% rate or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty).

With regard to the third bullet point above, generally, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We believe that we currently are, and expect to remain for the foreseeable future, a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, as long as our Class A common stock is and continues to be “regularly traded on an established securities market” (within the meaning of the U.S. Treasury regulations), only a non-U.S. holder that actually or constructively owns, or owned at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock, more than 5% of our Class A common stock will be treated as disposing of a U.S. real property interest and will be taxable on gain realized on the disposition of our Class A common stock as a result of our status as a USRPHC. If our Class A common stock were not considered to be regularly traded on an established securities market, such holder (regardless of the percentage of stock owned) would be treated as disposing of a U.S. real property interest and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a taxable disposition of our Class A common stock (as described in the preceding paragraph), and a 15% withholding tax would apply to the gross proceeds from such disposition.

NON-U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE FOREGOING RULES TO THEIR OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Any dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder must be reported annually to the IRS and to the non-U.S. holder. Copies of these information returns may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-

 

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U.S. holder resides or is established. Payments of dividends to a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding if the non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form).

Payments of the proceeds from a sale or other disposition by a non-U.S. holder of our Class A common stock effected by or through a U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding (at the applicable rate) unless the non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) and certain other conditions are met. Information reporting and backup withholding generally will not apply to any payment of the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock effected outside the United States by a non-U.S. office of a broker. However, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its records that the non-U.S. holder is not a United States person and certain other conditions are met, or the non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption, information reporting will apply to a payment of the proceeds of the disposition of our Class A common stock effected outside the United States by such a broker if it has certain relationships within the United States.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability (if any) of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Requirements under FATCA

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, and the U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (“FATCA”), impose a 30% withholding tax on any dividends paid on our Class A common stock if paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code) (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary), unless (i) in the case of a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments, and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are non-U.S. entities with U.S. owners), (ii) in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or provides the applicable withholding agent with a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial United States owners of the entity (in either case, generally on an IRS Form W-8BEN-E), or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules and provides appropriate documentation (such as an IRS Form W-8BEN-E). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing these rules may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Non-U.S. holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the effects of FATCA on an investment in our Class A common stock.

INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS AND ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAX LAWS AND TAX TREATIES.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated                 , we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as representatives the following respective numbers of shares of Class A common stock:

 

Underwriter

   Number of
Firm Securities
to be Purchased
 

Credit Suisse Securities USA LLC

                       

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

  

UBS Securities LLC

  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

  

Piper Jaffray & Co.

  

Seaport Global Securities LLC

  

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

  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $    
  

 

 

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the shares of Class A common stock in the offering if any are purchased, other than those shares covered by the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described below. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated. The offering of the shares of Class A common stock by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance, and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject, any order in whole or in part.

We have granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to                  additional shares at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The option may be exercised to the extent the underwriters sell more than                  shares of Class A common stock in connection with this offering.

The underwriters propose to offer the shares of Class A common stock initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $                 per share. The underwriters and selling group members may allow a discount of $                 per share on sales to other broker/dealers. After the initial public offering, the underwriters may change the public offering price and concession and discount to broker/dealers.

The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we will pay:

 

     Per Share    Total
     Without
Option to
Purchase
Additional
Shares
   With
Option to
Purchase
Additional
Shares
   Without
Option to
Purchase
Additional
Shares
   With
Option to
Purchase
Additional
Shares

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by us

   $                $                $                $            

The expenses of this offering that have been paid or are payable by us are estimated to be approximately $                 million (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions). We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses incurred in connection with this offering in an amount up to $                .

 

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We have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our Class A common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

Our officers and directors and certain of our stockholders and employees have agreed that they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common stock, enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our Class A common stock, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of our Class A common stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, in their discretion, may release the Class A common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. When determining whether or not to release the Class A common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC may consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release and the number of shares of Class A common stock or other securities for which the release is being requested.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.

We have applied to list the shares of Class A common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “MNRL.”

In connection with the listing of the Class A common stock on the NYSE, the underwriters will undertake to sell round lots of 100 shares or more to a minimum of                  beneficial owners.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiations among us and the underwriters and will not necessarily reflect the market price of the Class A common stock following this offering. The principal factors that were considered in determining the initial public offering price included:

 

   

the information presented in this prospectus and otherwise available to the underwriters;

 

   

the history of, and prospects for, the industry in which we will compete;

 

   

the ability of our management;

 

   

the prospects for our future earnings;

 

   

the present state of our development, results of operations and our current financial condition;

 

   

the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and

 

   

the recent market prices of, and the demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies.

We cannot assure you that the initial public offering price will correspond to the price at which the Class A common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to this offering or that an active trading market for the Class A common stock will develop and continue after this offering.

 

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In connection with the offering the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

   

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

   

A short position involves a sale by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares involved in the sales made by the underwriters in excess of the number of shares they are obligated to purchase is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase in the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares and/or purchasing shares in the open market.

 

   

Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Class A common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by the option to purchase additional shares, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

   

Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the Class A common stock originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our Class A common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Class A common stock. As a result the price of our Class A common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

 

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A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

Directed Share Program

At our request, the underwriters have reserved up to 5% of the shares for sale at the initial public offering price to persons who are directors, director nominees, officers or employees, or who are otherwise associated with us through a directed share program. The number of shares available for sale to the general public will be reduced by the number of directed shares purchased by participants in the program. The sales of shares pursuant to the program will be made by UBS Financial Services Inc., a selected dealer affiliated with UBS Securities LLC, an underwriter of this offering. Except for certain of our officers, directors, director nominees and employees who have entered into lock-up agreements, each person allocated shares having an aggregate value of $1.0 million or more through the directed share program has agreed that, for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus, he or she will not, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, dispose of or hedge any shares purchased in the program or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Class A common stock with respect to shares purchased in the program. For certain officers, directors and employees purchasing shares through the directed share program, the lock-up agreements described in this “Underwriting” section shall govern with respect to their purchases. Any directed shares not purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same basis as all other shares offered. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities and expenses, including liabilities under the Securities Act, in connection with the sales of the directed shares.

Selling Restrictions

Canada

The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

EEA restriction

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) an offer to the public of any shares which are the subject of the

 

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offering contemplated by this prospectus (the “Shares”) may not be made in that Relevant Member State except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any Shares may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

 

  (a)

to legal entities which are qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Directive;

 

  (b)

by the underwriters to fewer than 100, or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provisions of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of Shares shall result in a requirement for Extraction or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any Shares, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

  (a)

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the shares in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to Extraction; and

 

  (b)

it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to United Kingdom Investors

This prospectus is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The Shares are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Shares will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Hong Kong

The shares may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571,

 

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Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan, or the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Australia

No prospectus or other disclosure document (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) of Australia (“Corporations Act”)) in relation to the common stock has been or will be lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (“ASIC”). This document has not been lodged with ASIC and is only directed to certain categories of exempt persons. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:

 

  (a)

you confirm and warrant that you are either:

 

  (i)

a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act;

 

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  (ii)

a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountant’s certificate to us which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made;

 

  (iii)

a person associated with the company under section 708(12) of the Corporations Act; or

 

  (iv)

a “professional investor” within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act, and to the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor, associated person or professional investor under the Corporations Act any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance; and

 

  (d)

you warrant and agree that you will not offer any of the common stock for resale in Australia within 12 months of that common stock being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This document as well as any other material relating to the shares of our common stock that are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus do not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Article 652a or Article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. Our common stock will not be listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents relating to our common stock, including, but not limited to, this document, do not claim to comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules of SWX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SWX Swiss Exchange. Our common stock is being offered in Switzerland by way of a private placement, i.e., to a small number of selected investors only, without any public offer and only to investors who do not purchase shares of our common stock with the intention to distribute them to the public. The investors will be individually approached by us from time to time. This document as well as any other material relating to our common stock is personal and confidential and does not constitute an offer to any other person. This document may only be used by those investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offering described herein and may neither directly nor indirectly be distributed or made available to other persons without our express consent. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in (or from) Switzerland.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Chile

The shares are not registered in the Securities Registry (Registro de Valores) or subject to the control of the Chilean Securities and Exchange Commission (Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros de Chile). This prospectus supplement and other offering materials relating to the offer of the shares do not constitute a public offer of, or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase, the shares in the Republic of Chile, other than to individually identified purchasers pursuant to a private offering within the meaning of Article 4 of the Chilean Securities Market Act (Ley de Mercado de Valores) (an offer that is not “addressed to the public at large or to a certain sector or specific group of the public”).

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares our Class A common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, Texas.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Brigham Resources and Brigham Minerals as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the years then ended, have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Estimates of our reserves and related future net cash flows related to our properties as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 included herein and elsewhere in the registration statement were based upon reserve reports prepared or audited, as applicable, by independent petroleum engineers, CG&A. We have included these estimates in reliance on the authority of such firm as an expert in such matters.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 (including the exhibits, schedules and amendments thereto) under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of our Class A common stock offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to us and the Class A common stock offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or any other document are summaries of the material terms of such contract, agreement or other document and are not necessarily complete. With respect to each of these contracts, agreements or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibits for a more complete description of the matter involved. A copy of the registration statement, and the exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected without charge at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of these materials may be obtained from such office upon payment of a duplicating fee. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.

As a result of this offering, we will become subject to full information requirements of the Exchange Act. We will fulfill our obligations with respect to such requirements by filing periodic reports and other information with the SEC. We intend to furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing financial statements certified by an independent public accounting firm.

 

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I NDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  

Introduction

     F-2  

Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2018

     F-4  

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2018

     F-5  

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements

     F-6  

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-11  

Balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017

     F-12  

Statement of Operations for the years ended December  31, 2018 and 2017

     F-13  

Statement of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

     F-14  

Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

     F-15  

Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December  31, 2018 and 2017

     F-16  

Notes to Financial Statements

     F-17  

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC. PREDECESSOR

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-22  

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2017

     F-23  

Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended December  31, 2018 and 2017

     F-24  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

     F-25  

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Members’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

     F-26  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December  31, 2018 and 2017

     F-27  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-28  

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Introduction

Brigham Minerals, Inc., the issuer in this offering (together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, “Brigham Minerals” or the “Company”), is a holding company formed to own an interest in, and act as the sole managing member of, Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC (“Brigham LLC”). Brigham LLC will wholly own Brigham Resources, LLC (“Brigham Resources”), which wholly owns Brigham Minerals, LLC and Rearden Minerals, LLC (collectively, the “Minerals Subsidiaries”), which are Brigham Resources’ sole material assets, and also owns Brigham Resources Operating, LLC (“Brigham Operating”), which will be distributed to our Existing Owners (as defined below) prior to the completion of this offering. Accordingly, our historical financial statements are those of Brigham Resources, excluding the historical results and operations of Brigham Operating.

The unaudited pro forma financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, using assumptions set forth in the notes to the unaudited pro forma financial statements. The following unaudited pro forma financial statements of the Company reflect the historical results of the Company and Brigham Resources, on a pro forma basis to give effect to the following transactions, which are described in further detail below, as if they had occurred on December 31, 2018, for pro forma balance sheet purposes, and on January 1, 2018, for pro forma income statement purposes:

 

   

the Corporate Reorganization described under “Corporate Reorganization” as described elsewhere in this prospectus;

 

   

the initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock and the use of the net proceeds therefrom as described in “Use of Proceeds” (the “Offering”). For purposes of the unaudited pro forma financial statements, the Offering is defined as the planned issuance and sale to the public of             shares of Class A common stock of the Company as contemplated by this prospectus and the application by the Company of the net proceeds from such issuance as described in “Use of Proceeds.” The net proceeds from the sale of the Class A Common Stock (based on an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share) are expected to be $                , net of underwriting discounts of $                and other offering costs of $                ; and

 

   

in the case of the unaudited pro forma statement of operations, a provision for corporate income taxes at an effective rate of     %, inclusive of federal, state and local income taxes.

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet of the Company is based on the historical balance sheets of the Company and Brigham Resources as of December 31, 2018 and includes pro forma adjustments to give effect to the described transactions as if they had occurred on December 31, 2018. The unaudited pro forma statement of operations of the Company are based on the audited historical statement of operations of the Company and Brigham Resources for the year ended December 31, 2018, as adjusted to give effect to the described transactions as if they occurred on January 1, 2018.

The unaudited pro forma financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Company will be taxed as a corporation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and, as a result, will be a tax-paying entity subject to U.S. federal and state taxes, and should be read in conjunction with “Corporate Reorganization” and with the audited historical financial statements and related notes of Brigham Resources and the Company, included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The pro forma data presented reflect events directly attributable to the described transactions and certain assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. The pro forma data are not necessarily indicative of financial results that would have been attained had the described transactions occurred on the date indicated or which

 

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could be achieved in the future because they necessarily exclude various operating expenses, such as incremental general and administrative expenses associated with being a public company. The adjustments are based on currently available information and certain estimates and assumptions. Therefore, the actual adjustments may differ from the pro forma adjustments. However, management believes that the assumptions provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects of the transactions as contemplated and the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma financial statements.

The unaudited pro forma financial statements and related notes are presented for illustrative purposes only. If the Offering and other transactions contemplated herein had occurred in the past, the Company’s operating results might have been materially different from those presented in the unaudited pro forma financial statements. The unaudited pro forma financial statements should not be relied upon as an indication of operating results that the Company would have achieved if the Offering and other transactions contemplated herein had taken place on the specified date. In addition, future results may vary significantly from the results reflected in the unaudited pro forma financial statement of operations and should not be relied upon as an indication of the future results the Company will have after the contemplation of the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

 

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BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET

December 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

     Brigham
Minerals, Inc.
Historical
    Brigham
Resources, LLC
Historical
    Offering and
Corporate
Reorganization
     Pro Forma  
     (In thousands)  

Assets

         

Current assets:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

     $ 31,985       

Restricted cash

       474       

Accounts receivable

       20,695       

Prepaid expenses and other

       7,103       

Short-term derivative assets

       1,057       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

       61,314       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-current assets:

         

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     62,388         

Oil and gas properties, at cost, using the full cost method of accounting:

         

Unevaluated property

       228,151       

Evaluated property

       289,851       

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

       (27,628     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Oil and gas properties-net

       490,374       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other property and equipment

       5,408       

Less accumulated depreciation

       (3,115     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other property and equipment-net

       2,293       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term derivative assets

       —         

Other assets, net

       45       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 62,388     $ 554,026       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’/Members’ Equity

         

Current liabilities:

         

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     $ 5,534       

Current portion of debt

       2,188       

Current income tax payable

     128         
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     128       7,722       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt

       168,517       

Deferred income taxes

     3,476         

Other non-current liabilities

       235       

Deferred tax liability

         

Shareholders’/Members’ equity:

         

Shareholders’/Members’ contributed capital

     34,491       208,728       

Additional paid-in capital

     (3,057       

Class A Common Stock

         

Class B Common Stock

         

Retained earnings

     27,350         

Non-controlling interest

         

Accumulated earnings

       168,824       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total shareholders’/members’ equity

     58,784       377,552       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’/members’ equity

   $ 62,388     $ 554,026       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

 

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BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

 

     Brigham
Minerals, Inc.
Historical
     Brigham
Resources, LLC
Historical
    Offering and
Corporate
Reorganization
     Pro Forma  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Revenues:

          

Mineral and royalty revenue

      $ 59,758       

Lease bonus and other revenue

        7,506                                         
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

      $ 67,264       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

          

Gathering, transportation and marketing

        3,944       

Severance and ad valorem taxes

        3,536       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

        13,915       

General and administrative

        6,638       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

      $ 28,033       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income from operations

      $ 39,231       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

        424       

Interest expense, net

        (7,446     

Gain (loss) on sale of equity securities

        823       

Other income, net

        110       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

      $ 33,142       

Income from equity method investment

     5,513          

Income tax expense/(benefit)

     547        (220     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 4,966      $ 33,362       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

          
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Brigham Minerals, Inc.

          
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Income per Common Share(g)

          

Basic

          

Diluted

          

Weighted Average Common Shares outstanding(g)

          

Basic

          

Diluted

          

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

 

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BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation, the Offering and Reorganization

The historical financial information is derived from the financial statements of Brigham Minerals and Brigham Resources included elsewhere in this prospectus. For purposes of the unaudited pro forma balance sheet, it is assumed that the transactions had taken place on December 31, 2018. For purposes of the unaudited pro forma statement of operations, it is assumed all transactions had taken place on January 1, 2018.

Upon closing the Offering, the Company expects to incur direct, incremental general and administrative expenses as a result of being publicly traded, including, but not limited to, costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to stockholders, tax return preparation, independent auditor fees, investor relations activities, registrar and transfer agent fees, incremental director and officer liability insurance costs, and independent director compensation. The Company estimates these direct, incremental general and administrative expenses initially will total approximately $            million per year. These direct, incremental general and administrative expenditures are not reflected in the historical financial statements or in the unaudited pro forma financial statements.

Brigham Minerals, Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 29, 2018. Following this offering, Brigham Minerals will be a holding company whose sole material assets consist of     % interest in Brigham LLC, which will wholly own Brigham Resources. Brigham Resources will continue to wholly own the Mineral Subsidiaries, which own all of our operating assets. Following this offering, Brigham Minerals will be the sole managing member of Brigham LLC and will be responsible for all operational, management and administrative decisions relating to Brigham LLC’s business and will consolidate the financial results of Brigham LLC and its subsidiaries, including Brigham Resources.

On July 16, 2018, certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg Pincus”) contributed all of their respective interests in certain wholly owned “blocker” entities through which they held interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. We refer to these transactions as the “July 2018 restructuring.”

As a result of the July 2018 restructuring, Brigham Minerals became wholly owned by an entity affiliated with Warburg Pincus, and Brigham Minerals indirectly owned a membership interest in Brigham Resources. The other Existing Owners held all of the remaining outstanding membership interests of Brigham Resources.

On November 20, 2018, Brigham Resources underwent a second series of restructuring transactions that are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “November 2018 restructuring.” In the November 2018 restructuring, Brigham Resources became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC (“Brigham Equity Holdings”), and Brigham Equity Holdings became wholly owned by the Existing Owners, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals. As a result of the foregoing transactions, there was no change in the control or economic interests of the Existing Owners in Brigham Resources, although their ownership became indirect through Brigham Equity Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary, Brigham LLC.

Since the completion of the November 2018 restructuring, Brigham Minerals and certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus, Yorktown Partners LLC (“Yorktown”) and Pine Brook Road Advisors, LP (“Pine Brook”), our management and our other investors (collectively, the “Existing Owners”) currently, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals, own all of the membership interests in Brigham Equity Holdings, which in turn indirectly owns all of the outstanding membership interests in the Minerals Subsidiaries.

 

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Immediately prior to completion of this offering, we will engage in the following additional series of transactions, which, together with the Offering, are collectively referred to in this prospectus as our “corporate reorganization”:

 

   

Brigham Equity Holdings will distribute all of its equity interests in Brigham LLC, other than its interests in Brigham LLC attributable to certain unvested incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, to the Existing Owners and Brigham Minerals (which will result in the ownership in Brigham LLC of our Existing Owners with respect to unvested incentive units remaining consolidated in Brigham Equity Holdings);

 

   

all of the outstanding membership interests in Brigham LLC will be converted into a single class of common units in Brigham LLC, which we refer to in this prospectus as “Brigham LLC Units”;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will issue            shares of Class A common stock to purchasers in this offering in exchange for the proceeds of this offering;

 

   

Each holder of Brigham LLC Units following the restructuring (a “Brigham Unit Holder”), other than Brigham Minerals and its subsidiaries, will receive a number of shares of Class B common stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such Brigham Unit Holder following this offering; and

 

   

Brigham Minerals will contribute the net proceeds of this offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units such that Brigham Minerals holds a total number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding following this offering.

In the event we increase or decrease the number of shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering, (i) the number of Brigham LLC Units held by Brigham Minerals will correspondingly decrease or increase, respectively, and (ii) the amount of cash received by Brigham LLC will correspondingly increase or decrease, respectively.

To the extent the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full or in part, Brigham Minerals will contribute the net proceeds therefrom to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock issued pursuant to the underwriters’ option.

After giving effect to these transactions and this offering and assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is not exercised:

 

   

the Existing Owners will own all of our Class B common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

the Existing Owners will own            shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

investors in this offering will own            shares , or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

Brigham Minerals will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC; and

 

   

the Existing Owners will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full:

 

   

the Existing Owners will own all of our Class B common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

the Existing Owners will own            shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

   

investors in this offering will own            shares, or     %, of our Class A common stock, representing     % of our capital stock;

 

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Brigham Minerals will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC; and

 

   

the Existing Owners will own an approximate     % interest in Brigham LLC.

2. Pro Forma Adjustments and Assumptions

The Company made the following adjustments and assumptions in the preparation of the unaudited pro forma financial statements:

(a) Reflects the issuance and sale of             shares of Class A Common Stock at an assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of $            million, in the aggregate, and additional estimated expenses related to the Offering of approximately $            million and the use of the net proceeds therefrom as follows:

 

   

the Company will contribute all of the net proceeds from the Offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for Brigham LLC Units; and

 

   

Brigham LLC will use the net proceeds from the Offering to:

 

   

repay $            from outstanding borrowings under the term loan facility, which were $175.0 million as of December 31, 2018; and

 

   

fund future acquisitions of mineral and royalty rights.

(b) Reflects the adjustments to give effect to tax adjustments associated with the Corporate Reorganization:

 

   

We will record a $            million net increase in deferred tax liabilities (or $            million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) based on the following assumptions:

 

   

We will record $            million in deferred tax liabilities (or $            million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) for the estimated income tax effects of the differences in tax basis and book basis of the assets owned by the Company following completion of the Corporate Reorganization; and

 

   

We will record $            million (or $            million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) in deferred tax assets associated with the Company’s deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes of Brigham LLC Units in connection with the Offering.

The amounts to be recorded for the net deferred tax liability have been estimated. All of the effects of changes in any of our estimates after the date of purchase will be included in net income. Similarly, the effect of subsequent changes in the enacted tax rates will be included in net income.

(c) Reflects the issuance of Class B common stock to the Existing Owners.

(d) Reflects a reduction in members’ equity to allocate a portion of the Company’s equity to non-controlling interest.

(e) Reflects estimated income tax provision associated with the Company’s historical results of operations assuming the Company’s earnings had been subject to federal and state income tax as a subchapter C corporation using a rate of approximately         % for the year ended December 31, 2018. This rate is inclusive of U.S. federal and state taxes. The calculation of future net income tax expense is performed on a year by year basis by taking into account each year’s projected revenues, operating expenses, depreciation, depletion, and other factors in arriving at each year’s tax outflow. As such, the effective rate utilized in this calculation can differ from the blended statutory rate.

 

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(f) Reflects the adjustment to eliminate the results of the equity method investee. Subsequent to the Corporate Reorganization, Brigham Minerals will consolidate the results of Brigham Resources.

(g) Reflects basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock in the Corporate Reorganization and the Offering as shown below:

 

     December 31,
2018
 

BASIC

  

Net income (loss)

                       

Net income (loss) attribute to non-controlling interests

  

Shares issued in the Corporate Reorganization and the Offering

  
  

 

 

 

Basic EPS

  

DILUTED

  

Numerator:

  

Net income (loss)

  

Effect of dilutive securities

  
  

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) attributable to stockholders

  

Denominator:

  

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

  

Effect of dilutive securities

  
  

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

  

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

  

3. Supplementary Disclosure of Oil and Natural Gas Operations

The following pro forma standardized measure of the discounted net future cash flows and changes applicable to Brigham Resources’ proved reserves reflect the effect of income taxes assuming Brigham Resources’ standardized measure had been subject to federal and state income tax as a subchapter C corporation. The future cash flows are discounted at 10% per year and assume continuation of existing economic conditions.

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, in management’s opinion, should be examined with caution. The basis for this table is the reserve studies audited by independent petroleum engineering consultants, which contain imprecise estimates of quantities and rates of production of reserves. Revisions of previous year estimates can have a significant impact on these results. Also, estimates of new discoveries and undeveloped locations are more imprecise than estimates of established proved producing oil and gas properties. Accordingly, these estimates are expected to change as future information becomes available. Therefore, the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow is not necessarily indicative of the fair value of Brigham Resources’ proved oil and natural gas properties.

The date presented should not be viewed as representing the expected cash flow from or current value of existing proved reserves since the computations are based on a large number of estimates and assumptions. Reserve quantities cannot be measured with precision and their estimation requires many judgmental determinations and frequent revisions. Actual future prices and costs are likely to be substantially different from the prices and costs utilized in the computation of reported amounts.

 

F-9


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

The actual and pro forma rollforward of total proved reserves are the same for the year ended December 31, 2018. See the annual financial statements of Brigham Resources included elsewhere for the 2018 total proved reserves and related rollforward. The pro forma standard measure of discounted estimated future net cash flows was as follows as of December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

 

     Brigham
Resources,
LLC
    Corporate
Reorganization
     Pro Forma  

Future crude oil, natural gas and NGL sales

   $ 1,049,141                                                 

Future severance tax and ad valorem taxes

     (70,248     

Future Texas margin tax expense

     (2,395     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future net cash flows

     976,498       

10% annual discount

     (458,244     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

   $ 518,254       
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pro forma income tax expense is calculated using the estimated statutory rate of     %. The pro forma future income tax expense, as calculated, is lower than the statutory rate due to $             million of tax basis related to the acquired properties.

The change in the pro forma standardized measure of discounted estimated future net cash flows were as follows for 2018:

 

     Brigham
Resources,
LLC
    Corporate
Reorganization
     Pro Forma  

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, beginning of the year

   $ 316,468       

Changes in the year resulting from:

                                         

Sales, less production costs and taxes

     (52,278     

Revisions of previous quantity estimates

     (22,942     

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

     71,668       
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in prices and production costs

     71,770       

Accretion of discount

     31,713       

Purchase of reserves in place

     148,580       

Divestitures of reserves in place

     —         
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in Texas Margin Tax

     (574     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Timing differences and other

     (46,151     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, end of the year

   $ 518,254       
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-10


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors

Brigham Minerals, Inc.:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Brigham Minerals, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 1 and 2 to the financial statement, the balance sheets and related statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows have been retrospectively recasted as if contributions of equity interests had occurred as of the beginning of the period presented.

 

LOGO

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.

Dallas, Texas

March 18, 2019

 

F-11


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

 

     December 31,  
     2018     2017  
     (in thousands)  

Assets

    

Non-current assets:

    

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

   $ 62,388     $ 49,933  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 62,388     $ 49,933  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current income tax payable

   $ 128     $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     128       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

     3,476       —    

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Shareholders’ contributed capital

     34,491       27,436  

Additional paid-in capital

     (3,057     —    

Retained earnings

     27,350       22,384  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     —         113  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     58,784       49,933  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 62,388     $ 49,933  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-12


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
         2018              2017      
     (in thousands)  

Income from equity method investment

   $ 5,513      $ 19,104  

Income tax expense

     547        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 4,966      $ 19,104  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pro Forma Information (Unaudited)

     

Unaudited supplemental pro forma tax expense (see Note 1)

   $ 1,265      $ 7,011  

Unaudited supplemental pro forma net income

   $ 4,248      $ 12,093  

 

F-13


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

      Years Ended December 31,  
          2018             2017      
     (in thousands)  

Net income

   $ 4,966     $ 19,104  

Other comprehensive income

    

Unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale equity securities, net

     23       (585

Reclassification of (gains)/losses on sale and distribution of available for sale equity securities

     (136     698  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     (113     113  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 4,853     $ 19,217  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-14


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     Shareholders’
Contributed
Capital
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance-December 31, 2016

   $ 46,376     $ —       $ 3,280      $ —       $ 49,656  

Contributions

     6,213              6,213  

Distributions

     (25,153            (25,153

Other comprehensive income

            113       113  

Net income

         19,104          19,104  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance-December 31, 2017

   $ 27,436     $ —       $ 22,384      $ 113     $ 49,933  

Contributions

     7,603       (3,057          4,546  

Distributions

     (548            (548

Other comprehensive income

            (113     (113

Net income

         4,966          4,966  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance-December 31, 2018

   $ 34,491     $ (3,057   $ 27,350      $ —       $ 58,784  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-15


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
         2018             2017      
     (In thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 4,966     $ 19,104  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

(Income) from equity method investment

     (5,513     (19,104

Deferred income taxes

     419       —    

Return on investment in equity method investee

     —         —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Increase in current income taxes payable

     128       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Returns of investment in equity method investee

     —         —    

Contributions to equity method investee

     —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Proceeds from shareholders’ investment

     —         —    

Distributions

     —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     —         —    

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activity:

    

Deemed contributions(1)

   $ 7,603     $ 6,213  

Deemed distributions(1)

   $ (548   $ (25,153

Additional paid-in capital

   $ (3,057     —    

Other comprehensive income

   $ (113   $ 113  

 

(1)

Represents Brigham Minerals’ portion of the members’ contributions to Brigham Resources and Brigham Resources’ distributions to its members. As such, they are non-cash, deemed contributions and distributions.

 

F-16


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

Brigham Minerals, Inc. (“Brigham Minerals”) is a Delaware corporation formed in June 2018 to become a holding company. Brigham Minerals acquired an indirect interest in Brigham Resources, LLC (“Brigham Resources”) on July 16, 2018 in a series of restructuring transactions pursuant to which certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg Pincus”) contributed all of their respective interests in the entities through which they held interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. As a result of such restructuring transactions, Brigham Minerals became wholly owned by an entity affiliated with Warburg Pincus, and Brigham Minerals indirectly owned a 16.5% membership interest in Brigham Resources. The remaining outstanding membership interests of Brigham Resources remained with its other existing owners.

Brigham Resources wholly owns Brigham Minerals, LLC and Rearden Minerals, LLC (collectively, the “Minerals Subsidiaries”), which are Brigham Resources’ sole material assets, and also owns Brigham Resources Operating, LLC (“Brigham Operating”), an upstream oil and gas exploration and production business in the Southern Delaware Basin of West Texas. In February 2017, Brigham Operating completed the sale of substantially all of its oil and natural gas properties to an unrelated third-party purchaser, following which Brigham Operating’s only material assets have consisted of an ownership interest in Oryx Southern Delaware Holdings, LLC (“Oryx”), an entity that operates a crude oil gathering system located in the southern Delaware Basin. Brigham Resources plans to distribute to its members or their affiliates 100% of the equity interests in Brigham Operating. Subsequent to such distribution, Brigham Resources will no longer have any direct or indirect ownership interest in Brigham Operating. Accordingly, the financial statements of Brigham Minerals reflect its 16.5% membership interest in Brigham Resources, excluding the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Brigham Operating, which we refer to herein as our “predecessor.”

Brigham Minerals uses the equity method of accounting for its investment in Brigham Resources because its 16.5% ownership in Brigham Resources provides Brigham Minerals with significant influence, but not with a controlling financial interest or the ability to direct the most significant activities of, Brigham Minerals. The accompanying financial statements of Brigham Minerals have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation. Brigham Resources operates in one segment: oil and natural gas exploration and production.

Transfers of a business between entities under common control are accounted for as if the transfer occurred at the beginning of the period, and prior years are retrospectively adjusted to furnish comparative information. The July 16, 2018 restructuring has been accounted for as transactions between entities under common control; thus the accompanying financial statements and related notes of Brigham Minerals have been retrospectively recast to include the historical results and operations of Brigham Resources at historical carrying values as if Brigham Minerals had held its ownership interest in Brigham Resources for all periods presented.

On November 20, 2018, Brigham Resources underwent a second series of restructuring transactions (the “November 2018 restructuring”). In the November 2018 restructuring, Brigham Resources became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC (“Brigham LLC”), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC (“Brigham Equity Holdings”), and Brigham Equity Holdings became wholly owned by the owners of Brigham Resources immediately prior to such restructuring, directly or indirectly through Brigham Minerals. As a result of the foregoing transactions, there was no change in the control or economic interests of the existing owners in Brigham Resources, although their ownership became indirect through Brigham Equity Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary, Brigham LLC.

 

F-17


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The statement of operations includes unaudited supplemental pro forma information. The unaudited supplemental pro forma information gives effect to an adjustment to include a provision for income taxes as if Brigham Minerals was a taxable corporation as of January 1, 2017, computing pro forma entity level income tax expense using the estimated effective rate in effect, inclusive of all applicable U.S. federal, state and local income taxes.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Emerging Growth Company Status

As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenues during its last fiscal year, Brigham Minerals qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other regulatory requirements.

Brigham Minerals will remain an “emerging growth company” until as late as the last day of Brigham Minerals’ 2023 fiscal year, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which Brigham Minerals has $1.07 billion or more in annual revenues; (ii) the date on which Brigham Minerals becomes a “large accelerated filer” (the fiscal year-end on which the total market value of Brigham Minerals’ common equity securities held by non-affiliates is $700 million or more as of June 30); (iii) the date on which Brigham Minerals issues more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.

As a result of Brigham Minerals’ election to avail itself of certain provisions of the JOBS Act, the information that Brigham Minerals provides may be different than the information provided by other public companies.

Investment in equity method investee

Brigham Minerals accounts for its 16.5% investment in Brigham Resources using the equity method. Under the equity method, carrying value is adjusted for Brigham Minerals’ share of the investee’s earnings and losses, as well as capital contributions and distributions from the investee. Distributions in excess of equity method earnings are recognized as a return of investment and recorded as investing cash inflows in the accompanying statements of cash flows.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded prospectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated by applying existing tax laws and the rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

F-18


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Brigham Resources, the Company’s predecessor, is a limited liability company that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. As part of the corporate reorganization, certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus contributed all of their respective interests in certain wholly owned “blocker” entities through which they held interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. On the date of the corporate reorganization, a corresponding “first day” tax charge of approximately $3.1 million was recorded to establish a net deferred tax liability for differences between the tax and book basis of the investment in Brigham Resources. The offset of the deferred tax liability was recorded to additional paid-in capital.

Brigham Minerals is a corporation and it is subject to U.S. federal income tax. The tax implications of the corporate reorganization and the tax impact of Brigham Minerals’ status as a taxable corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax have been reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The effective combined U.S. federal and state income tax rate for the period ended December 31, 2018 was 22.9% percent. Total income tax expense differed from the U.S. federal statutory tax rates due to state taxes.

The components of the income tax provision were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

         2018              2017      

Federal

     

Current

   $ 114      $ —    

Deferred

     374        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total federal expense

     488        —    

State (net federal benefit)

     

Current

     14        —    

Deferred

     45        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total state expense

     59        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income tax provision

   $ 547      $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The federal and state income tax expenses in the table above pertain to the period from July 16, 2018 to December 31, 2018. No income tax expense was recognized for the periods prior to the July 16, 2018 restructuring.

The following table reconciles the income tax provision with income tax expense at the federal statutory rate for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

         2018             2017      

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 5,513     $ —    

Less: Income from equity method investment prior to the July 16, 2018 restructuring

     3,127    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from equity method investment after the July 16, 2018 restructuring

     2,386    

Income tax at the federal statutory rate

     501       —    

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

     60       —    

Percentage depletion in excess of basis

     (14  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total income tax provision

   $ 547     $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-19


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

 

         2018             2017      

Noncurrent:

    

Deferred tax assets:

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent deferred tax assets

     —         —    

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Investment in subsidiary

     3,476       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

   $ 3,476     $ —    

Net noncurrent deferred tax asset/(liability)

   $ (3,476     —    

Impairment of equity method investee

Brigham Minerals reviews its investment in Brigham Resources for other-than-temporary impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. Brigham Minerals would recognize any loss other than a temporary decline in value. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no impairment loss was recorded.

3. Equity method investment

Brigham Minerals obtained its 16.5% interest in Brigham Resources as part of the July 16, 2018 restructuring. Due to our significant influence over the operations of Brigham Resources, we account for this interest utilizing the equity method. Any income or losses are recorded in the statement of operations and contributions increase the value of the investment and distributions decrease the value of the investment. There is no difference in the basis of the investment and the underlying equity of Brigham Resources. The audited financial statements of Brigham Resources are included elsewhere in this prospectus. Below is a rollforward of the investment balance for the year ended December 31, 2018. All deemed contributions and distributions are non-cash.

 

     (In thousands)  

December 31, 2016

   $ 49,656  

Income from equity method investment

     19,104  

Deemed contributions from equity method investee

     6,213  

Deemed distributions

     (25,153

Other comprehensive income

     113  
  

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

     49,933  

Income from equity method investment

     5,513  

Deemed contributions from equity method investee

     7,603  

Deemed distributions

     (548

Other comprehensive income

     (113
  

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

   $ 62,388  
  

 

 

 

As discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, Brigham Minerals will complete the remaining steps of the corporate reorganization prior to an initial offering. After the corporate reorganization, Brigham Minerals anticipates that it will no longer utilize the equity method for its investment in Brigham Resources. As such, Brigham Minerals will consolidate the results of its controlling interest in its investment with a non-controlling interest for the portion of Brigham Resources not owned by Brigham Minerals.

 

F-20


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

4. Related Party Transactions

The July 16, 2018 restructuring was treated as a transaction between entities under common control. There were no revenues, costs or expenses between Brigham Minerals and any related entity during the year ended December 31, 2018, other than Brigham Minerals’ investment in Brigham Resources.

5. Commitments and Contingencies

Brigham Minerals may, from time to time, be a party to certain lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The outcome of such lawsuits and claims cannot be estimated with certainty and management may not be able to estimate the range of possible losses. Brigham Minerals records reserves for contingencies when information available indicates that a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Brigham Resources had no reserves for contingencies at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

6. Equity

Brigham Minerals was formed on June 18, 2018 (inception), to become a holding company for Brigham Resources. On July 16, 2018, certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus contributed all of their respective interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. Brigham Minerals intends to offer shares of Class A common stock to the public in the Offering contemplated by this prospectus. See discussion of the July 16, 2018 restructuring in Note 1.

As discussed in Note 1, the July 16, 2018 restructuring was treated as transactions under common control and the financial statements of Brigham Minerals were recast to include Brigham Minerals’ 16.5% interest in Brigham Resources for all periods presented. As such, the equity interest of Brigham Resources is included in the statement of changes in equity for periods prior to the formation of Brigham Minerals.

Brigham Resources Members’ Equity

Capital contributions are based on capital calls, to be determined by the Board of Directors. Contribution requests to each member will be based on their commitment interest during that period of time, as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Resources (the “Brigham Resources LLC Agreement”). Cash earnings on profits and any items in nature of income or gain will be applied to the members’ capital account in accordance with their earnings interest, as defined by the Brigham Resources LLC Agreement.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, Brigham Minerals’ portion of the members’ contributions to Brigham Resources was $7.6 million and is deemed a contribution by Brigham Minerals. The cash contributed to Brigham Resources, less cash retained for working capital purposes, was used to complete various acquisitions. Each contribution is treated as an increase in equity with a corresponding increase in the balance of the equity method investment.

7. Subsequent Events

Brigham Minerals has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available to be issued. See Note 1.

 

F-21


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Managers of

Brigham Resources, LLC:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Brigham Resources, LLC (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, members’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Other Matters

Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements as whole. The supplementary oil and gas information included in note 13 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements. Such information has not been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the financial statements and, accordingly, we do not express and opinion or provide any assurance on it.

 

LOGO

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.

Dallas, Texas

March 18, 2019

 

F-22


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     December 31,  
     2018     2017  
     (In thousands)  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 31,985     $ 6,886  

Restricted cash

     474       —    

Accounts receivable

     20,695       13,055  

Prepaid expenses and other

     7,103       987  

Investment in equity securities

     —         4,105  

Short-term derivative assets

     1,057       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     61,314       25,033  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Oil and gas properties, at cost, using the full cost method of accounting:

    

Unevaluated property

     228,151       168,691  

Evaluated property

     289,851       152,354  

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (27,628     (14,210
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Oil and gas properties-net

     490,374       306,835  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other property and equipment

     5,408       4,685  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (3,115     (2,493
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other property and equipment-net

     2,293       2,192  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other assets, net

     45       417  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 554,026     $ 334,477  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Members’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 5,534     $ 4,791  

Current portion of debt

     2,188       —    

Current derivative liabilities

     —         121  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     7,722       4,912  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt

     168,517       27,000  

Other non-current liabilities

     235       391  

Members’ equity:

    

Members’ contributed capital

     208,728       166,030  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     —         682  

Accumulated earnings

     168,824       135,462  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ equity

     377,552       302,174  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and members’ equity

   $ 554,026     $ 334,477  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-23


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
           2018                 2017        
     (In thousands)  

Revenues:

    

Mineral and royalty revenue

   $ 59,758     $ 30,066  

Lease bonus and other revenue

     7,506       10,842  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     67,264       40,908  

Other operating income:

    

Gain on sale of oil and gas properties, net

     —         94,551  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

    

Gathering, transportation and marketing

     3,944       1,754  

Severance and ad valorem taxes

     3,536       1,601  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     13,915       6,955  

General and administrative

     6,638       3,935  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     28,033       14,245  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income from operations

     39,231       121,214  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

     424       (121

Interest expense, net

     (7,446     (556

Gain (loss) on sale and distribution of equity securities

     823       (4,222

Other income, net

     110       305  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     33,142       116,620  

Income tax expense

     (220     1,008  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 33,362     $ 115,612  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-24


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
           2018                 2017        
     (In thousands)  

Net income

   $ 33,362     $ 115,612  

Other comprehensive income

    

Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale equity securities, net

     141       (3,540

Reclassificiation of (gains)/losses on sale and distribution of available for sale equity securities

     (823     4,222  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     (682     682  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 32,680     $ 116,294  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-25


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

     Members’
Contributed
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Total Members’
Equity
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance-December 31, 2016

   $ 280,648     $ 19,850      $ —       $ 300,498  

Contributions

     37,600            37,600  

Distributions

     (152,218          (152,218

Other comprehensive income

          682       682  

Net income

       115,612          115,612  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance-December 31, 2017

   $ 166,030     $ 135,462      $ 682     $ 302,174  

Contributions

     46,011            46,011  

Distributions

     (3,313          (3,313

Other comprehensive income

          (682     (682

Net income

       33,362          33,362  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance-December 31, 2018

   $ 208,728     $ 168,824      $ —       $ 377,552  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-26


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017  
     (In thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 33,362     $ 115,612  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     13,915       6,955  

Amortization of debt issue costs

     690       121  

Deferred income taxes

     (183     295  

(Gain)/loss on derivative instruments, net

     (424     121  

Net cash paid for derivative settlements

     (754     —    

(Gain)/loss on sale of equity securities

     (823     4,222  

Bad debt expense

     382       —    

(Gain) on sale of oil and gas properties

     —         (94,551

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

(Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable

     (8,022     (6,787

(Increase)/decrease in other current assets

     (6,116     (44

(Decrease)/increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (611     3,956  

Increase in other long-term liabilities

     28       —    

Other operating

     —         (499
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 31,444     $ 29,401  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Acquisitions of oil and gas properties

     (195,603     (101,437

Additions to other fixed assets

     (723     (1,311

Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties, net

     125       111,024  

Proceeds from sale of equity securities

     933       17,896  

Changes in restricted cash

     (474     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

   $ (195,742   $ 26,172  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Repayments of short-term debt

     (7,000     —    

Borrowings of short-term debt

     7,000       —    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (70,000     (15,000

Borrowings of long-term debt

     218,000       27,000  

Capital contributions

     46,011       37,000  

Capital distributions

     —         (131,544

Loan closing costs

     (4,614     (103
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   $ 189,397     $ (82,647
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     25,099       (27,074
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     6,886       33,960  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 31,985     $ 6,886  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash activity:

    

Equity securities received

   $ —       $ 45,633  

Equity securities distributed

   $ 3,313     $ (20,092

Accrued capital expenditures

   $ 1,426     $ 73  

Vesting of A-M units

   $ —       $ 600  

Cash paid for interest

   $ 6,123     $ 458  

 

F-27


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Business and Basis of Presentation

Organization and Business

Brigham Resources, LLC (“Brigham Resources”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on March 28, 2013 as a holding company with no independent operations apart from its ownership of the subsidiaries described herein. Brigham Minerals, LLC and Rearden Minerals, LLC (collectively, “Minerals Subsidiaries”), Delaware limited liability companies, were formed on October 17 and December 21, 2012, respectively, to pursue the acquisition of oil and natural gas mineral and royalty interests in liquids-rich resource plays in the continental United States (the “Minerals Business”). The Mineral Subsidiaries own nonproducing and producing mineral and royalty interests in 38 counties in Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Concurrent with the formation of Brigham Resources, on April 5, 2013, Brigham Resources purchased 100% of the common units of the Mineral Subsidiaries. Brigham Resources Management, LLC (“Brigham Management, LLC”), a Delaware limited liability company formed on March 28, 2013, provides administrative services to Brigham Resources and the Minerals Subsidiaries. References to “we,” “us” and “our” mean Brigham Resources.

Brigham Minerals, Inc. (“Brigham Minerals”) is a Delaware corporation formed in June 2018 to become a holding company. Brigham Minerals acquired an indirect interest in Brigham Resources on July 16, 2018 in a series of restructuring transactions pursuant to which certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg Pincus”) contributed all of their respective interests in the entities through which they held interests in Brigham Resources to Brigham Minerals in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Brigham Minerals. As a result of such restructuring transactions, Brigham Minerals became wholly owned by certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus, and Brigham Minerals indirectly owned a 16.5% membership interest in Brigham Resources. The remaining outstanding membership interests of Brigham Resources remained with its other existing owners.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Brigham Resources are comprised of the financial statements of the Minerals Subsidiaries and Brigham Resources Management, LLC and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated. Brigham Resources operates in one segment: oil and natural gas exploration and production.

Brigham Resources has historically owned and operated two distinct lines of business through its subsidiaries:

 

   

the Minerals Business through the Minerals Subsidiaries;

 

   

and an upstream oil and gas exploration and production business (the “Upstream Business”) in the Southern Delaware Basin of West Texas (including interests in certain related gathering systems) through Brigham Resources Operating, LLC (“Brigham Operating”).

In February 2017, Brigham Operating completed the sale of substantially all of its oil and natural gas properties to an unrelated third-party purchaser, following which Brigham Operating’s only material assets have consisted of an ownership interest in Oryx Southern Delaware Holdings, LLC (“Oryx”), an entity that operates a crude oil gathering system located in the southern Delaware Basin. Brigham Resources plans to distribute to its

 

F-28


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

members or their affiliates 100% of the equity interests in Brigham Operating. Subsequent to such distribution Brigham Resources will no longer have any direct or indirect ownership interest in Brigham Operating. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Brigham Resources exclude the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Brigham Operating.

Subsequent to the issuance of our December 31, 2017 consolidated financial statements, we corrected the amount of equity securities distributed, included in the supplemental disclosure of non-cash activity, from $37,988 to $20,092 (in thousands) for the year ended December 31, 2017. Additionally, we corrected the presentation of gains and losses on sales of assets, and we included these gains and losses in other operating income for all periods presented. This resulted in a $94.6 million increase to previously reported operating expenses and a corresponding increase to previously reported operating income for the year ended December 31, 2017. These corrections did not impact the previously reported consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 or statements of comprehensive income, members’ equity or cash flows and have been accounted for as immaterial corrections of errors.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Emerging Growth Company Status

As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenues during its last fiscal year, Brigham Minerals qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other regulatory requirements.

Brigham Minerals will remain an “emerging growth company” until as late as the last day of Brigham Minerals’ 2023 fiscal year, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which Brigham Minerals has $1.07 billion or more in annual revenues; (ii) the date on which Brigham Minerals becomes a “large accelerated filer” (the fiscal year-end on which the total market value of Brigham Minerals’ common equity securities held by non-affiliates is $700 million or more as of June 30); (iii) the date on which Brigham Minerals issues more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.

As a result of Brigham Minerals’ election to avail itself of certain provisions of the JOBS Act, the information that Brigham Minerals provides may be different than the information provided by other public companies.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded prospectively.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates including quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs reserves that are the basis for the calculations of depreciation, depletion, amortization (“DD&A”) and impairment of oil and natural gas properties. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas and there are numerous

 

F-29


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, reserve estimates may differ from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Brigham Resources’ reserve estimates are determined by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (“CG&A”), an independent petroleum engineering firm. Other items subject to significant estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of oil and natural gas properties, valuation of derivative instruments and revenue accruals.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Brigham Resources considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of funds that are contractually restricted as to usage or withdrawal and have been presented separately from cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources had $0.4 million restricted for distribution to existing owners.

Receivables

Receivables consist of royalty income due from operators for oil and gas sales to purchasers. Those purchasers remit payment for production to the operator of our properties and the operator, in turn, remits payment to us. Receivables from third parties for which we did not receive actual information, either due to timing delays or due to the unavailability of data at the time when revenues are recognized, are estimated. Receivables from new wells turned in line for which we did not receive payment at the time revenues are recognized are estimated and recognized only when public production information is available. Volume estimates are based upon historical actual data if available or, otherwise, on engineering estimates. Pricing estimates are based upon actual prices realized in an area by adjusting the market price for the average basis differential from market on a basin-by-basin basis.

Brigham Resources routinely reviews outstanding balances, assesses the financial strength of its customers and records a reserve for amounts not expected to be fully recovered. We recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, which was included in general and administrative expenses. We did not record any allowance for doubtful accounts for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers

Financial instruments that potentially subject Brigham Resources to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash, accounts receivable, commodity derivative financial instruments and its prior revolving credit facility. Cash and cash equivalents are held in a few financial institutions in amounts that may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. However, no losses have been incurred and management believes that counterparty risks are minimal based on the reputation and history of the institutions selected. Accounts receivable are concentrated among operators and purchasers engaged in the energy industry within the United States. Management periodically assesses the financial condition of these entities and institutions and considers any possible credit

 

F-30


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

risk to be minimal. Concentrations of oil and gas sales to significant customers (operators) are presented in the table below.

 

     For the year ended December 31,  
     2018     2017  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

     15     —    

Continental Resources, Inc.

     10     10

Noble Energy, Inc.

     9     13

Management does not believe that the loss of any customer would have a long-term material adverse effect on our financial position or the results of operations.

Investments in Equity Securities

Brigham Resources classifies its equity securities as available-for-sale, and as such, they are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value of available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of other comprehensive income. Losses may be recognized within the consolidated statement of operations when a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary. Brigham Resources uses the average cost method to determine the realized gain or loss for each sale or distribution of available-for-sale securities.

Financial Instruments

Brigham Resources’ financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables, derivative assets and liabilities, investments in equity securities and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables approximate fair value due to the highly liquid or short-term nature of these instruments. The equity securities are publicly traded and are valued using quoted market prices.

The fair values of Brigham Resources’ derivative assets and liabilities are based on a third-party industry-standard pricing model using contract terms and prices and assumptions and inputs that are substantially observable in active markets throughout the full term of the instruments, including forward oil and gas price curves, discount rates, volatility factors and credit risk adjustments.

The carrying amount of long-term debt associated with borrowings outstanding under Brigham Resources’ term loan facility and prior revolving credit facility approximates fair value as borrowings bear interest at variable market rates. See “Note 6-Derivative Instruments,” “Note 5-Fair Value Measurements” and “Note 7-Long-Term Debt.”

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, Brigham Resources is exposed to certain risks, including changes in the prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs and interest rates. Brigham Resources has occasionally entered into derivative contracts to manage its exposure to these risks. Brigham Resources’ risk management activity is generally accomplished through over-the-counter derivative contracts with large financial institutions. Brigham Resources does not enter into derivative instruments for speculative purposes. Derivative instruments are recognized at fair value. If a right of offset exists under master netting arrangements and certain other criteria are met, derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty are netted on the consolidated balance sheets. Brigham Resources does not specifically designate derivative instruments as cash flow hedges, even though they reduce its

 

F-31


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

exposure to changes in oil and natural gas prices; therefore, gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized on a net basis in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations within gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net.

Oil and Gas Properties

Brigham Resources uses the full cost method of accounting for its oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, all acquisition costs incurred for the purpose of acquiring mineral and royalty interests and certain related employee costs are capitalized into a full cost pool. Costs associated with general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred.

Capitalized costs are amortized using the units-of-production method. Under this method, the provision for depletion is calculated by multiplying total production for the period by a depletion rate. The depletion rate is determined by dividing the total unamortized cost base by net equivalent proved reserves at the beginning of the period.

Costs associated with unevaluated properties are excluded from the amortizable cost base until a determination has been made as to the existence of proved reserves. Unevaluated properties are reviewed periodically to determine whether the costs incurred should be reclassified to the full cost pool and subjected to amortization. The costs associated with unevaluated properties primarily consist of acquisition costs and capitalized general and administrative costs. Unevaluated properties are assessed for impairment on an individual basis or as a group if properties are individually insignificant. The assessment includes consideration of the following factors, among others: expectation of future drilling activity; past drilling results and activity; geological and geophysical evaluations; the assignment of proved reserves; and the economic viability of development if proved reserves are assigned. During any period in which these factors indicate an impairment, the cumulative acquisition costs incurred to date for such property are transferred to the full cost pool and are then subject to amortization. There was no impairment recorded for unevaluated properties in 2018 and 2017.

Sales and abandonments of oil and natural gas properties being amortized are accounted for as adjustments to the full cost pool, with no gain or loss recognized unless the adjustments would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves. A significant alteration would not ordinarily be expected to occur upon the sale of reserves involving less than 25% of the reserve quantities of a cost center.

Natural gas volumes are converted to barrels of oil equivalent (Boe) at the rate of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas to one barrel (Bbl) of oil. This convention is not an equivalent price basis and there may be a large difference in value between an equivalent volume of oil versus an equivalent volume of natural gas.

Under the full cost method of accounting, total capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated depletion, may not exceed an amount equal to the present value of future net revenues from proved reserves, discounted at 10% per annum, plus the lower of cost or fair value of unevaluated properties (the ceiling limitation). A ceiling limitation is calculated at each reporting period. If total capitalized costs, net of accumulated DD&A are greater than the ceiling limitation, a write-down or impairment of the full cost pool is required. A write-down of the carrying value of the full cost pool is a noncash charge that reduces earnings and impacts equity in the period of occurrence and typically results in lower depletion expense in future periods. Once incurred, a write-down cannot be reversed at a later date. The ceiling limitation calculation is prepared using the 12-month first day of the month oil and natural gas average prices, as adjusted for basis or location differentials, held constant over the life of the reserves (net wellhead prices). If applicable, these net wellhead

 

F-32


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

prices would be further adjusted to include the effects of any fixed price arrangements for the sale of oil and natural gas.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the full cost ceiling value of our reserves was calculated based on the average posted first-day-of-the month prices for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, in accordance with SEC guidance. For oil and NGL volumes, the average West Texas Intermediate posted price was adjusted for quality, transportation fees and a regional price differential. NGL prices varied by basin from 22% to 41% and from 19% to 42% of the oil posted price during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price was adjusted for energy content, transportation fees and a regional price differential. All prices do not give effect to derivative transactions and are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. The average adjusted product prices, held constant over the remaining lives of the properties, are $61.31 and $47.80 per barrel of oil, $23.98 and $18.56 per barrel of NGL and $2.51 and $2.74 per Mcf of gas as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Using these prices, the net book value of oil and natural gas was below the ceiling limitation and no write-off was necessary.

Income Taxes

Brigham Resources is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the net taxable income of Brigham Resources and any related tax credits are passed through to the members and are included in their tax returns even though such net taxable income or tax credits may not have actually been distributed. Accordingly, no federal tax provision has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements of Brigham Resources. Brigham Resources is subject to Texas margin tax based on revenue generated from operations within the state. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources recorded non-current tax benefit of $0.2 million and an immaterial current benefit. During the year ended December 31, 2017, Brigham Resources recorded current tax expense of $0.7 million and deferred tax expense of $0.3 million. Brigham Resources had $0.2 million and $0.4 million recorded as deferred tax liability related to the Texas margin tax at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The deferred tax liability is due primarily to differences between the tax basis of oil and natural gas properties and their reported amounts in Brigham Resources’ consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Royalty interests represent the right to receive revenues (oil and natural gas sales), less production and operating taxes and post-production costs. Revenue is recorded when title passes to the purchaser. Royalty interests have no rights or obligations to explore, develop or operate the property and do not incur any of the costs of exploration, development and operation of the property.

Brigham Resources recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. Revenues are considered realized or realizable and earned when: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

Pricing of oil, natural gas and NGL sales from Brigham Resources’ properties is primarily determined by supply and demand in the marketplace and can fluctuate considerably. Brigham Resources has no involvement or operational control over the volumes and method of sale of oil, natural gas and NGLs produced and sold from its properties.

To the extent actual volumes and prices of oil, natural gas and NGLs are unavailable for a given reporting period because of timing or information not received from third parties, the expected sales volume and prices for

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

these properties are estimated and recorded within accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Receivables from new wells turned in line for which we did not receive payment at the time revenues are recognized are estimated and recognized only when public production information is available. Differences between estimates of revenue and the actual amounts are adjusted and recorded in the period that the actual amounts are known.

Brigham Resources earns lease bonus revenues and lease extension revenues (collectively referred to as “lease bonus revenue”) from leasing mineral interests to exploration and production companies in exchange for a royalty interest. Lease bonus revenues are recognized when received, at which time Brigham Resources gives up the right to develop the land itself or to lease it to another party.

Debt Issuance Cost

As of December 31, 2018, capitalized debt issuance costs of $4.3 million, net of accumulated amortization of $0.3 million, was included in long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2017, capitalized debt issuance costs of $0.4 million, net of accumulated amortization of $0.3 million, was included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs were incurred in connection with establishing and amending credit facilities for Brigham Resources and are amortized over the term of the credit facilities using the effective interest rate method. Amortization expense for debt issue costs was $0.7 million and $0.2 million, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. On July 27, 2018, the prior revolving credit facility was terminated and replaced with a new term loan facility. See further discussion in “Note. 7-Long-Term Debt” in our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Brigham Minerals’ status as an emerging growth company under Section 107 of the JOBS Act permits it to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Brigham Minerals is choosing to take advantage of this extended transition period and, as a result, it will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for private companies.

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business. This guidance assists in determining whether a transaction should be accounted for as an acquisition or disposal of assets or as a business. This ASU provides a screen that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired, or disposed of, are concentrated in a single identifiable asset, or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set will not be considered a business. If the screen is not met, a set must include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create an output to be considered a business. The new standard becomes effective for us on January 1, 2019 and is required to be adopted using a prospective approach. Although early application is permitted, we do not plan to adopt ASU-2017-01 early. We completed our evaluation of the standard and concluded that its adoption will not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows, which amends ASC 230 to add or clarify guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The ASU requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, entities will no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The new

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

standard becomes effective for us on January 1, 2019. Although early application is permitted, we do not plan to adopt the ASU early. We completed our evaluation of the standard and concluded that its adoption will not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires all leasing arrangements to be presented in the balance sheet as liabilities along with a corresponding asset. The ASU will replace most existing lease guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard becomes effective for us on January 1, 2020. Although early application is permitted, we do not plan to adopt the ASU early. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Targeted Improvements, which provides entities an optional transitional relief method whereby prior periods would not require restatement while a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings during the period of adoption would be recorded. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of this update will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The ASU changes to the current GAAP model primarily affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. Under the new standard, all equity investments in unconsolidated entities (other than those accounted for using the equity method of accounting) will generally be measured at fair value through earnings. There will no longer be an available-for-sale classification (changes in fair value reported in other comprehensive income) for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. The new standard becomes effective for us on January 1, 2019. Although early application is permitted, we do not plan to adopt the ASU early. The standard requires the use of cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is adopted. We completed our evaluation of the standard and concluded that its adoption will not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and industry-specific guidance in Subtopic 932-605, Extractive Activities-Oil and Gas-Revenue Recognition, and requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for us beginning on January 1, 2019 considering the one-year deferral provided by ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The standard permits the use of either the full retrospective or modified retrospective transition method and early adoption is permitted. Brigham Resources intends to use the modified retrospective adoption approach and does not plan to early adopt. In order to evaluate any potential changes in revenue recognition upon adoption of the new standard, Brigham Resources completed a review of a representative sample of revenue contracts covering its material revenue streams. Brigham Resources also evaluated the information technology and internal control changes that will be required to implement the new standard based on the results of its contract review process. We completed our evaluation of the standard and concluded that its adoption will not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.

3. Oil and Gas Properties

Brigham Resources uses the full cost method of accounting for its oil and natural gas properties. Under this method, all acquisition costs incurred for the purpose of acquiring mineral and royalty interests, including certain

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

internal costs, are capitalized into a full cost pool. Costs associated with general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred. Oil and gas properties consisted of the following:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
           2018                 2017        
     (in thousands, except per
unit of production data)
 

Oil and gas properties, at cost, using the full cost method of accounting:

    

Not subject to depletion

   $ 228,151     $ 168,691  

Subject to depletion

     289,851       152,354  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total oil and gas properties, at cost

     518,002       321,045  

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization

     (27,628     (14,210
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total oil and gas properties, net

   $ 490,374     $ 306,835  

Full cost pool depletion per barrel of oil equivalent

   $ 9.38     $ 7.25  

Costs not subject to depletion at December 31, 2018 are as follows, by the year in which such costs were incurred (in thousands) :

 

     Total      2018      2017      Prior  

Property Acquisition costs

   $ 228,151      $ 76,793      $ 68,939      $ 82,419  

Capitalized costs are depleted on a unit of production basis based on proved oil and natural gas reserves. Depletion expense was $13.3 million and $6.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Brigham Resources capitalizes certain overhead expenses and other internal costs attributable to the acquisition of mineral and royalty interests as part of its investment in oil and gas properties over the periods benefitted by these activities. Capitalized costs do not include any costs related to production and general corporate overhead or similar activities. Capitalized costs were $2.7 million and $2.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

4. Acquisitions and Divestitures

In June 2018, Brigham Resources closed on the acquisition of certain mineral interests from an unrelated third-party in the Delaware Basin in Loving County, Texas and Lea County, New Mexico for $41 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Brigham Resources funded the acquisition with capital contributions and borrowings under our prior revolving credit facility. The allocation of the purchase price was $22.8 million to evaluated properties and $18.2 million to unevaluated properties.

In June 2018, Brigham Resources entered into a definitive agreement with an unrelated third-party to acquire certain mineral interests in Reeves, Loving and Ward counties in the Delaware Basin for $25.8 million and closed on $22.0 million and $3.8 million in the third and fourth quarter of 2018, respectively. The allocation of the purchase price was $18.4 million to evaluated properties and $7.4 million to unevaluated properties.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources entered into a number of individually insignificant acquisitions of mineral and royalty interests from various sellers in Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota, as reflected in the table below. The change in the oil and natural gas property balance is

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

comprised of individually insignificant payments for acquisitions of minerals, land brokerage costs and capitalized general and administrative expenses that were funded with capital contributions and borrowings under our prior revolving credit facility and our new term loan facility.

 

     Assets Acquired      Consideration Paid  
     Evaluated      Unevaluated      Cash  
     (in thousands)  

Quarter Ended March 31, 2018

   $ 14,132      $ 11,462      $ 25,594  

Quarter Ended June 30, 2018

     21,903        16,558        38,461  

Quarter Ended Sept 30, 2018

     22,982        13,946        36,928  

Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2018

     15,319        13,879        29,198  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Acquired

   $ 74,336      $ 55,845      $ 130,181  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In August 2017, Brigham Resources acquired certain mineral and royalty interests in the Delaware Basin for $29.2 million. Brigham Resources funded the acquisition with capital contributions. The allocation of the purchase price was $20.5 million to unevaluated properties and $8.7 million to evaluated properties.

In addition, during 2017, Brigham Resources entered into a number of individually insignificant acquisitions. The change in the oil and natural gas property balance is comprised of individually insignificant payments for acquisitions of minerals, land brokerage costs and capitalized general and administrative capital expenditures.

On February 28, 2017, Brigham Operating and Brigham Resources Midstream, LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Brigham Resources, closed on the sale of substantially all of their Southern Delaware Basin leasehold and related assets, including certain mineral and royalty interests owned by Brigham Resources, to a third-party public entity. The proceeds for mineral and royalty interests represented $156.7 million of the net adjusted sales price and consisted of cash of $111.1 million and shares valued at $45.6 million The mineral and royalty interests sold represented approximately 12% in aggregate of Brigham Resources’ total proved reserves as of December 31, 2016. As a result of the sale, the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves was altered significantly and Brigham Resources recorded a gain of $94.6 million

5. Fair Value Measurements

We classify financial assets and liabilities that are measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis using a hierarchy based on the inputs used in measuring fair value. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We classify the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:

 

   

Level 1: Inputs based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

 

   

Level 2: Inputs based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable and can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

   

Level 3: Inputs that reflect management’s best estimates and assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The inputs are unobservable in the market and significant to the valuation of the instruments.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another. In such instances, the transfer would be reported at the beginning of the period in which the change occurs.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets-commodity derivative instruments

   $ —        $ 1,057      $ —        $ 1,057  

 

     December 31, 2017  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets-investment in equity securities

   $ 4,105      $ —        $ —        $ 4,105  

Liabilities-commodity derivative instruments

   $ —        $ 121      $ —        $ 121  

Level 1 equity securities represent publicly traded securities valued using quoted market prices. During 2017, Brigham Resources received shares of publicly traded securities as partial proceeds from the sale of oil and gas properties discussed in Note 4 and classified them as available for sale. As of December 31, 2017, Brigham Resources had remaining available for sale securities with aggregate cost basis of $3.4 million and unrealized gains of $0.7 million, which is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The fair value of available for sale securities held by Brigham Resources as of December 31, 2017 was $4.1 million and is included in investment in equity securities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources had unrealized gains on available for sale securities of $0.1 million. During the first quarter of 2018, Brigham Resources distributed securities valued at $3.3 million and sold the remaining securities for $0.9 million, restricted for payment of tax liabilities resulting from the sale of oil and gas properties. As a result of the distribution and sale of securities, gains of $0.8 million were reclassified out of AOCI and included in gain on sale of equity investments on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

Our derivative instruments consist of oil swaps carried at fair value. Commodity derivative instruments are valued using a third-party industry-standard pricing model using contract terms and prices and assumptions and inputs that are substantially observable in active markets throughout the full term of the instruments, including forward oil and gas price curves, discount rates and volatility factors. The fair values are also compared to the values provided by the counterparties for reasonableness and are adjusted for the counterparties’ credit quality for derivative assets and our credit quality for derivative liabilities. As such, these derivative contracts are classified within Level 2.

Brigham Resources had no transfers into or out of Level 1 and no transfers into or out of Level 2 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

Certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities, such as assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis on the acquisition date and are subject to fair value

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

adjustments under certain circumstances. The inputs used to determine such fair value are primarily based upon internally developed cash flow models and include factors such as estimates of economic reserves, future operating and development costs, future commodity prices and a risk-adjusted discount rates, and are classified within Level 3.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The carrying value of cash, trade and other receivables and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying amount of debt outstanding pursuant to our term loan and our prior revolving credit facility approximates fair value as interest rates on these instruments approximate current market rates. We categorized our long-term debt within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

6. Derivative Instruments

Brigham Resources uses commodity derivative instruments to reduce its exposure to commodity price volatility for a portion of its forecasted crude oil and natural gas sales and thereby achieve a more predictable level of cash flows. None of the derivative instruments are designated as hedges. Brigham Resources does not enter into derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

Because the counterparties to the Mineral Subsidiaries’ derivative instruments have investment grade credit ratings, Brigham Resources believes it does not have significant credit risk and accordingly does not currently require its counterparties to post collateral to support the net asset positions of its derivative instruments as of December 31, 2018. Although Brigham Resources does not currently anticipate nonperformance from its counterparties, it continually monitors the credit ratings of its counterparties.

Concurrent with the termination of the prior revolving credit facility, we posted cash collateral of $1.6 million for our existing WTI fixed price swap contracts. We anticipate entering into swap intercreditor agreements between Owl Rock Capital Corporation (“Owl Rock”) and our hedge counterparties, at which time we would retract the cash collateral. For further discussion, see “Note 7-Long-Term Debt” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources had certain oil swap contracts based on the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) futures index. The fair values, notional quantities and weighted-average swap prices of these contracts as of December 31, 2018 , are summarized in the table below.

 

Description & Production Period

   Volume      Weighted
Average Swap
Price
     Fair Value
Asset/
(Liability)
 
     (Bbl)      ($/Bbl)      (in thousands)  

Crude Oil Swaps:

        

January 2019-March 2019(1)

     20,000      $ 64.60      $ 358  

April 2019-June 2019

     15,000      $ 63.61      $ 246  

July 2019-September 2019

     15,000      $ 63.61      $ 231  

October 2019-December 2019

     15,000      $ 63.61      $ 222  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     65,000      $ 63.91      $ 1,057  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes swaps for 5,000 Bbl valued as an asset of $0.1 million that matured on Dec 31, 2018 and will be settled in January, 2019.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Our derivative instruments are subject to master netting arrangements and are presented on a net basis in our consolidated balance sheets. The following table summarizes the location and fair value of our derivative instruments as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

 

Derivative Instruments

   Balance Sheet Classification      Gross Amount
Recognized
     Less Group
Amount of
Offset
     Net Amount
Recognized
 
            (In thousands)  

As of December 31, 2018

           

Derivative assets:

           

Commodity swaps

     Current derivative assets      $ 1,057      $ —        $ 1,057  

As of December 31, 2017

           

Derivative liabilities:

           

Commodity swaps

     Current derivative liabilities      $ 121      $ —        $ 121  

For the year ended December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources had realized losses on its oil swap contracts of $0.8 million and unrealized gains of $1.2 million, included in gain on derivative instruments, net on its consolidated statements of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Brigham Resources had unrealized losses of $0.1 million and no realized gains or losses.

7. Long-Term Debt

Prior to its termination on July 27, 2018, the Minerals Subsidiaries maintained a secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions (the prior “revolving credit facility”), which had been amended periodically. The revolving credit facility had aggregate commitments of $150 million and a borrowing base of $70 million, subject to periodic redeterminations based on the Minerals Subsidiaries’ oil and natural gas reserves and other factors. The borrowing base was re-determined semi-annually with effective dates of May 1 and November 1. In addition, the Minerals Subsidiaries were permitted to request up to one additional redetermination of the borrowing base during any fiscal year. The borrowing base and outstanding borrowings were $70 million and $70 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2018 and $50 million and $27 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2017.

The outstanding borrowings under the prior revolving credit facility bore interest at a rate elected by the Minerals Subsidiaries that was equal to either an adjusted base rate, which was equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the Federal Funds effective rate plus 0.5% or 3-month LIBOR plus 1.0%, or an adjusted LIBOR rate with an interest period selected by the Minerals Subsidiaries, in each case, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin ranged from 1.50% to 2.50% in the case of the adjusted base rate and from 2.50% to 3.50% in the case of LIBOR, in each case, depending on the amount of the loan outstanding in relation to the borrowing base. The Minerals Subsidiaries were obligated to pay a quarterly commitment fee ranging from 0.375% to 0.500% per year on the unused portion of the borrowing base, depending on the amount of the loan outstanding in relation to the borrowing base. Loan principal was permitted to be repaid from time to time at the option of Minerals Subsidiaries without premium or penalty (other than customary LIBOR breakage). Loan principal was required to be paid back to the extent the loan amount exceeded the borrowing base at any time before maturity or the total outstanding balance upon the January 26, 2021 maturity date. The loan was secured by substantially all of the Minerals Subsidiaries’ assets.

The credit agreement governing the prior revolving credit facility contained various affirmative and negative covenants, including limiting additional indebtedness, additional liens, sales of assets, mergers and

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

consolidations, dividends and distributions, transactions with affiliates and entering into certain swap agreements. Additionally, the credit agreement required the maintenance of quarterly financial ratios including total debt to EBITDAX not to exceed 4 to 1 and a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of no less than 1 to 1. Brigham Resources was in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2017.

On July 27, 2018, the prior revolving credit facility was terminated in conjunction with a new term loan facility (our “term loan facility”) with Owl Rock as administrative agent and collateral agent. Brigham Resources used the proceeds from the term loan facility to repay the outstanding $70 million of principal under the prior revolving credit facility and to fund mineral and royalty acquisitions. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2018, Brigham Resources wrote off approximately $0.3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs that were related to the prior revolving credit facility. Our term loan facility is subject to customary fees, guarantees of subsidiaries, restrictions and covenants, including certain restricted payments, and is collateralized by certain oil and natural gas properties of Brigham Resources.

Structure . Our term loan facility provides for a $125 million initial term loan and a delayed draw term loan (“DDTL”) of $75 million, which will be subject to certain customary conditions. In addition, a $10 million revolving credit facility is available for general corporate purposes.

Interest . Our term loan facility bears interest at a rate per annum equal to, at Brigham Resources’ option, (a) the base rate plus 4.50%, or (b) the adjusted LIBOR rate for such interest period (subject to a 1.00% floor) plus 5.50%. From and after the date of an underwritten public offering, each of the foregoing margins will decrease by 0.50% if at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter our total net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement governing our term loan facility) is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00.

Maturity . July 27, 2024.

Amortization . The loans amortize in quarterly installments equal to, upon the consummation of an underwritten public offering, 1.00% per annum and, otherwise, 5.00% per annum (commencing with the quarter ending December 31, 2019), in each case, subject to certain requirements to prepay the outstanding balance of the loan with certain excess cash flows (as defined in the credit agreement governing our term loan facility).

As of December 31, 2018, we had $175.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility. The credit agreement governing our term loan facility also requires us to maintain compliance with the following financial and collateral coverage ratios:

 

   

an asset coverage ratio, which is the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) the present value of our and the other loan parties’ proved reserves (as set forth in the most recently delivered reserve report) that are subject to a mortgage in favor of the administrative agent under our term loan facility plus (ii) the Swap Mark-to-Market Value (as defined in the credit agreement) as of such date to (b) Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness (as defined in the credit agreement) as of such date of not less than 1.75 to 1.00.

 

   

a total net leverage ratio, which is the ratio, on a pro forma basis, of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness (as defined in the credit agreement) as of such date less up to $25 million of cash and certain permitted investments to (b) two times our Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) for the most recently completed Test Period (as defined in the credit agreement) of not more than (y) upon the consummation of an underwritten public offering, 4.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter or (z) otherwise, 5.50 to 1.00 commencing on September 30, 2018, which steps down quarterly to 4.00 to 1.00 as of December 31, 2019.

 

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BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

   

a debt to capitalization ratio, which is the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness to (b) Total Invested Capital (as defined in the credit agreement) of no more than 0.40 to 1.00.

Brigham Resources was in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2018.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, Brigham Resources borrowed and repaid $7.0 million from Brigham Operating, at an interest rate of 7.00%.

8. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

Brigham Resources leases office space under operating leases. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Future minimum lease commitments under noncancelable operating leases at December 31, 2018 are presented below (in thousands):

 

Year

   Commitment  

2019

   $ 538  

2020

     654  

2021

     672  

2022

     689  

2023

     474  

2024

     111  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,138  
  

 

 

 

Contingencies

Brigham Resources may, from time to time, be a party to certain lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The outcome of such lawsuits and claims cannot be estimated with certainty and management may not be able to estimate the range of possible losses. Brigham Resources records reserves for contingencies when information available indicates that a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Brigham Resources had no reserves for contingencies at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

9. Members’ Equity

Series A Units

On April 5, 2013, Brigham Resources received subscriptions to purchase 64,840,000 Series A Units at a price of $10 per unit. The Series A Units may be purchased within a five-year period from April 5, 2013 to April 5, 2018. Brigham Resources’ management had the right, subject to the approval of its Board of Directors and certain of its investors, to send notice to the Series A Unit holders specifying the need for additional capital. All outstanding Series A Units were sold prior to December 31, 2015. Series A Unit holders are entitled to one vote per share on voting matters and have certain rights with respect to distributions declared by Brigham Resources’ Board of Directors pursuant to a distribution waterfall set forth in the Brigham Resources LLC Agreement. The Series A Units have a liquidation preference equal to total invested capital, plus a 7% cumulative return, compounded daily.

 

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BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Series A-M Units

Brigham Resources has authorized 460,000 Series A-M Units for issuance at a price of $10 per unit. On April 5, 2013, 160,000 Series A-M Units were issued in connection with the formation of the Company. The remaining 300,000 Series A-M Units were available for issuance to a related party if certain capital call funding thresholds were met (the “Contingent A-M Units”) and subject to achievement of certain time-based vesting conditions. During 2014, all 300,000 Contingent A-M Units were issued, and as of December 31, 2017, 100% of the Series A-M Units were vested. Series A-M Unit holders have no voting rights and have certain rights with respect to distributions declared by Brigham Resources’ Board of Directors pursuant to a distribution waterfall set forth in the Brigham Resources LLC Agreement. The Series A-M Units have a liquidation preference equal to the total invested capital, plus a 7% cumulative return, compounded daily.

Series A-Z Units

On May 8, 2015, Brigham Resources received subscriptions to purchase 41,176,471 Series A-Z Units at a price of $8.50 per unit. The Series A-Z Units were available to be issued at any time between May 8, 2015 and April 5, 2018. Brigham Resources’ management had the right, subject to the approval of its Board of Directors and certain of its investors, to send notice to the Series A-Z Unit holders specifying the need for additional capital (a “Series A-Z Capital Call”). During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, Brigham Resources issued Series A-Z Capital Calls for gross proceeds of $45,999,995, representing the sale of 5,411,764 Series A-Z Units, and of $37,000,002, representing the sale of 4,352,941 Series A-Z Units, respectively. Series A-Z Unit holders are entitled to one vote per share on voting matters and have certain rights with respect to distributions declared by Brigham Resources’ Board of Directors pursuant to a distribution waterfall set forth in the Brigham Resources LLC Agreement. The Series A-Z Units have a liquidation preference equal to the total invested capital, plus a 7% cumulative return, compounded daily.

Restricted Units

The Company has authorized 120,000 restricted incentive units (“Restricted Units”) for issuance to management, independent directors, employees and consultants. The Restricted Units vest 20% upon issuance and 20% on each of the four anniversary dates following the date of issuance. The Restricted Units participate in certain distribution events following the sale, merger or other transaction involving Brigham Resources or its assets only after certain return thresholds are met by the holders of Series A Units, Series A-Z Units and Series A-M Units. There are eight classes of Restricted Units, including Series M-1, Series M-2, Series M-3 and Series M-4 (collectively, “Series M Units”) and Series Z-1, Series Z-2, Series Z-3 and Series Z-4 (collectively, “Series Z Units”). The Company is authorized to issue 10,000 units of each class of Series M Units and Series Z Units. A summary of the Restricted Units issued and outstanding is as follows:

 

     Series M Units  
     M-1      M-2      M-3      M-4      Total  

Beginning balance

     7,520        7,520        7,520        7,520        30,080  

2017 issuances

     —          —          —          —          —    

2017 forfeitures

     —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

     7,520        7,520        7,520        7,520        30,080  

2018 issuances

     1,030        1,030        1,030        1,030        4,120  

2018 forfeitures

     —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

     8,550        8,550        8,550        8,550        34,200  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

     Series Z Units  
     Z-1     Z-2     Z-3     Z-4     Total  

Beginning balance

     4,328       4,328       4,328       4,328       17,312  

2017 issuances

     —         —         —         —         —    

2017 forfeitures

     (15     (15     (15     (15     (60
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

     4,313       4,313       4,313       4,313       17,252  

2018 issuances

     485       485       485       485       1,940  

2018 forfeitures

     (105     (105     (105     (105     (420
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

     4,693       4,693       4,693       4,693       18,772  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2018, 7,726 of each class of Series M Units (30,904 total) and 3,808 of each class of Series Z Units (15,232 total) had vested. As of December 31, 2017, 7,520 of each class of Series M Units (30,080 total) and 2,596 of each class of Series Z Units (10,386 total) had vested. The Series M-1 Units were issued with a threshold value of $0.00; the Series M-2 Units were issued with a threshold value of $2.25; the Series M-3 Units were issued with a threshold value of $6.50; and the Series M-4 Units were issued with a threshold value of $14.00. The Series Z-1 Units were issued with a threshold value of $0.00; the Series Z-2 Units were issued with a threshold value of $1.91; the Series Z-3 Units were issued with a threshold value of $5.53; and the Series Z-4 Units were issued with a threshold value of $11.90. For all issuances, the allocation of total equity value remaining after giving effect to the liquidation preferences of the Series A Units, Series A-Z Units and Series A-M Units was determined to be zero on the date of issuance.

The Restricted Units are designed as “profits interests” which are accounted for in a manner similar to a profit sharing arrangement in which the amount of compensation cost is measured and recognized at the time of a distribution. Compensation expense for the Restricted Units will be recognized when all performance and service conditions are probable of being satisfied (in general, upon a qualifying disposition event). Accordingly, no value was assigned to the Restricted Units when issued. Distributions for the Restricted Units are made solely in the event of a qualifying disposition as defined in the Brigham Resources LLC Agreement. As each distribution occurs, the funds or assets available for distribution will be allocated in accordance with the specified payout levels in the waterfall provisions of the Brigham Resources LLC Agreement after the recovery of the capital contributions of the holders of Series A Units, Series A-Z Units and Series A-M Units plus a rate of return is achieved.

10. Employee Benefit Plan

We sponsor a 401(k) tax-deferred savings plan for our employees. We match 100% of each employee’s contributions, up to 6% of the employee’s total compensation. Brigham Resources may also contribute additional amounts at its discretion. Brigham Resources contributed $0.2 million and $0.1 million to the 401(k) plan for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

11. Related-Party Transactions

Brigham Land Management (“BLM”) provides Brigham with land brokerage services. The services are provided at market prices and are periodically verified by third-party quotes. BLM is owned by Vince Brigham, an advisor to Brigham and brother of Ben M. Brigham, founder of Brigham Resources and Executive Chairman of the Board. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, Brigham Resources paid BLM $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively for land brokerage services. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the liabilities recorded for services performed by BLM during the respective periods were immaterial.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Brigham Exploration Company (“BEXP”), owned by Ben M. Brigham, leases some of Brigham Resources’ acreage at market rates. For the year ended December 31, 2017, BEXP paid Brigham Resources $0.6 million. There were no payments for the year ended December 31, 2018.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, Brigham Resources borrowed $7.0 million from Brigham Operating at an interest rate of 7.00%, which was repaid prior to September 30, 2018.

12. Subsequent Events

On February 14, 2019, Brigham Resources borrowed an additional $10.0 million from our term loan facility. As of December 31, 2018, we had $175.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility.

13. Reserve and Related Financial Data (SMOG)—Unaudited

Oil and Natural Gas Reserves

Proved reserves represent quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations. Proved developed reserves are proved reserves which can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment, infrastructure and operating methods. Proved reserves were estimated in accordance with guidelines established by the SEC, which require that reserve estimates be prepared under existing economic and operating conditions based upon the 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month prices.

The reserves at December 31, 2018 presented below were audited by CG&A and the reserves at December 31, 2017 presented below were prepared by CG&A. Estimates of proved reserves are inherently imprecise and are continually subject to revision based on production history, results of additional exploration and development, price changes and other factors. The reserves are located in various fields in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Pennsylvania. All of the proved reserves are located in the continental United States.

 

     Crude Oil
(MBbl)
    Natural Gas
(Mmcf)
    NGL
(MBbl)
    Total
(MBoe)
 

Proved reserve quantities, December 31, 2016

     7,174       22,991       2,356       13,363  

Sales of minerals-in-place

     (1,291     (815     (200     (1,627

Extentions and discoveries

     1,548       6,012       709       3,259  

Acquisitions

     2,141       9,380       1,116       4,820  

Revisions of previous estimates

     (394     2,601       108       147  

Production

     (454     (1,768     (109     (858
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Proved reserve quantities, December 31, 2017

     8,724       38,401       3,980       19,104  

Sales of minerals-in-place

     —         —         —         —    

Extentions and discoveries

     1,765       5,285       562       3,208  

Acquisitions

     3,669       13,862       1,374       7,354  

Revisions of previous estimates

     (390     (3,245     (577     (1,508

Production

     (777     (2,507     (222     (1,417
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Proved reserve quantities, December 31, 2018

     12,991       51,796       5,117       26,741  

Proved developed reserve quantities:

        

December 31, 2017

     2,804       13,028       1,185       6,160  

December 31, 2018

     6,067       21,735       1,898       11,588  

Proved undeveloped reserve quantities:

        

December 31, 2017

     5,920       25,373       2,795       12,944  

December 31, 2018

     6,924       30,061       3,219       15,153  

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Changes in proved reserves that occurred during 2018 were primarily due to:

 

   

the acquisition of additional mineral and royalty interests located in the Permian, DJ, Anadarko and Williston Basins in multiple transactions, which included 7,354 MBoe of additional proved reserves;

 

   

well additions, extensions and discoveries of approximately 3,208 MBoe, as 555 horizontal well locations were converted from probable, possible and contingent resources to proved, due to continuous activity and delineation of additional zones on our mineral and royalty interests; and

 

   

net negative volume revisions of approximately 1,508 MBoe. These revisions were comprised of 536 MBoe of positive revisions attributable to pricing and were offset by negative revisions of 1,100 MBoe attributable to operator development timing as well as 944 MBoe of revisions associated with unit configuration and EUR adjustments to existing proved locations.

Changes in proved reserves that occurred during 2017 were primarily due to:

 

   

the acquisition of additional mineral and royalty interests located in the Permian, DJ, Anadarko and Williston Basins in multiple transactions, which included 4,820 MBoe of additional proved reserves;

 

   

well additions, extensions and discoveries of approximately 3,259 MBoe, as 854 horizontal well locations were converted from probable, possible and contingent resources to proved, due to continuous activity and delineation of additional zones on our mineral and royalty interests;

 

   

the divestiture of 1,627 MBoe through one sale of mineral and royalty interests located in the Permian Basin; and

 

   

positive volume revisions of approximately 2,581 MBoe attributable primarily to increased recovery in close proximity to our mineral and royalty interests, partially offset by negative revisions of approximately 2,434 MBoe, attributable primarily to operator development timing and revision of existing proved locations.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

Guidelines prescribed in FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 932 Extractive Industries—Oil and Gas, have been followed for computing a standardized measure of future net cash flows and changes therein relating to estimated proved reserves. Future cash inflows are determined by applying prices and costs, including transportation, quality and basis differentials, to the year-end estimated quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs to be produced in the future. The resulting future net cash flows are reduced to present value amounts by applying a ten percent annual discount factor.

The assumptions used to compute the standardized measure are those prescribed by the FASB and the SEC. These assumptions do not necessarily reflect Brigham Resources’ expectations of actual revenues to be derived from those reserves, nor their present value. The limitations inherent in the reserve quantity estimation process, as discussed previously, are equally applicable to the standardized measure computations since these reserve quantity estimates are the basis for the valuation process. Reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and estimates of new discoveries and undeveloped locations are more imprecise than estimates of established proved producing oil and gas properties. Accordingly, these estimates are expected to change as future information becomes available. The standardized measure excludes federal income taxes as Brigham Resources is a limited liability company and not subject to federal income taxes; however, Brigham Resources is subject to state taxes.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The following summary sets forth the future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves based on the standardized measure prescribed in ASC Topic 932:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017  
     (in thousands)  

Future crude oil, natural gas and NGL sales

   $ 1,049,141     $ 595,874  

Future severance tax and ad valorem taxes

     (70,248     (40,225

Future Texas margin tax expense

     (2,395     (1,151
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Future net cash flows

     976,498       554,498  

10% annual discount

     (458,244     (238,030
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

   $ 518,254     $ 316,468  

The following prices were used in the determination of standardized measure:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018      2017  

Oil (per Bbl)

   $ 61.31      $ 47.80  

Natural gas (per MMBtu)

     2.51        2.74  

NGLs (per Bbl)

     23.98        18.56  

These prices were based on the 12-month arithmetic average first-of-month West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) price of oil and Henry Hub price of natural gas. The NGL pricing varied by basin at 22% to 41% of WTI. All prices have been adjusted for transportation, quality, basis differentials and post-production costs.

The principal sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows are:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017  
     (in thousands)  

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, beginning of the year

   $ 316,468     $ 185,752  

Changes in the year resulting from:

    

Sales, less production costs and taxes

     (52,278     (26,711

Revisions of previous quantity estimates

     (22,942     4,894  

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

     71,668       56,511  

Net change in prices and production costs

     71,770       30,565  

Accretion of discount

     31,713       18,612  

Purchase of reserves in place

     148,580       79,190  

Divestitures of reserves in place

     —         (26,742

Net change in Texas Margin Tax

     (574     (298

Timing differences and other

     (46,151     (5,305
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, end of the year

   $ 518,254     $ 316,468  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

(Our Predecessor)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Capitalized oil and natural gas costs

The aggregate amounts of costs capitalized for oil and natural gas producing activities and related aggregate amounts of accumulated depletion follow:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2017  
     (in thousands)  

Oil and gas properties, at cost, using full cost method of accounting:

    

Not subject to depletion

   $ 228,151     $ 168,691  

Subject to depletion

     289,851       152,354  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total oil and gas properties, at cost

     518,002       321,045  

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (27,628     (14,210
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total oil and gas properties, net

   $ 490,374     $ 306,835  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs incurred in oil and natural gas activities

The following costs were incurred in oil and natural gas producing activities:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018      2017  
     (in thousands)  

Acquisition of properties

     

Unevaluated

   $ 59,460      $ 50,224  

Evaluated

     137,496        51,862  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 196,956      $ 102,086  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Index to Financial Statements

ANNEX A

GLOSSARY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS TERMS

The following are abbreviations and definitions of certain terms used in this document, which are commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry:

Analogous reservoir . Analogous reservoirs, as used in resources assessments, have similar rock and fluid properties, reservoir conditions (depth, temperature and pressure) and drive mechanisms, but are typically at a more advanced stage of development than the reservoir of interest and thus may provide concepts to assist in the interpretation of more limited data and estimation of recovery. When used to support proved reserves, an analogous reservoir refers to a reservoir that shares the following characteristics with the reservoir of interest: (i) same geological formation (but not necessarily in pressure communication with the reservoir of interest); (ii) same environment of deposition; (iii) similar geological structure; and (iv) same drive mechanism. For a complete definition of analogous reservoir, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(2).

Basin . A large natural depression on the earth’s surface in which sediments generally brought by water accumulate.

Bbl . One stock tank barrel of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume used herein in reference to crude oil, condensate or NGLs.

Bbl/d . One Bbl per day.

Boe . One barrel of oil equivalent, calculated by converting natural gas to oil equivalent barrels at a ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one Bbl of oil. This is an energy content correlation and does not reflect a value or price relationship between the commodities.

Boe/d . One Boe per day.

British thermal unit or Btu . The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a one-pound mass of water from 58.5 to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Completion . Installation of permanent equipment for production of oil, natural gas or NGLs, or, in the case of a dry well, to reporting to the appropriate authority that the well has been abandoned.

Condensate. A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in the gaseous phase at original reservoir temperature and pressure, but that, when produced, is in the liquid phase at surface pressure and temperature.

Delineation . The process of placing a number of wells in various parts of a reservoir to determine its boundaries and production characteristics.

Developed acreage . The number of acres that are allocated or assignable to productive wells or wells capable of production.

Development costs . Costs incurred to obtain access to proved reserves and to provide facilities for extracting, treating, gathering and storing oil, natural gas and NGLs. For a complete definition of development costs, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(7).

Development project . The means by which petroleum resources are brought to the status of economically producible. As examples, the development of a single reservoir or field, an incremental development in a producing field or the integrated development of a group of several fields and associated facilities with a common ownership may constitute a development project.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Development well . A well drilled within the proved area of an oil or natural gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.

Differential . An adjustment to the price of oil or natural gas from an established spot market price to reflect differences in the quality and/or location of oil or natural gas.

Dry hole or dry well . A well found to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of such production exceed production expenses and taxes.

Economically producible . The term economically producible, as it relates to a resource, means a resource that generates revenue that exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed, the costs of the operation. For a complete definition of economically producible, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(10).

Estimated ultimate recovery or EUR . The sum of reserves remaining as of a given date and cumulative production as of that date.

Field . An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on, or related to, the same individual geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition. The field name refers to the surface area, although it may refer to both the surface and the underground productive formations. For a complete definition of field, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(15).

Formation . A layer of rock that has distinct characteristics that differs from nearby rock.

Gross acres or gross wells . The total acres or wells, as the case may be, in which a mineral or royalty interest is owned.

Held by production . Acreage covered by a mineral lease that perpetuates a company’s right to operate a property as long as the property produces a minimum paying quantity of oil, natural gas or NGLs.

Horizontal drilling . A drilling technique used in certain formations where a well is drilled vertically to a certain depth and then drilled at a right angle within a specified interval.

MBbl . One thousand barrels of crude oil, condensate or NGLs.

MBoe . One thousand Boe.

Mcf . One thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

Mcf/d . One Mcf per day.

MMBbl . One million barrels of crude oil, condensate or NGLs.

MMBtu . One million British thermal units.

MMcf . One million cubic feet of natural gas.

Net acres . The percentage of total acres an owner has out of a particular number of acres, or a specified tract. An owner who has 50% interest in 100 acres owns 50 net acres.

Net production . Production on our properties calculated net to our royalty interests.

Net revenue interest . The net royalty, overriding royalty, production payment and net profits interests in a particular tract or well.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

NGLs . Natural gas liquids. Hydrocarbons found in natural gas that may be extracted as liquefied petroleum gas and natural gasoline.

NYMEX . The New York Mercantile Exchange.

Operator . The individual or company responsible for the development and/or production of an oil or natural gas well or lease.

Play . A geographic area with hydrocarbon potential.

Pooling . An operator’s consolidation of multiple adjacent leased tracts, which may be covered by multiple leases with multiple lessors, in order to maximize drilling efficiency or to comply with state mandated well spacing requirements. Pooling dilutes our royalty in a given well or unit, but it also increases the acreage footprint and the number of wells in which we have an economic interest. To estimate our total potential drilling locations in a given play, we include third-party acreage that is pooled with our acreage.

Possible Reserves . Reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves.

Present value of future net revenues or PV -10 . The estimated future gross revenue to be generated from the production of proved reserves, net of estimated production and future development and abandonment costs, using prices and costs in effect at the determination date, before income taxes, and without giving effect to non-property-related expenses, discounted to a present value using an annual discount rate of 10% in accordance with the guidelines of the SEC.

Probable reserves . Reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but that, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.

Production costs . Costs incurred to operate and maintain wells and related equipment and facilities, including depreciation and applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of operating and maintaining those wells and related equipment and facilities. For a complete definition of production costs, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(20).

Productive well . A well that is found to be capable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of the production exceed production expenses and taxes.

Prospect . A specific geographic area that, based on supporting geological, geophysical or other data and also preliminary economic analysis using reasonably anticipated prices and costs, is deemed to have potential for the discovery of commercial hydrocarbons.

Proved area . The part of a property to which proved reserves have been specifically attributed.

Proved developed reserves . Reserves that can be expected to be recovered through (i) existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well or (ii) through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

Proved reserves . Those quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs that, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time. For a complete definition of proved oil and natural gas reserves, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(22).

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Proved undeveloped reserves or PUDs . Proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Undrilled locations can be classified as having proved undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that such locations are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless specific circumstances justify a longer time.

Realized price . The cash market price less all expected quality, transportation and demand adjustments.

Reasonable certainty . A high degree of confidence that quantities will be recovered. For a complete definition of reasonable certainty, refer to the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(24).

Recompletion . The completion for production of an existing wellbore in another formation from that which the well has been previously completed

Reliable technology . Reliable technology is a grouping of one or more technologies (including computational methods) that has been field tested and has been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation.

Reserves . Estimated remaining quantities of oil and natural gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce or a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil and natural gas or related substances to market and all permits and financing required to implement the project. Reserves should not be assigned to adjacent reservoirs isolated by major, potentially sealing, faults until those reservoirs are penetrated and evaluated as economically producible. Reserves should not be assigned to areas that are clearly separated from a known accumulation by a non-productive reservoir (i.e., absence of reservoir, structurally low reservoir or negative test results). Such areas may contain prospective resources (i.e., potentially recoverable resources from undiscovered accumulations).

Reservoir . A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible oil and/or natural gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.

Resources . Quantities of oil, natural gas and NGLs estimated to exist in naturally occurring accumulations. A portion of the resources may be estimated to be recoverable and another portion may be considered to be unrecoverable. Resources include both discovered and undiscovered accumulations.

Royalty . An interest in an oil and natural gas lease that gives the owner the right to receive a portion of the production from the leased acreage (or of the proceeds from the sale thereof), but does not require the owner to pay any portion of the production or development costs on the leased acreage. Royalties may be either landowner’s royalties, which are reserved by the owner of the leased acreage at the time the lease is granted, or overriding royalties, which are usually reserved by an owner of the leasehold in connection with a transfer to a subsequent owner.

Spacing . The distance between wells producing from the same reservoir. Spacing is often expressed in terms of acres, e.g., 40-acre spacing, and is often established by regulatory agencies.

Spot market price . The cash market price without reduction for expected quality, transportation and demand adjustments.

Spud . Commenced drilling operations on an identified location.

 

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Standardized measure . Discounted future net cash flows estimated by applying year-end prices to the estimated future production of year-end proved reserves. Future cash inflows are reduced by estimated future production and development costs based on period-end costs to determine pre-tax cash inflows. Future income taxes, if applicable, are computed by applying the statutory tax rate to the excess of pre-tax cash inflows over our tax basis in the oil, natural gas and NGL properties. Future net cash inflows after income taxes are discounted using a 10% annual discount rate.

Success rate . The percentage of wells drilled that produce hydrocarbons in commercial quantities.

Undeveloped acreage . Lease acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of oil, natural gas or NGLs regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves.

Unit . The joining of all or substantially all interests in a reservoir or field, rather than a single tract, to provide for development and operation without regard to separate property interests. Also, the area covered by a unitization agreement.

Wellbore . The hole drilled by the bit that is equipped for natural gas production on a completed well. Also called well or borehole.

Working interest . The right granted to the lessee of a property to develop, produce and own oil, natural gas, NGLs or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development and operating costs on either a cash, penalty or carried basis.

Workover . Operations on a producing well to restore or increase production.

 

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LOGO

 

 

 

Until                 , 2019 (25 days after commencement of this offering), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

Part II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth an itemized statement of the amounts of all expenses (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) payable by us in connection with the registration of the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby. With the exception of the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee, the amounts set forth below are estimates.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 12,120  

FINRA filing fee

     *  

NYSE listing fee

     *  

Accounting fees and expenses

     *  

Legal fees and expenses

     *  

Printing and engraving expenses

     *  

Transfer agent and registrar fees

     *  

Miscellaneous

     *  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ *  
  

 

 

 

 

*

To be provided by amendment

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions (i.e., actions by or in the right of the corporation), except that indemnification extends only to expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors and officers for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except liability:

 

   

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders;

 

   

for any act or omission not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law;

 

   

under Section 174 of the DGCL regarding unlawful dividends and stock purchases; or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors or officers of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors and officers will be further limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

In addition, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our current directors and officers containing provisions that are in some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. The indemnification agreements will require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our future directors and officers.

We intend to maintain liability insurance policies that indemnify our directors and officers against various liabilities, including certain liabilities under arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, that may be incurred by them in their capacity as such.

The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement provides for indemnification of our directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise in connection with this offering.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

In connection with our incorporation in June 2018 under the laws of the State of Delaware, we issued 1,000 shares of our common stock to an affiliate of Warburg Pincus in exchange for membership interests in Brigham Resources. These securities were offered and sold by us in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. These shares will be redeemed for nominal value in connection with our reorganization.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

      1.1   

Form of Underwriting Agreement

      3.1   

Certificate of Incorporation of Brigham Minerals, Inc .

      3.2   

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Brigham Minerals, Inc.

      3.3   

Bylaws of Brigham Minerals, Inc.

      3.4   

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Brigham Minerals, Inc.

      4.1   

Form of Class A Common Stock Certificate

      4.2   

Form of Registration Rights Agreement

    *4.3   

Form of Stockholders’ Agreement

      5.1   

Form of Opinion of Vinson  & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  *10.1†   

Form of Brigham Minerals, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan

  *10.2    Form of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
    10.3†    Form of Indemnification Agreement between Brigham Minerals, Inc. and each of the directors and officers thereof
    10.4    First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2018, by and among Brigham Resources, LLC, Brigham Minerals, LLC, Owl Rock Capital Corporation, as first lien administrative agent and first lien collateral agent, Owl Rock Capital Advisors LLC, as the lead arranger and bookrunner, and the lenders and issuing banks party thereto
    10.5    Contribution Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2018, by and among Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., Brigham Minerals, Inc., Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham) LLC, WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC and Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC
  *10.6    Form of Reorganization Agreement
    21.1   

Subsidiaries of Brigham Minerals, Inc.

    23.1   

Consent of KPMG LLP

    23.2   

Consent of KPMG LLP

    23.3   

Consent of Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc.

    23.4   

Consent of Vinson  & Elkins L.L.P. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto)

    24.1   

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)

    99.1    Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. Summary of Reserves of Brigham Resources, LLC at December 31, 2018
    99.2    Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., Summary of Reserves of Brigham Resources, LLC at December 31, 2017

 

*

To be filed by amendment.

Compensatory plan or arrangement.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules. Financial statement schedules are omitted because the required information is not applicable, not required or included in the financial statements or the notes thereto included in the prospectus that forms a part of this registration statement.

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on March 18, 2019.

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert M. Roosa

Name:   Robert M. Roosa
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Director

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Robert M. Roosa and Blake C. Williams, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities on March 18, 2019.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Ben M. Brigham

Ben M. Brigham

   Executive Chairman

/s/ Robert M. Roosa

Robert M. Roosa

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Blake C. Williams

Blake C. Williams

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Harold D. Carter

Harold D. Carter

   Director

/s/ John Holland

John Holland

   Director

/s/ W. Howard Keenan, Jr.

W. Howard Keenan, Jr.

   Director

/s/ James R. Levy

James R. Levy

   Director

 

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Signature

  

Title

/s/ Richard Stoneburner

Richard Stoneburner

   Director

/s/ John R. Sult

John R. Sult

   Director

 

II-6

Exhibit 1.1

 ] Shares

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

Class A Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

[ ● ], 2019

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

G OLDMAN S ACHS  & C O . LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule A hereto

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, New York 10010-3629

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Introductory . Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), agrees with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives (the “ Representatives ”) of the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters [ ● ] shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Securities ”) (such [ ● ] shares of Securities being hereinafter referred to as the “ Firm Securities ”). The Company also agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than [ ● ] additional shares of its Securities (the “ Optional Securities ”) as set forth below. The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the “ Offered Securities .” As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, UBS Securities LLC (the “ Designated Underwriter ”) has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Securities purchased by it under this Agreement up to [ ● ] shares for sale to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and other parties associated with the Company (collectively, “ Participants ”), as set forth in the Final Prospectus (as defined herein) under the heading “Underwriting” (the “ Directed Share Program ”). The Firm Securities to be sold by UBS Financial Services Inc., a selected dealer affiliated with the Designated Underwriter, pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the “ Directed Shares ”) will be sold by UBS Financial Services Inc. pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Final Prospectus.


The Company is a Delaware corporation that was formed in contemplation of the proposed issuance and sale of the Offered Securities (the “ Offering ”). It is understood and agreed to by all parties that immediately prior to the initial closing of the Offering, the Company will enter into certain corporate reorganization transactions (the “ Reorganization Transactions ”), pursuant to which the following transactions, among others, will occur (as further described under the headings “Corporate Reorganization” and “Use of Proceeds” in the General Disclosure Package (as defined below)):

 

  (a)

Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC (“ Brigham Equity Holdings ”) will distribute all of its equity interests in Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC (“ Brigham LLC ”), other than its interests in Brigham LLC attributable to certain unvested incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, to the Company, the Company’s management team and other investors and certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus LLC, Yorktown Partners LLC and Pine Brook Road Advisors, LP (collectively, the “ Existing Owners ”) (which will result in the ownership in Brigham LLC of the Company’s Existing Owners who hold unvested incentive units remaining consolidated in Brigham Equity Holdings);

 

  (b)

all of the outstanding membership interests in Brigham LLC will be converted into a single class of common units in Brigham LLC (“ Brigham LLC Units ”);

 

  (c)

the Company will issue and sell the Offered Securities to the Underwriters;

 

  (d)

each holder of Brigham LLC Units following the restructuring (a “ Brigham Unit Holder ”) other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, will receive a number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such Brigham Unit Holder following the Offering; and

 

  (e)

the Company will contribute the net proceeds of the Offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units such that the Company holds a total number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock outstanding following the Offering.

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

(a) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms . The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-[ ● ]) covering the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act, including a related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses. At any particular time, this initial registration statement, in the form then on file with the Commission, including all information contained in the registration statement (if any) pursuant to Rule 462(b) and then deemed to be a part of the initial registration statement, and all 430A Information and all 430C Information, that in any case has not then been superseded or modified, shall be referred to as the “ Initial Registration Statement .” The Company may also have filed, or may file with the Commission, a Rule 462(b) registration statement covering the registration of Offered Securities. At any particular time, this Rule 462(b) registration statement, in the form then on file with the Commission, including the contents of the Initial Registration Statement incorporated by reference therein and including all 430A Information and all 430C Information, that in any case has not then been superseded or modified, shall be referred to as the “ Additional Registration Statement .”

As of the time of execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Act and is not proposed to be amended. Any Additional Registration Statement has or will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and is not proposed to be amended. The Offered Securities all have been or will be duly registered under the Act pursuant to the Initial Registration Statement and, if applicable, the Additional Registration Statement.

For purposes of this Agreement:

430A Information ,” with respect to any registration statement, means information included in a prospectus and retroactively deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b).

 

2


430C Information ,” with respect to any registration statement, means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430C.

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

Applicable Time ” means [ ● ] [A.M./P.M.], New York time, on the date of this Agreement.

Closing Date” has the meaning defined in Section 3 hereof.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Effective Time ” with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement, means the date and time as of which such Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c). If an Additional Registration Statement has not been filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Company has advised the Representatives that it proposes to file one, “ Effective Time ” with respect to such Additional Registration Statement means the date and time as of which such Registration Statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant to Rule 462(b).

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

Final Prospectus ” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430A Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act.

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

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

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

The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement are referred to collectively as the “ Registration Statements ” and individually as a “ Registration Statement .” A “ Registration Statement ” with reference to a particular time means the Initial Registration Statement and any Additional Registration Statement as of such time. A “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means such Registration Statement as of its Effective Time. For purposes of the foregoing definitions, 430A Information with respect to a Registration Statement shall be considered to be included in such Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430A.

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

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

Statutory Prospectus ” with reference to a particular time means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any 430A Information or 430C Information with respect to such Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430A Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 462(c) and not retroactively.

 

3


Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.

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

(b) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements . (i) (A) At their respective Effective Times, (B) on the date of this Agreement and (C) on each Closing Date, each of the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement (if any) conformed and will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, (ii) at their respective Effective Times, each of the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement (if any) did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (iii) on its date, at the time of filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement in which the Final Prospectus is included, and on each Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) Ineligible Issuer Status. (i) At the time of the initial filing of the Initial Registration Statement and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(d) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time, none of (i) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the preliminary prospectus, dated [ ● ], 2019 (the “ Preliminary Prospectus ”) (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally) and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule B to this Agreement to be included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, or (iii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at a time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption of Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would

 

4


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

(f) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions listed on Schedule D hereto in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company will not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Schedule C hereto (“ Subsidiaries ”).

(g) Subsidiaries . Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, with power and authority (corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, foreign limited liability company or foreign limited partnership, as applicable, in good standing in all other jurisdictions listed on Schedule D hereto in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be duly qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests or limited partner interests, as applicable, of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and, in the case of any such corporation, are fully paid and nonassessable; and, following the Reorganization Transactions, the capital stock, limited partner interests or limited liability company interests, as applicable, of each Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, will be owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(h) Authorization of Agreement . The Company has all requisite corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company.

(i) Offered Securities . The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, will have been duly authorized; after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the authorized equity capitalization of the Company will be as set forth in the General Disclosure Package; after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company will be, and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each Closing Date, such Offered Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will conform to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus in all material respects; the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any security holder.

 

5


(j) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) their respective charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or by-laws (or similar organizational or governing documents) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(k) Absence of Further Requirements . No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except for (i) such as have been, or prior to the Closing Date, will be, obtained or made, (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities laws or Blue Sky laws or by FINRA in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters and (iii) such consents that, if not obtained, have not or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l) Historical Financial Statements . The historical financial statements (including the related notes) included in each Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, have been prepared in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis. The unaudited pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included under the heading “Pro Forma Financial Statements” in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein and have been properly presented on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustment used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46), not disclosed in each Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(n) Auditors . KPMG LLP (“ KPMG ”), who has certified certain financial statements of the Company or assets acquired by the Company, whose reports appears in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and who has delivered the initial letters referred to in Section 7(a) hereof, is an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “ PCAOB ”).

(o) Internal Controls and Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley . Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) are in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and all applicable

 

6


Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “ Internal Controls ”) that comply with the Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Internal Controls are, or upon consummation of the offering of the Offered Securities will be, overseen by the Audit Committee (the “ Audit Committee ”) of the Board in accordance with Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the Board a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in Internal Controls.

(p) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock and (iii) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(q) Title to Property . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have (i) good and defensible title to all of the interests in oil and gas properties underlying the Company’s estimates of its net proved reserves contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and (ii) good and marketable title to all other real and personal property reflected in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as assets owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as (w) are described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (x) are liens and encumbrances under operating agreements, unitization and pooling agreements, production sales contracts, farmout agreements and other oil and gas exploration, participation and production agreements, in each case that secure payment of amounts not yet due and payable for the performance of other unmatured obligations and are of a scope and nature customary in the oil and gas industry or arise in connection with drilling and production operations, (y) do not materially affect the value of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and do not interfere in any material respect with the use made or proposed to be made of such properties by the Company or its Subsidiaries or (z) as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; any other real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or its Subsidiaries. With respect to interests in oil and gas properties obtained by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have not yet been drilled or included in a unit for drilling, the Company and its Subsidiaries have carried out such title investigations in accordance with the customary practice in the oil and gas industry in the areas in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

 

7


(r) Possession of Licenses and Permits . After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“ Permits ”) as are necessary or material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have fulfilled and performed all of their obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event will have occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

(s) Possession of Intellectual Property . After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will own, possess, or will be able to acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) and other intellectual property (collectively, “ intellectual property rights ”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have no reason to believe that the conduct of their business will conflict with, and will have not received any notice of infringement of or any claim of conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Litigation . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement. To the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) are threatened or contemplated.

(u) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or by-laws (or similar organizational or governing documents) or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Environmental Laws . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) is or has been in violation of any foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree, decision, ordinance, code or other legally binding requirement (including common law) relating to the pollution, protection or restoration of the environment, wildlife or natural resources; occupational health or workplace safety; or the generation, use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, discharge, disposal or release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Substance (as defined below) (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (B) is conducting or funding, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, monitoring or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law, including to address any actual or suspected Hazardous Substance, (C) has received notice of, or is

 

8


subject to any action, suit, claim or proceeding alleging, any actual or potential liability under, or violation of, any Environmental Law, including with respect to any Hazardous Substance, (D) is party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under applicable Environmental Law, or (E) is or has been in violation of, or has failed to obtain and maintain, any permit, license, authorization, identification number or other approval required under applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any violation of or liability under any Environmental Law, including with respect to any Hazardous Substance, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, for such matters as would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) is subject to any pending proceeding pursuant to any Environmental Law in which any foreign, federal, state or local governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, nor does the Company or any of its Subsidiaries know any such proceeding is contemplated, (B) is aware of any material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its Subsidiaries resulting from compliance with Environmental Laws, or (C) anticipates any material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws. For purposes of this subsection, “ Hazardous Substance ” means (y) any pollutant, contaminant, petroleum and petroleum products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or toxic mold, and (z) any other toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous chemical, material, waste or substance.

(w) Taxes . The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and no material tax deficiency has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Investment Company Act . The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(y) Reserve Engineer . Cawley Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (“ Cawley ”), whose reports appear in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and who has delivered the letter referred to in Section 7(b) hereof, was, as of the date of such report, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(z) Reserve Report Information. The information contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus regarding estimated proved reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries is based upon the reserve reports prepared by Cawley. The information provided to Cawley, by the Company and its Subsidiaries was true and correct in all material respects on the dates the reports were made. Such information was provided to Cawley in accordance with all customary industry practices.

(aa) Reserve Reports; Production Estimates. The factual information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices. Other than normal production of reserves, intervening market commodity price fluctuations,

 

9


fluctuations in demand for such products, adverse weather conditions, unavailability or increased costs of rigs, equipment, supplies or personnel, the timing of third party operations and other factors, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any facts or circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in the aggregate net reserves, or the aggregate present value of future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(bb) Absence of Manipulation . The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(cc) Anti-Corruption . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any director, officer or employee, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to unlawfully influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and will maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

(dd) Anti-Money Laundering .    The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ee) Economic Sanctions.

 

  (i)

Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“ Person ”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

 

  (A)

the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council (UN), the European Union (EU), Her Majesty’s Treasury (UK HMT), the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”); nor

 

  (B)

located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Crimea and Syria).

 

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  (ii)

The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

  (A)

to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

  (B)

in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

  (iii)

For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

(ff) Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, that would be required to be described in a registration statement of the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K, exists between or among the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, that has not been described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(gg) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) Accurate Disclosure . The statements made in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Business—Legal Proceedings,” “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters,” “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” “Certain ERISA Considerations,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity—Our Term Loan Facility” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity—Prior Revolving Credit Facility,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown, in each case in all material respects.

(ii) Insurance . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are adequate and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any material insurance coverage sought or applied for; neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain

 

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similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Company will obtain directors’ and officers’ insurance in such amounts as is customary for an initial public offering.

(jj) Cybersecurity . (i)(A) To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third-party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries), equipment or technology (collectively, “ IT Systems and Data ”) and (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification; and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards.

(kk) Compliance with ERISA . Except, in each case, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and as set forth in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (i) each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)) for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) the “ Controlled Group ”) would have any material liability (each a “ Plan ”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, (A) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply, (B) no Plan is or is reasonably expected to be in “at-risk status” (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303(i) of ERISA), (C) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, there has been no filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan or the receipt by the Company or any member of the Controlled Group from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, (D) no conditions contained in Section 303(k)(1)(A) of ERISA for imposition of a lien shall have been met with respect to any Plan and (E) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA) (a “ Multiemployer Plan ”)); (iv) no Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, “insolvent” (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), in “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 304 of ERISA); and (v) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

 

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(ll) No Restriction on Dividends . No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on its limited partner or limited liability company interests, as applicable, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to it from the Company or from transferring any of its property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary, except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(mm) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in a Registration Statement, a Statutory Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

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

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

(pp) Listing . The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”), subject to notice of issuance.

(qq) Emerging Growth Company Status . From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Initial Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”).

(rr) Testing-the-Waters Communication . The Company (a) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in any Testing-the-Waters Communication. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communication. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication.

(ss) Absence of Unlawful Influence. The Company has not offered or sold, or caused the Underwriters to offer or sell, any Offered Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

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

 

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The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of the Company, at the office of Latham & Watkins LLP, 811 Main Street, Suite 3700, Houston, Texas 77002, at [ ● ] A.M., New York time, on [ ● ], 2019, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ First Closing Date .” For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the First Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. Delivery of the Firm Securities will be made through the facilities of the Depositary Trust Company (the “ DTC ”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

In addition, upon written notice from the Representatives given to the Company from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of shares of Optional Securities as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option and (ii) the time, date and place at which the Optional Securities will be delivered (each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities being herein referred to as an “ Optional Closing Date ,” which may be the First Closing Date) (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a “ Closing Date ”). The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name bears to the total number of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over allotments made in connection with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company.

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

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

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

(a) Additional Filings. Unless filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) as part of the Additional Registration Statement in accordance with the next sentence, the Company will file the Final Prospectus, in a form approved by the Representatives, with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Representatives, subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A) the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and provide satisfactory evidence to the Representatives of

 

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such timely filing. If an Additional Registration Statement is necessary to register a portion of the Offered Securities under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will file the additional registration statement or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, on or prior to the time the Final Prospectus is finalized and distributed to any Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later date as shall have been consented to by the Representatives.

(b) Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement at any time the Initial Registration Statement, any Additional Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus and will not effect such amendment or supplementation without the Representatives’ consent; and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of (i) the effectiveness of any Additional Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement), (ii) any amendment or supplementation of a Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus, (iii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to any Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (v) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.

(d) Rule 158. As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement), which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, “ Availability Date ” means the day after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such Effective Time on which the Company is required to file its Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “ Availability Date ” means the day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter on which the Company is required to file its Form 10-K.

(e) Furnishing of Prospectuses. The Company will furnish, upon request, to the Representatives copies of each Registration Statement (three of which will be signed and will include all exhibits), each related Statutory Prospectus, and, so long as a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case in such quantities as the Representatives request. The Final Prospectus shall be so furnished within two

 

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business days following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Representatives. All other such documents shall be so furnished as soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution.

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

(h) Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to any filing fees and other expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and the preparation and printing of memoranda relating thereto, costs and expenses related to the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) of the Offered Securities (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters not to exceed $30,000 relating to such review), costs and expenses relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees; provided, however , that the Underwriters shall be responsible for 50% of the costs of any private aircraft chartered by or on behalf of the Company in connection with such presentations, and any other expenses of the Company including, fees and expenses incident to listing the Offered Securities on the NYSE, fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange Act, and expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors. It is understood, however, that except as provided herein, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel and any road show expenses incurred by them (other than costs and expenses incurred by the Underwriters on behalf of the Company).

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

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

 

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(k) (i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. For the period specified below (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions with respect to its Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of its Securities (“ Lock-Up Securities ”): (A) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Lock-Up Securities, (B) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase Lock-Up Securities, (C) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Lock-Up Securities, (D) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in Lock-Up Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (E) file with or confidentially submit to the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to Lock-Up Securities, or publicly disclose the intention to take any such action, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, except (1) the sale of Securities to the Underwriters as contemplated by this Agreement, (2) the issuance of Securities in connection with the Reorganization Transactions (3) issuances of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to the conversion, exchange or redemption of convertible, exchangeable or redeemable securities or the exercise of warrants or options, in each case outstanding on the date hereof, (4) grants of employee stock options or other compensatory awards pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof or otherwise described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or issuances of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to the exercise or vesting of such options or other compensatory awards (5) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to issuances of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to the terms of a plan described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or (6) issuances of Lock-Up Securities as consideration for the acquisition of equity interests or assets of any person, or the acquiring by the Company by any other manner of any business, properties, assets or persons, in one transaction or a series of related transactions or the filing of a registration statement relating to such Lock-Up Securities , provided that (x) no more than an aggregate of 10% of the number of shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding immediately after the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement are issued and (y) prior to the issuance of such shares of the Company’s capital stock, each recipient of such shares agrees in writing to be subject to the “lock-up” described in this Section 5(k)(i) for the remaining term of the Lock-Up Period. The Company shall not make a public announcement or make any public filing with the Commission in connection with the actions described in clauses (1) and (2) above without prior consent of the Representatives. Further, if the Company is required to file a registration statement with the Commission in connection with an action described in clauses (1), (2) and (6) above, the Company shall provide the Representatives with notice of such filing at least three business days prior to such filing. The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date hereof and continue for 180 days after the date hereof or such earlier date that the Representatives consent to in writing.

(ii) Agreement to Announce Lock-Up Waiver. If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 7(h) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(l) Testing-the-Waters Communication. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such statement or omission.

 

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(m) Emerging Growth Company Status . The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period.

(n) Transfer Restrictions. In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Designated Underwriter will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so restricted. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time.

(o) Payment of Expenses Related to Directed Share Program. The Company will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel (including non-U.S. counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

6. Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company and the Representatives agree that any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is listed on Schedule B hereto. The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping. The Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at a time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption of Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

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

(a) Auditor Comfort Letters. The Representatives shall have received “comfort letters,” dated the date hereof, of KPMG in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statements, the General Disclosure Package and other customary matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings. In addition, on each Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from KPMG “bring-down comfort letters” dated such Closing Date addressed to the Underwriters, in form and

 

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substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, in the form of the “comfort letters” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) it shall state the conclusions and findings of KPMG with respect to the financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and other customary matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three (3) business days prior to such Closing Date, except as otherwise agreed by the Representatives.    

(b) Cawley Comfort Letters . The Representatives shall have received a “comfort letter,” dated the date hereof, of Cawley, independent petroleum engineers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the oil and gas reserves information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and other customary matters. In addition, on each Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from Cawley a “bring-down comfort letter” dated such Closing Date addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, in the form of the “comfort letter” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) it shall cover the oil and gas reserves information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date, except as otherwise agreed by the Representatives.

(c) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. If the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Final Prospectus is finalized and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later time as shall have been consented to by the Representatives. The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

(d) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating) or any announcement that the Company has been placed on negative outlook; (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the NYSE, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment or clearance services in the United States or any other country where such securities are listed or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.

 

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(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Company, as to the matters described in Schedule E hereto.

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

(g) Officers’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any) satisfying the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was timely filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee in accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) of Regulation S-T of the Commission; and subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.

(h) Lock-Up Agreements. On or prior to the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received lockup letters in the form of Exhibit B from each of the parties listed on Schedule F hereto.

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

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

 

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in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Underwriter and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the “ Designated Entities ”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) arising out of or based upon the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) arising out of, related to, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Designated Entities.

(b) Indemnification of Company. Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of any Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the fifteenth and sixteenth paragraph relating to stabilization by the Underwriters under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so

 

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to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to the last paragraph in Section 8(a) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Designated Underwriter for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any, who control the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act of Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

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

9. Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First Closing Date or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered

 

22


Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 10 hereof (provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

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

11. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the Representatives at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD; and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to it at 5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78730, Attention: Blake C. Williams, with copies to Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Douglas E. McWilliams (Fax: (713) 615-5725) and Thomas G. Zentner III (Fax: (713) 615-5669).

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

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

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

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

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

 

23


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

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

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

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

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

17. Waiver of Jury Trial . The Company and its Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

18. Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

24


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

 

Very truly yours,
B RIGHAM M INERALS , I NC .
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

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

         

Name:  
Title:  
Acting on behalf of itself and as a Representative of the several Underwriters.

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

G OLDMAN S ACHS  & C O . LLC
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  
Acting on behalf of itself and as a Representative of the several Underwriters.

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter

   Number of
Firm Securities
to be Purchased
 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

  

[ ● ]

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     [ ● ]
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE B

 

1.

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

“General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” includes each of the following documents:

1. [None.]

 

2.

Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package

The following information is also included in the General Disclosure Package:

Price per share to the public: $[ ● ]


SCHEDULE C

Subsidiaries

 

Entity

 

Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Formation

Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC   Delaware
Brigham Resources, LLC   Delaware
Brigham Management, LLC   Delaware
Brigham Minerals, LLC   Delaware
Rearden Minerals, LLC   Delaware


SCHEDULE D

Jurisdictions of Foreign Qualification

 

Entity

 

Jurisdiction(s)

Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC   [ ● ]
Brigham Resources, LLC   [ ● ]
Brigham Management, LLC   [ ● ]
Brigham Minerals, LLC   [ ● ]
Rearden Minerals, LLC   [ ● ]


SCHEDULE E

Form of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. Opinion

 

1.

Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all jurisdictions set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto.

 

2.

Subsidiaries. Each of the Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, with power and authority (limited liability company) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and each of the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company in good standing in all jurisdictions set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto.

 

3.

Offered Securities; Capitalization. The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date have been duly authorized in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws (together, the “ Governing Documents ”) and when issued and delivered by the Company to the Underwriters upon payment therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued in accordance with the Governing Documents and fully paid and nonassessable, conform to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus in all material respects; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities under federal law, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) the Company’s Governing Documents or other instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound.

 

4.

Registration Rights. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights, or other similar rights, created pursuant to any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or registered by the Company under the Securities Act or otherwise .

 

5.

Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

6.

Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any federal or New York court, Delaware court or governmental agency is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, except (a) such as have been obtained or made, (b) for the registration of the offering and sale of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act, (c) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable federal or state securities or Blue Sky laws and the approval by FINRA of the underwriting terms and arrangements in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters or (d) for such consents that, if not obtained, have not or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.

Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to (a) the Governing Documents of the Company or the similar organizational documents of any of the Subsidiaries, (b) any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the DGCL or the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or (c) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party listed on Schedule II hereto, except, with respect to clauses (b) and (c), as would not


  reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of the Company and the Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company; it being understood that we express no opinion in clause (b) of this paragraph with respect to any federal or state securities, blue sky or anti-fraud laws, rules or regulations.

 

8.

Compliance with Registration Requirements: Effectiveness. The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Act; to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and any required filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such rule.

 

9.

Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and to issue and sell the Offered Securities.

 

10.

Authorization of Agreement. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

11.

Reorganization Transactions. The Reorganization Transactions have been duly authorized by the Company, Brigham Resources, LLC, Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC, Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC and Brigham Resources Operating, LLC.

 

12.

Accurate Summaries. The statements set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters,” “Description of Capital Stock” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and in the Registration Statement in Item 14, to the extent that they constitute descriptions or summaries of the terms of the Offered Securities or the documents referred to therein, or refer to statements of federal law, the laws of the State of Delaware or legal conclusions, are accurate in all material respects, subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein.

 

13.

Accurate Summaries. The statements contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects, subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein.

 

14.

Compliance as to Form. Each of the Registration Statement, at the time it was declared effective, the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, and the Final Prospectus, when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and at the Closing Date (in each case other than (a) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (b) the other financial data derived therefrom and (c) oil and natural gas reserve data or reports, in each case included in or omitted from the Registration Statement, or contained in or omitted from the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion), appeared on their face to comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act.

 

15.

LLC Agreement. The First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, enforceable against Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC in accordance with its terms, provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (b) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

We have participated in conferences with representatives of the Company and with representatives of its independent accountants and counsel for the Underwriters at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto and related matters were discussed. Although we have not independently verified, are not passing upon, and are not


assuming any responsibility for or expressing any opinion regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fairness of the statements contained in, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (except to the extent specified in paragraphs (12) and (13) above), based on the foregoing, in participation in this transaction (and relying as to factual matters on officers, employees, and other representatives of the Company), no facts have come to our attention that have caused us to believe that:

(a)     the Registration Statement, at the time it was declared effective (including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

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

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

except that in each case such counsel need not express any belief with respect to (i) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (ii) any other financial or accounting information, or (iii) any oil and natural gas reserve data or reports, in each case included in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.


SCHEDULE F

Parties Signing Lock-Up Agreement

Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC

WP Brigham Holdings, L.P.

Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC

WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P.

WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P.

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC

WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham), LLC

Pine Brook BXP Intermediate, L.P.

Pine Brook BXP II Intermediate, L.P.

Pine Brook PD Intermediate, L.P.

Yorktown Energy Partners IX, L.P.

Yorktown Energy Partners X, L.P.

Yorktown Energy Partners XI, L.P.

YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

Robert M. Roosa

Blake C. Williams

Harold D. Carter

John Holland

W. Howard Keenan, Jr.

James R. Levy

Richard Stoneburner

John R. Sult


SCHEDULE G

Schedule of Written Testing-the-Waters Communication

Brigham Minerals, Inc. Testing the Waters Presentation October 2018


Exhibit A

Form of Press Release

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

[Date]

Brigham Minerals, Inc. (“Company”) announced today that Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of shares of common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to    shares of the Company’s Class A common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on        ,        20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


Exhibit B

Form of Lock-Up Letter

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78730

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, New York 10010-3629

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As an inducement to the Underwriters to execute the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), pursuant to which an offering will be made that is intended to result in the establishment of a public market for the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Securities ”), of Brigham Minerals, Inc., and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby agrees that during the period specified in the following paragraph (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the undersigned will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Securities, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Securities, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (collectively, the “ Representatives ”). In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Securities.

The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement and continue and include the date that is 180 days after the public offering date set forth on the final prospectus used to sell the Securities (the “ Public Offering Date ”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

The restrictions in this Lock-Up Agreement shall not apply to: (a) any Securities acquired by the undersigned in the open market, (b) any transfer of Securities as a bona fide gift or to a family member, trust, family limited partnership or family limited liability company for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or his or her family members or, in the case of an entity, to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such entity, provided that (i) the donee or transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement prior to such transfer and (ii) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or otherwise, showing a reduction in ownership shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period)) and (c) any exercise of options or vesting or exercise of any other equity-based award, in each case under the Company’s equity incentive plan or any other plan or agreement described in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, including any Securities withheld by the Company to pay the applicable exercise price or taxes associated with such awards (provided that (i) no filing or public


announcement by any party under the Exchange Act or otherwise shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such exercise or vesting and (ii) any Securities received upon such exercise or vesting, following any applicable net settlement or net withholding, will also be subject to this Lock-Up Agreement). For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, a “ family member ” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the undersigned may enter into a written trading plan established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period; provided that no direct or indirect offers, pledges, sales, contracts to sell, sales of any option or contract to purchase, purchases of any option or contract to sell, grants of any option, right or warrant to purchase, loans, or other transfers or disposals of any Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Securities may be effected pursuant to such plan during the Lock-Up Period; and provided that no public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act regarding the establishment of such plan shall be required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company during the Lock-Up Period.

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

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions in this Lock-Up Agreement shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the above-referenced offering.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Securities, the Representatives will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Lock-Up Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

This Lock-Up Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. It is understood that if the Underwriting Agreement is executed yet terminates (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) prior to payment for and delivery of the Offered Securities, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement. Further, this Lock-Up Agreement shall lapse and become null and void if the Public Offering Date shall not have occurred on or before [ ● ], 2019. This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[ Signature Page Follows ]


Very truly yours,

 

[Name of officer, director or stockholder]

 

Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Brigham Minerals, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

SECOND: The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Corporation shall have all power necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of such acts and activities.

FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one thousand (1,000) shares of common stock, par value of one cent ($0.01) per share.

FIFTH: The name of the incorporator is Blake Williams and his mailing address is 5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78730.

SIXTH: In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation.

SEVENTH: The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as specified in, or determined in the manner provided in, the bylaws of the Corporation. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.

EIGHTH: The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

NINTH: No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article NINTH shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any right or protection of, or limitation of the liability of, a director of the Corporation existing at, or arising out of facts or incidents occurring prior to, the effective date of such repeal or modification.

TENTH: The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, change, or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of any nature conferred upon directors, stockholders, or any other persons by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article TENTH.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


I, the undersigned, being the incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, do make this Certificate, hereby declaring that this is my act and deed and that the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of June, 2018.

 

/s/ Blake Williams
Blake Williams, Incorporator

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

Brigham Minerals, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “ DGCL ”), hereby certifies as follows:

1.    The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 29, 2018.

2.    This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates, integrates and also further amends the Original Certificate of Incorporation, has been declared advisable by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”), duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation and duly executed and acknowledged by an authorized officer of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 103, 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL. References to this “ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ” herein refer to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time.

3.    The Original Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended, integrated and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

SECTION 1.1.     Name . The name of the Corporation is Brigham Minerals, Inc.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED AGENT

SECTION 2.1.     Registered Agent . The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

SECTION 3.1.     Purpose . The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended.


ARTICLE IV

CAPITALIZATION

SECTION 4.1.     Number of Shares .

(A)    The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is [●] shares of stock, classified as:

(1)     [●] shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”);

(2)    [●] shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class  A Common Stock ”); and

(3)    [●] shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class  B Common Stock ” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”).

(B)    The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of either Preferred Stock or Common Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

SECTION 4.2.     Provisions Relating to Preferred Stock .

(A)    Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations and powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board as hereafter prescribed (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”).

(B)    Subject to any limitations prescribed by law and the rights of any series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any, authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, and with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix and state by the Preferred Stock Designation the designations and powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each series of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1)    whether or not the series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate series either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

 

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(2)    the number of shares to constitute the series and the designation thereof;

(3)    restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other series;

(4)    whether or not the shares of any series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable or issuable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

(5)    whether or not the shares of a series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

(6)    the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable, the preference to or the relation to the payment of dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate;

(7)    the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

(8)    whether or not the shares of any series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable or redeemable for, the shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes or series of stock, securities or other property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange or redemption may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions; and

(9)    such other powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any series as may to the Board seem advisable.

(C)    The shares of each series of Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects.

 

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SECTION 4.3.     Provisions Relating to Common Stock .

(A)    Except as may otherwise be provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each share of Common Stock shall have identical rights and privileges in every respect. Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of Preferred Stock and any series thereof. Except as may otherwise be required by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share upon all matters which the stockholders are entitled to vote, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters upon which the stockholders are entitled to vote, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law on all matters put to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, the holders of Common Stock and the Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class).

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

(C)    Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them such dividends and distributions (payable in cash, stock or property), if, when and as may be declared thereon by the Board at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor. Dividends and other distributions shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock unless (i) the dividend consists of shares of Class B Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for shares of Class B Common Stock paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock and (ii) a dividend consisting of shares of Class A Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for shares of Class A Common Stock on equivalent terms is simultaneously paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock. If dividends are declared on the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock that are payable in shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for Common Stock, the dividends payable to the holders of Class A Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for Class A Common Stock), the dividends payable to the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class B Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for Class B Common

 

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Stock), and such dividends shall be paid in the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively (or securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively). In no event shall the shares of either Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock be split, divided, or combined unless the outstanding shares of the other class shall be proportionately split, divided or combined.

(D)    In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. A dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this paragraph (D), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

(E)    Shares of Class B Common Stock shall be redeemable for shares of Class A Common Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC dated as of [●], 2019, (the “ LLC Agreement ”). The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon redemption of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon any such redemption pursuant to the LLC Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such redemption of shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement by delivering to the holder of such shares of Class B Common Stock upon such redemption, cash in lieu of shares of Class A Common Stock in the amount permitted by and provided in the LLC Agreement or shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issued upon any such redemption will, upon issuance in accordance with the LLC Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(F)    No stockholder shall, by reason of the holding of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, have any preemptive or preferential right to acquire or subscribe for any shares or securities of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, which may at any time be issued, sold or offered for sale by the Corporation, unless specifically provided for in a Preferred Stock Designation.

 

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ARTICLE V

DIRECTORS

SECTION 5.1.     Term and Classes .

(A)    The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

(B)     The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock as specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation, and subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders, dated as of [●], 2019 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”), shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as is reasonably possible, with the initial term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effective date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the initial term of office of the second class to expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effective date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and the initial term of office of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effective date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal, and the Board shall be authorized to assign members of the Board, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, to such classes. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

SECTION 5.2.     Vacancies . Subject to applicable law, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor unless otherwise determined by the Board. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

SECTION 5.3.     Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation thereunder) and the

 

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terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 3 % of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, voting together as a single class and acting at a meeting of the stockholders in accordance with the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation. Except as applicable law otherwise provides, cause for the removal of a director shall be deemed to exist only if the director whose removal is proposed: (1) has been convicted of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction and that conviction is no longer subject to direct appeal; (2) has been found to have been grossly negligent in the performance of his duties to the Corporation in any matter of substantial importance to the Corporation by (a) the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the directors then in office (other than the director whose removal is proposed) at any meeting of the Board called for that purpose or (b) a court of competent jurisdiction; or (3) has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be mentally incompetent, which mental incompetency directly affects his ability to serve as a director of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a stockholder party to the Stockholders’ Agreement provides notice to the Corporation to remove a director designated by such stockholder pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Corporation may take all necessary action to cause such removal, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 5.4.     Number . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, and the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “ Whole Board ” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

SECTION 6.1.     Written Consents .

(A)    Prior to the date on which Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, WP Brigham Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham), LLC, Pine Brook BXP II Intermediate, L.P., Pine Brook BXP Intermediate, L.P., Pine Brook PD Intermediate, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners IX, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners X, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners XI, L.P. and YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP and their respective Affiliates (as such term is defined in Section  10.2 ) no longer collectively beneficially own more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “ Trigger Date ”), any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and

 

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without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

(B)    On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS

SECTION 7.1.     Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board; provided , however , that prior to the Trigger Date, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and the Secretary of the Corporation may fix the date, time and place, if any, of such special meeting. For special meetings not called by the Secretary of the Corporation, the Board may fix the date, time and place, if any, of such special meeting. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation shall not have the power to call or request a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

ARTICLE VIII

BYLAWS

SECTION 8.1.     Bylaws . In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. Stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided , however , that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (i) the bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation only (A) prior to the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 50% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, and (B) on and after the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 66 2 3 % in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class and (ii) so long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, the Board shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the bylaws of the Corporation, or the adoption of any new bylaw of the Corporation, that (x) would be contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement or (y) amends, alters or repeals the provisions of this clause (ii) or the

 

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immediately following sentence of this Section  8.1 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the bylaws of the Corporation shall be deemed to limit the ability of the parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof, provided that no amendment to the Stockholders’ Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement to which the bylaws of the Corporation are subject) shall amend the bylaws of the Corporation. No bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

ARTICLE IX

LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

SECTION 9.1.     Limitation of Director Liability . No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as it now exists. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by any amendment to the DGCL hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article IX that purports to limit the liability of a director shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE X

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

SECTION 10.1.    

(A)    Designated Parties (defined below) may own substantial equity interests in other entities and may make investments and enter into advisory service agreements and other agreements from time to time. Certain Designated Parties may also serve as employees, partners, officers or directors of other companies and, at any given time, certain Designated Parties may be in direct or indirect competition with the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. The Corporation waives, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the application of the doctrine of corporate opportunity (or any analogous doctrine) with respect to the Corporation to the Designated Parties. As a result of such waiver, no Designated Party shall have any obligation to refrain from: (A) engaging in or managing the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or developing or marketing any products or services that compete (directly or indirectly) with those of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; (B) investing in or owning any (public or private) interest in any Person engaged in the same or similar activities or lines of business as, or otherwise in competition with, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (including any Designated Party, a “ Competing Person ”); (C) developing a business relationship with any Competing Person; or (D) entering into any agreement to provide any service(s) to any Competing Person or acting as an officer, director, member, manager or advisor to, or other principal of, any Competing Person, regardless (in the case of each of (A) through (D)) of whether such activities are in direct or indirect competition with the business or activities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (the activities

 

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described in (A) through (D) are referred to herein as “ Specified Activities ”). To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces (for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries) any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Specified Activity that may be presented to or become known to any Designated Party.

(B)    Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article X , nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

(C)    If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance or any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

(D)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of, and to have consented to, the provisions of this Article X . This Article X shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation or any applicable law.

SECTION 10.2.     Definitions . For purposes of this Article X , the following terms have the following definitions:

(A)    “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person; with respect to any Designated Party member, an “Affiliate” shall include (1) any Person who is the direct or indirect ultimate holder of “equity securities” (as such term is described in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of such Designated Party member, and (2) any investment fund, alternative investment vehicle, special purpose vehicle or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed, advised or controlled by such Designated Party member.

 

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(B)    “ Designated Parties ” means Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, WP Brigham Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham), LLC, Pine Brook BXP II Intermediate, L.P., Pine Brook BXP Intermediate, L.P., Pine Brook PD Intermediate, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners IX, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners X, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners XI, L.P., YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP and any member of the Board who is not at the time an officer of the Corporation, and their respective Affiliates (other than the Corporation) and all of their respective interests in other entities (existing and future) that participate in the energy industry, as applicable.

(C)    “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, firm, association, or other entity.

ARTICLE XI

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 11.1.     Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders . The Corporation elects not to be governed by or subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL as now in effect or hereafter amended, or any successor statute thereto, and the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL shall not apply to the Corporation.

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

SECTION 12.1.     Amendments .

(A)    The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, from time to time, to amend this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision hereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

(B)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; provided , however , that, so long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, no provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered or repealed in any manner that would be contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement.

 

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(C)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), on and after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 3 % in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; provided , however , that the amendment, alteration or repeal of Section  4.1 shall only require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; and provided further , that, so long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, no provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered or repealed in any manner that would be contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement.

(D)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to limit the ability of the parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof, provided that no amendment to the Stockholders’ Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement to which this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is subject) shall amend this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

ARTICLE XIII

FORUM SELECTION

SECTION 13.1.     Exclusive Forum . Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (A) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (B) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (C) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Corporation, or (D) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except as to each of (A) through (D) above, for any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or over which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIII .

 

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If any provision or provisions of this Article XIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 13.2.     Stockholder Consent to Personal Jurisdiction . To the fullest extent permitted by law, if any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section  13.1 above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “ Foreign Action ”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (A) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section  13.1 above (an “ FSC Enforcement Action ”) and (B) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

ARTICLE XIV

CONFLICTS

SECTION 14.1.     Conflicts . For as long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, in the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and those contained in the Stockholders’ Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Stockholders’ Agreement shall govern and control, except as provided otherwise by mandatory provisions of the DGCL.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of [●], 2019.

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.
By:  

                                  

Name:  
Title:  

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS

OF

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

A Delaware Corporation

Date of Adoption:

July 16, 2018

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
  ARTICLE I   
  OFFICES   

Section 1.

  Registered Office      1  

Section 2.

  Other Offices      1  
  ARTICLE II   
  STOCKHOLDERS   

Section 1.

  Place of Meetings      1  

Section 2.

  Quorum; Adjournment of Meetings      1  

Section 3.

  Annual Meetings      2  

Section 4.

  Special Meetings      2  

Section 5.

  Record Date      2  

Section 6.

  Notice of Meetings      3  

Section 7.

  Stock List      3  

Section 8.

  Proxies      3  

Section 9.

  Voting; Elections; Inspectors      4  

Section 10.

  Conduct of Meetings      4  

Section 11.

  Treasury Stock      5  

Section 12.

  Action Without Meeting      5  
  ARTICLE III   
  BOARD OF DIRECTORS   

Section 1.

  Power; Number; Term of Office      5  

Section 2.

  Quorum      5  

Section 3.

  Place of Meetings; Order of Business      5  

Section 4.

  First Meeting      6  

Section 5.

  Regular Meetings      6  

Section 6.

  Special Meetings      6  

Section 7.

  Removal      6  

Section 8.

  Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors      6  

Section 9.

  Compensation      6  

Section 10.

  Action Without a Meeting; Telephone Conference Meeting      7  

Section 11.

  Approval or Ratification of Acts or Contracts by Stockholders      7  
  ARTICLE IV   
  COMMITTEES   

Section 1.

  Designation; Powers      7  

Section 2.

  Procedure; Meetings; Quorum      8  

Section 3.

  Substitution of Members      8  


  ARTICLE V   
  OFFICERS   

Section 1.

  Number, Titles and Term of Office      8  

Section 2.

  Salaries      8  

Section 3.

  Removal      8  

Section 4.

  Vacancies      8  

Section 5.

  Powers and Duties of the Chief Executive Officer      9  

Section 6.

  Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the Board      9  

Section 7.

  Powers and Duties of the President      9  

Section 8.

  Vice Presidents      9  

Section 9.

  Chief Financial Officer      9  

Section 10.

  Assistant Chief Financial Officers      9  

Section 11.

  Secretary      10  

Section 12.

  Assistant Secretaries      10  

Section 13.

  Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations      10  
  ARTICLE VI   
  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS   

Section 1.

  Right to Indemnification      10  

Section 2.

  Indemnification of Employees and Agents      11  

Section 3.

  Right of Claimant to Bring Suit      11  

Section 4.

  Nonexclusivity of Rights      11  

Section 5.

  Insurance      12  

Section 6.

  Savings Clause      12  

Section 7.

  Definitions      12  
  ARTICLE VII   
  CAPITAL STOCK   

Section 1.

  Certificates of Stock      12  

Section 2.

  Transfer of Shares      13  

Section 3.

  Ownership of Shares      13  

Section 4.

  Regulations Regarding Certificates      13  

Section 5.

  Lost or Destroyed Certificates      13  
  ARTICLE VIII   
  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS   

Section 1.

  Fiscal Year      14  

Section 2.

  Corporate Seal      14  

Section 3.

  Notice and Waiver of Notice      14  

Section 4.

  Resignations      14  

Section 5.

  Facsimile Signatures      14  

Section 6.

  Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records      14  

Section 7.

  Form of Records      14  
  ARTICLE IX   
  AMENDMENTS   

Section 1.

  Amendments      15  


BYLAWS

OF

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office . The registered office of Brigham Minerals, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) to be maintained in the State of Delaware, shall be the registered office named in the original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and restated from time to time, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), or such other office as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) in the manner provided by law. Should the Corporation maintain a principal office within the State of Delaware such registered office need not be identical to such principal office of the Corporation.

Section 2. Other Offices . The Corporation may have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Place of Meetings . All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation, or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware as shall be specified or fixed in the notices or waivers of notice thereof.

Section 2. Quorum; Adjournment of Meetings . Unless otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of shares of stock with a majority of the voting power entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders for the transaction of business. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Shares of the Corporation’s stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if such shares of stock representing a majority of the voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation are held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

Notwithstanding the other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of shares of stock with a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy at any meeting of stockholders, whether or not a quorum is present, shall have the power to adjourn such meeting from time to time, without any notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the holding of the adjourned meeting; provided, however, if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the

 

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adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

Section 3. Annual Meetings . An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix and set forth in the notice of the meeting, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 4. Special Meetings . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board (if any), by the Chief Executive Officer or by a majority of the Board of Directors, or by a majority of the executive committee (if any), and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board (if any), by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary upon the written request therefor, stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting, delivered to such officer, signed by the holder(s) of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote at such meeting.

Section 5. Record Date . For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders, which date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.

If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date for any meeting of the stockholders, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if in accordance with Article VIII , Section  3 of these bylaws notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. If, in accordance with Section  12 of this Article II , corporate action without a meeting of stockholders is to be taken, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to such corporate action in writing, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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Section 6. Notice of Meetings . Written notice of the place, date and hour of all meetings, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board (if any) or the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or the other person(s) calling the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat and shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, personally, by electronic transmission or by mail. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The Corporation may provide stockholders with notice of a meeting by electronic transmission provided such stockholders have consented to receiving electronic notice.

Section 7. Stock List . A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The stock list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

Section 8. Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy. Proxies for use at any meeting of stockholders shall be filed with the Secretary, or such other officer as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by resolution, before or at the time of the meeting. All proxies shall be received and taken charge of and all ballots shall be received and canvassed by the secretary of the meeting who shall decide all questions touching upon the qualification of voters, the validity of the proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes, unless an inspector or inspectors shall have been appointed by the chairman of the meeting, in which event such inspector or inspectors shall decide all such questions.

No proxy shall be valid after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Each proxy shall be revocable unless expressly provided therein to be irrevocable and coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.

Should a proxy designate two or more persons to act as proxies, unless such instrument shall provide the contrary, a majority of such persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, each proxy so attending shall be entitled to exercise such powers in respect of the same portion of the shares as he or she is of the proxies representing such shares.

 

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Section 9. Voting; Elections; Inspectors . Unless otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote which is registered in his or her name on the record date for the meeting. Shares registered in the name of another corporation, domestic or foreign, may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the bylaw (or comparable instrument) of such corporation may prescribe, or in the absence of such provision, as the Board of Directors (or comparable body) of such corporation may determine. Shares registered in the name of a deceased person may be voted by his or her executor or administrator, either in person or by proxy.

All elections for directors shall be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present. All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon. Every stock vote shall be taken by written ballots, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting.

At any meeting at which a vote is taken by ballots, the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors, each of whom shall subscribe an oath or affirmation to execute faithfully the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Such inspector shall ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, count all votes and ballots, determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. The chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to serve as inspector, except no candidate for the office of director shall be appointed as an inspector.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited.

Section 10. Conduct of Meetings . The meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board (if any), or if he or she is not present, by the Chief Executive Officer, or if neither the Chairman of the Board (if any), nor Chief Executive Officer is present, by a chairman elected at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, if present, shall act as secretary of such meetings, or if he or she is not present, an Assistant Secretary shall so act; if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, then a secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him in order.

 

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Section 11. Treasury Stock . The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it or any other corporation, if a majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly by the Corporation and such shares shall not be counted for quorum purposes.

Section 12. Action Without Meeting . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action permitted or required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws to be taken at a meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than a unanimous written consent shall be given by the Secretary to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Power; Number; Term of Office . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, and subject to the restrictions imposed by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, they may exercise all the powers of the Corporation.

The number of directors of the Corporation shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors, unless the Certificate of Incorporation fixes the number of directors, in which case a change in the number of directors shall be made only by amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation. Each director shall hold office for the term for which he or she is elected, and until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, directors need not be stockholders nor residents of the State of Delaware.

Section 2. Quorum . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Board of Directors and the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Place of Meetings; Order of Business . The directors may hold their meetings and may have an office and keep the books of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by law, in such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by resolution. At all meetings of the Board of Directors business shall be transacted in such order as shall from time to time be determined by the Chairman of the Board (if any), or in his or her absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 4. First Meeting . Each newly elected Board of Directors may hold its first meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a quorum is present, immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of the stockholders. Notice of such meeting shall not be required.

Section 5. Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required.

Section 6. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board (if any), the Chief Executive Officer or, on the written request of any two directors, by the Secretary, in each case on at least twenty-four (24) hours personal or written notice or on at least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice by electronic transmission to each director. Such notice, or any waiver thereof pursuant to Article VIII , Section  3 hereof, need not state the purpose or purposes of such meeting, except as may otherwise be required by law or provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

Section 7. Removal . Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors; provided that, unless the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides, if the Board of Directors is classified, then the stockholders may effect such removal only for cause; and provided further that, if the Certificate of Incorporation expressly grants to stockholders the right to cumulate votes for the election of directors and if less than the entire Board of Directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his or her removal would be sufficient to elect him or her if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire Board of Directors, or, if there be classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which such director is a part.

Section 8. Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or a sole remaining director; and any director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until his or her successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced.

If the directors of the Corporation are divided into classes, any directors elected to fill vacancies or newly created directorships shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such directors shall have been chosen, and until their successors shall be duly elected and shall qualify.

Section 9. Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

 

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Section 10. Action Without a Meeting; Telephone Conference Meeting . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, subject to the requirement for notice of meetings, members of the Board of Directors, or members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 11. Approval or Ratification of Acts or Contracts by Stockholders . The Board of Directors in its discretion may submit any act or contract for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders, or at any special meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of considering any such act or contract, and any act or contract that shall be approved or be ratified by the vote of the holders of shares of stock representing a majority of the voting power entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at such meeting (provided that a quorum is present), shall be as valid and as binding upon the Corporation and upon all the stockholders as if it has been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation. In addition, any such act or contract may be approved or ratified by the written consent of the holders of shares of stock representing a majority of the voting power entitled to vote and such consent shall be as valid and as binding upon the Corporation and upon all the stockholders as if it had been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Designation; Powers . The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, including, if they shall so determine, an executive committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any such designated committee shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation as may be provided in such resolution, except that no such committee shall have the power or authority of the Board of Directors in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders an agreement of merger, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution of the Corporation, or amending, altering or repealing the bylaws or adopting new bylaws for the Corporation and, unless such resolution or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Any

 

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such designated committee may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. In addition to the above, such committee or committees shall have such other powers and limitations of authority as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Procedure; Meetings; Quorum . Any committee designated pursuant to Section  1 of this Article IV shall choose its own chairman, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when requested, shall fix its own rules or procedures, and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by such rules, or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board of Directors. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution.

Section 3. Substitution of Members . The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. Number, Titles and Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, President and a Secretary and, if the Board of Directors so elects, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents (any one or more of whom may be designated Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President), a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time elect or appoint. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the Certificate of Incorporation provides otherwise. Except for the Chairman of the Board, if any, no officer need be a director.

Section 2. Salaries . The salaries or other compensation of the officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Removal . Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed, either with or without cause, by the vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors at a special meeting called for the purpose, or at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

Section 4. Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 5. Powers and Duties of the Chief Executive Officer . The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors designates the Chairman of the Board or any other officer as Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the executive committee (if any), the Chief Executive Officer shall have general executive charge, management and control of the properties, business and operations of the Corporation with all such powers as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities; he or she may agree upon and execute all leases, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other obligations in the name of the Corporation and may sign all certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation; and shall have such other powers and duties as designated in accordance with these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the Board . If elected, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors; shall have such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Powers and Duties of the President . Unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, the President shall have the authority to agree upon and execute all leases, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other obligations in the name of the Corporation; and, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, he or she shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or if there be no Chairman of the Board, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and (should he or she be a director) of the Board of Directors; and he or she shall have such other powers and duties as designated in accordance with these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

Section 8. Vice Presidents . In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of a Vice President to perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, or in the event of his or her absence or inability or refusal to act, the Vice President who is present and who is senior in terms of time as a Vice President of the Corporation shall so act. The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

Section 9. Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer, if any, shall have responsibility for the custody and control of all the funds and securities of the Corporation, and he or she shall have such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall perform all acts incident to the position of Chief Financial Officer, subject to the control of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors; and he or she shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give such bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such form as the Board of Directors may require.

Section 10. Assistant Chief Financial Officers . Each Assistant Chief Financial Officer, if any, shall have the usual powers and duties pertaining to his or her office, together with such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors. The Assistant Chief Financial Officers shall exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer during that officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act.

 

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Section 11. Secretary . The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, committees of directors and the stockholders, in books provided for that purpose; he or she shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices; he or she may in the name of the Corporation affix the seal of the Corporation to all contracts of the Corporation and attest the affixation of the seal of the Corporation thereto; he or she may sign with the other appointed officers all certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation; he or she shall have charge of the certificate books, transfer books and stock ledgers, and such other books and papers as the Board of Directors may direct, all of which shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection of any director upon application at the office of the Corporation during business hours; he or she shall have such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer; and he or she shall in general perform all acts incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors.

Section 12. Assistant Secretaries . Each Assistant Secretary, if any, shall have the usual powers and duties pertaining to his or her office, together with such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors. The Assistant Secretaries shall exercise the powers of the Secretary during that officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act.

Section 13. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations . Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other corporation in which the Corporation may hold securities and to otherwise exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

Section 1. Right to Indemnification . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving or having agreed to serve as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense, liability and loss (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise

 

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taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to serve in the capacity which initially entitled such person to indemnity hereunder and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof), other than a proceeding (or part thereof) brought under Section  3 of this Article VI , initiated by such person or his or her heirs, executors and administrators only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article VI shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a current, former or proposed director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer or proposed director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is or has been agreed to be rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such indemnified person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.

Section 2. Indemnification of Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation, individually or as a group, with the same scope and effect as the indemnification of directors and officers provided for in this Article VI .

Section 3. Right of Claimant to Bring Suit . If a written claim received by the Corporation from or on behalf of an indemnified party under this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within ninety (90) days after such receipt, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

Section 4. Nonexclusivity of Rights . The right to indemnification and the advancement and payment of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any law (common or statutory), provision of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

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Section 5. Insurance . The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Section 6. Savings Clause . If this Article VI or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each director and officer of the Corporation (each, a “ Covered Person ”), as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VI shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any Covered Person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

Section 7. Definitions . For purposes of this Article, reference to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the Corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger prior to (or, in the case of an entity specifically designated in a resolution of the Board of Directors, after) the adoption hereof and which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had the power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

ARTICLE VII

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 1. Certificates of Stock . Except as provided in this Section  1 of Article VII , the certificates for shares of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be in such form, not inconsistent with that required by law and the Certificate of Incorporation, as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board (if any), Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President shall cause to be issued to each stockholder one or more certificates, under the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof if the Board of Directors shall have provided for such seal, and signed by the Chairman of the Board (if any), Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Chief Financial Officer or an Assistant Chief Financial Officer certifying the number of shares (and, if the stock of the Corporation shall be divided into classes or series, the class and series of such shares) owned by such stockholder in the

 

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Corporation; provided, however, that any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. The stock record books and the blank stock certificate books shall be kept by the Secretary, or at the office of such transfer agent or transfer agents as the Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution determine. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who shall have signed or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been placed upon any such certificate or certificates shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued by the Corporation, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The stock certificates shall be consecutively numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued and shall exhibit the holder’s name and number of shares. The Board of Directors may deem that any outstanding shares of the Corporation will be uncertificated and registered in such form on the stock books of the Corporation.

Section 2. Transfer of Shares . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and any other applicable agreements regarding the transfer of stock, the shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives upon surrender and cancellation of certificates for a like number of shares. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and any other applicable agreements regarding the transfer of stock, upon surrender to the Corporation or a transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

Section 3. Ownership of Shares . The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of capital stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 4. Regulations Regarding Certificates . The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 5. Lost or Destroyed Certificates . The Board of Directors may determine the conditions upon which a new certificate of stock may be issued in place of a certificate which is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed; and may, in their discretion, require the owner of such certificate or his or her legal representative to give bond, with sufficient surety, to indemnify the Corporation and each transfer agent and registrar against any and all losses or claims which may arise by reason of the issue of a new certificate in the place of the one so lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be such as established from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Corporate Seal . The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation. The Secretary shall have charge of the seal (if any). If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Chief Financial Officer or by the Assistant Secretary or Assistant Chief Financial Officer.

Section 3. Notice and Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or under the provisions of these bylaws, said notice shall be deemed to be sufficient if given by electronic transmission or by deposit of the same in a post office box in a sealed prepaid wrapper addressed to the person entitled thereto at his or her post office address, as it appears on the records of the Corporation, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day of such transmission or mailing, as the case may be.

Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or under any of the provisions of these bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

Section 4. Resignations . Any director, member of a committee or officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.

Section 5. Facsimile Signatures . In addition to the provisions for the use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, or by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care by the Board of Directors or by any such committee, or in relying in good faith upon other records of the Corporation.

Section 7. Form of Records . Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.

 

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ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments . If provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend and repeal from time to time bylaws of the Corporation, subject to the right of the stockholders entitled to vote with respect thereto to amend or repeal such bylaws as adopted or amended by the Board of Directors.

 

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Exhibit 3.4

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware

Date of Adoption: [ ], 2019

 

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES AND RECORDS

SECTION 1.1.     Registered Office . The registered office of Brigham Minerals, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) in the manner provided by applicable law.

SECTION 1.2.     Other Offices . The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

SECTION 1.3.     Books and Records . The books and records of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 2.1.     Annual Meetings . If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors of the Corporation shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, either within or outside of the State of Delaware, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.

SECTION 2.2.     Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board; provided , however , that prior to the first date on which Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, WP Brigham Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P., WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P., Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)

 

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(Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC, Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham), LLC, Pine Brook BXP II Intermediate, L.P., Pine Brook BXP Intermediate, L.P., Pine Brook PD Intermediate, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners IX, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners X, L.P., Yorktown Energy Partners XI, L.P. and YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP] (each, a “ Sponsor ”) and their respective Affiliates (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) no longer collectively beneficially own more than 50% of the combined outstanding shares of the Corporation’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (such stock, the “ Class  A Common Stock ”), and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (such stock, the “ Class  B Common Stock ” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ,” and such date, the “ Trigger Date ”), special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and the Secretary of the Corporation may fix the date, time and place, if any, of such special meeting. For purposes of these Bylaws, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). For special meetings not called by the Secretary of the Corporation, the Board may fix the date, time and place, if any, of such meeting. On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”), the stockholders of the Corporation shall not have the power to call or request a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “ Whole Board ” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

SECTION 2.3.     Record Date .

(A)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by applicable law, not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however , that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

(B)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to

 

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exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, exchange or redemption of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(C)    Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by applicable law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by applicable law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

SECTION 2.4.     Stockholder List . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders ( provided, however , if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10 th day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network ( provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting) or during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The stock list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

SECTION 2.5.     Place of Meeting . The Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, as the case may be, may designate the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the stockholders. If no designation is so made, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) and any other

 

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applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

SECTION 2.6.     Notice of Meeting . Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, written notice, stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, shall be given, not less than ten days nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify (A) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), (B) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (C) the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and (D) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called. If the stockholder list referred to in Section  2.4 of these Bylaws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed. If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. The Corporation may provide stockholders with notice of a meeting by electronic transmission provided such stockholders have consented to receiving electronic notice in accordance with the DGCL. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by applicable law. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting.

SECTION 2.7.     Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings .

(A)    Except as otherwise required by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. The chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time for any reason, whether or not there is such a quorum. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

(B)    Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a

 

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notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

SECTION 2.8.     Proxies . At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing (or in such other manner prescribed by the DGCL) by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.

SECTION 2.9.     Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

(A)    Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) complies with the notice procedures and other requirements set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law, or (d) by stockholders of the Corporation who are parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders, dated as of [●], 2019 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”). Sections  2.9(A)(1)(c) and (d)  of these Bylaws shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting and annual meeting proxy statement) before an annual meeting of the stockholders.

(2)    For any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section  2.9(A)(1)(c) of these Bylaws, (a) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL and (c) the record stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary of

 

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the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th day and not later than the close of business on the 90 th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided , however , that subject to the following sentence, in the event that the date of the annual meeting is scheduled for a date that is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date or in the event that no annual meeting was held in the prior year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the 10 th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this Section  2.9(A)(2) or Section  2.9(B) ) to the Secretary of the Corporation must:

(a)    set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such stockholder’s Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section  2.9(C)(2) ), if any, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such Stockholder Associated Person, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”), directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation held by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person, (C) a complete and accurate description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between or among such stockholder and such stockholder’s Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or persons in connection with such stockholder’s director nomination and the name and address of any other person(s) or entity or entities known to the stockholder to support such nomination, (D) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (E) any short interest in any security of the Corporation held by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (for purposes of these Bylaws, a person shall be deemed to have a “short interest” in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (F) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned

 

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beneficially by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (G) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (H) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household, (iii) any other information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (iv) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, and (v) a representation as to whether or not such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding stock reasonably believed by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect such nominee or nominees (such representation, a “ Solicitation Statement ”).

(b)    if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, if any, in such business, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment) and (iii) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among such stockholder and such stockholder’s Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and the name and address of any other person(s) or entity or entities in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;

(c)    set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for

 

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election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (iii) a representation that such person intends to serve a full term, if elected as director; and

(d)    with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board, include (i) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement in a form provided by the Corporation, which form the stockholder must request from the Secretary of the Corporation in writing with no less than 7 days advance notice and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

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(3)    A stockholder providing notice of a nomination or proposal of other business to be brought before a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (a) as of the record date for the meeting and (b) as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than seven business days prior to the date for the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof)).

(B)     Special Meetings of Stockholders .

On and after the Trigger Date, only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to a notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof (or stockholders pursuant to Article VII of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section  2.2 of these Bylaws prior to the Trigger Date) or (2) if the Board (or stockholders pursuant to Article VII of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section  2.2 of these Bylaws prior to the Trigger Date) has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, and subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (a) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (b) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (c) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law. The proposal by stockholders of other business to be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders may be made only in accordance with Article VII of the Certificate of Incorporation prior to the Trigger Date. In the event a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder delivers notice with the information required by Section  2.9(A)(1)(c) (with the updates required by Section  2.9(A)(3)) of these Bylaws with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section  2.9(A)(2)(d) of these Bylaws). Such notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th day prior to such special meeting or the 10 th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement or the announcement thereof of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(C)     General .

(1)    Subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law shall be eligible to serve as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws and applicable law, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

(2)    For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press, or any other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and “ Stockholder Associated Person ” shall mean, for any stockholder, (a) any person or entity controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (b) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder or (c) any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with any person or entity referred to in the preceding clauses (a) or (b).

(3)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided , however , that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section  2.9(A) or Section  2.9(B) of these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

(4)    Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section  2.9 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section  2.9 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy

 

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at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 2.10.     Conduct of Business . The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion. The Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or in the Chairman of the Board’s absence or if one shall not have been elected, the director or officer designated by the majority of the Whole Board, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders as “chairman of the meeting.”. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and for any reason to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of the chairman of the meeting, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (A) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (B) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (C) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (D) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (E) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (F) restrictions of the use of audio and video recording devices. The chairman of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting, and if such chairman of the meeting should so determine, such chairman of the meeting shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

SECTION 2.11.     Required Vote . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, at any meeting at which directors are to be elected, so long as a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes validly cast in such election. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors and certain non-binding advisory votes described below, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders. In non-binding advisory matters with more than two possible vote choices, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the voting power of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the recommendation of the stockholders.

 

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SECTION 2.12.     Treasury Stock . The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock belonging to it or any other corporation, if a majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such corporation is held, directly or indirectly by the Corporation, and such shares will not be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or such other corporation, to vote stock of the Corporation held in a fiduciary capacity.

SECTION 2.13.     Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls . The Corporation may, and when required by applicable law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders and the appointment of an inspector is required by applicable law, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by applicable law.

SECTION 2.14.     Stockholder Action by Written Consent .

(A)     Prior to the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

(B)    On and after the Trigger Date, subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 3.1.     General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board elected in accordance with these Bylaws. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

SECTION 3.2.     Number, Tenure and Qualifications . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any,

 

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and subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. The election and term of directors shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

SECTION 3.3.     Regular Meetings . Subject to Section  3.5 , regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places, as are determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 3.4.     Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the Board then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix the place, if any, date and time of the meetings. Any business may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board.

SECTION 3.5.     Notice . Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing by hand delivery, first-class or overnight mail, courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission or orally by telephone. If mailed by first-class mail, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered if deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five days before such meeting. If by overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered if the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least 24 hours before such meeting. If by facsimile or electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered if the notice is transmitted at least 24 hours before such meeting. If by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the time set for the meeting and shall be confirmed by facsimile or electronic transmission that is sent promptly thereafter. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws, as provided under Section  8.1 .

SECTION 3.6.     Action by Consent of Board . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, including by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 3.7.     Conference Telephone Meetings . Members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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SECTION 3.8.     Quorum . A whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice unless (A) the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section  3.5 of these Bylaws shall be given to each director, or (B) the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (A) shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.

SECTION 3.9.     Vacancies . Subject to applicable law, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor unless otherwise determined by the Board. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

SECTION 3.10.     Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation thereunder) and the terms of the Stockholder’s Agreement, any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 3 % of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, voting together as a single class and acting at a meeting of the stockholders in accordance with the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws. Except as applicable law otherwise provides, cause for the removal of a director shall be deemed to exist only if the director whose removal is proposed: (1) has been convicted of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction and that conviction is no longer subject to direct appeal; (2) has been found to have been grossly negligent in the performance of his duties to the Corporation in any matter of substantial importance to the Corporation by (a) the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the directors then in office (other than the director whose removal is proposed) at any meeting of the Board called for that purpose or (b) a court of competent jurisdiction; or (3) has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be mentally incompetent, which mental incompetency directly affects his ability to serve as a director of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a stockholder party to the Stockholders’ Agreement provides notice to the Corporation to remove a director designated by such stockholder pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Corporation may take all necessary action to cause such removal, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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SECTION 3.11.     Records . The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the stockholders, appropriate stock books and registers and such books of records and accounts as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Corporation.

SECTION 3.12.     Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.

SECTION 3.13.     Regulations . To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board may deem appropriate.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

SECTION 4.1.     Designation; Powers . Subject to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

SECTION 4.2.     Procedure; Meetings; Quorum . Any committee designated pursuant to Section  4.1 shall choose its own chairman in the event the chairman has not been selected by the Board by a majority vote of the members then in attendance at a meeting of the committee so long as a quorum is present, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by the charter of such committee or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting where a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution. The Board shall adopt a charter for each committee for which a charter is required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, may adopt a charter for any other committee, and may adopt other rules and regulations for the governance of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws or any such charter, and each committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of governance, to the extent not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any charter or other rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

SECTION 4.3.     Substitution of Members . The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a

 

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committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 5.1.     Officers . The Board shall elect the officers of the Corporation which shall include a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article  V . Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board or by any committee thereof or, with respect to any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Treasurer or Secretary, by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President, if any. The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President, if any, may appoint, such other officers (including a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and one or more Senior Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee thereof or by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 5.2.     Election and Term of Office . Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or appointed and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign, but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or, except in the case of an officer or agent elected by the Board, by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President, if any. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

SECTION 5.3.     Chairman of the Board . Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board and be the chairman of the meeting at all stockholder meetings. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, by another person designated by the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties incidental to his office that may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him by the Board. He shall make reports to the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chairman of the Board may also serve as Chief Executive Officer, if so elected by the Board. The Chairman of the Board may also have the title of Executive Chairman if the Chairman of the Board is also an officer of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 5.4.     Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall act in a general executive capacity subject to the oversight of the Chairman of the Board in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the Corporation.

SECTION 5.5.     President . The President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President (if any and if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the Board.

SECTION 5.6.     Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents . Each Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board or the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, if any.

SECTION 5.7.     Treasurer . The Treasurer, if any, shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds. He shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed upon him from time to time by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, if any.

SECTION 5.8.     Secretary . The Secretary, if any, shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the stockholders; he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by applicable law; he shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal; and he shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, if any.

SECTION 5.9.     Vacancies . A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board. Any vacancy in an office appointed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, if any, because of death, resignation or removal may be filled by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, if any.

 

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SECTION 5.10.     Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations . Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or any officer authorized by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other corporation or entity in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers that the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

SECTION 5.11.     Delegation . The Board may from time to time delegate the powers and duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS

SECTION 6.1.     Stock Certificates and Transfers . The interest of each stockholder of the Corporation evidenced by certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the appropriate officers of the Corporation may from time to time prescribe, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock may be uncertificated shares. The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued and shall exhibit the holder’s name and number of shares. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation, which may be maintained by a third-party registrar or transfer agent, by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for at least the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, at which time the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto (if the stock is then represented by certificates), cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

Each certificated share of stock shall be signed, countersigned and registered in the manner required by law. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

SECTION 6.2.     Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . No certificate for shares or uncertificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen, except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft and on delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board or any financial officer may in its or his discretion require.

 

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SECTION 6.3.     Ownership of Shares . The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 6.4.     Regulations Regarding Certificates . The Board shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation. The Corporation may enter into additional agreements with stockholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 7.1.     Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the 31 st day of December of each year.

SECTION 7.2.     Dividends . Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of stock, which dividends may be paid in either cash, property or shares of stock of the Corporation. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board, shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

SECTION 7.3.     Seal . If the Board determines that the Corporation shall have a corporate seal, the corporate seal shall have enscribed thereon the words “Corporate Seal,” the year of incorporation and the words “Brigham Minerals, Inc. — Delaware.”

SECTION 7.4.     Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, including by electronic transmission, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

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SECTION 7.5.     Resignations . Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice, including by electronic transmission, of such resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President (if any) or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, or at such later time as is specified therein. No formal action shall be required of the Board or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.

SECTION 7.6.     Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

(A)    The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (a “ Covered Person ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding.

(B)    The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided , however , that to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter, a “ final adjudication ”) that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section  7.6 or otherwise.

(C)    The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Section  7.6 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  7.6 , except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

(D)    If a claim for indemnification under this Section  7.6 (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within 60 days after the Corporation has

 

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received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Section  7.6 is not paid in full within 30 days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim, or a claim brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law. In (1) any suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (2) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Covered Person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because the Covered Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the Covered Person has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Covered Person has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Covered Person, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section  7.6 or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

(E)    The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Section  7.6 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

(F)    This Section  7.6 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

(G)    Any Covered Person entitled to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses, in each case pursuant to this Section  7.6 , may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and/or insurance provided by one or more persons with whom or which such Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor). The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees that (1) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any proceeding, expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section  7.6 , (2) the Corporation shall be primarily liable for all such obligations and any indemnification afforded to a Covered Person in respect of a proceeding, expense, liability or

 

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matter that is the subject of this Section  7.6 , whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract or otherwise, (3) any obligation of any persons with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor) to indemnify such Covered Person and/or advance expenses or liabilities to such Covered Person in respect of any proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, (4) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify each Covered Person and advance expenses to each Covered Person hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights such Covered Person may have against any other person with whom or which such Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor) or insurer of any such person, and (5) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other person with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor) from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Corporation hereunder.

(H)    The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

SECTION 7.7.     Facsimile and Electronic Signatures . In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile or electronic signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile or electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or President (if any).

SECTION 7.8.     Time Periods . In applying any provision of these Bylaws that require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

SECTION 7.9.     Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board, or by any other person as to the matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

SECTION 7.10.     Forum for Adjudication of Disputes .

(A)    Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the

 

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Corporation, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or (4) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees or agents governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except as to each of (1) through (4) above, for any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or over which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section  7.10 .

If any provision or provisions of this Section  7.10 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section  7.10 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section  7.10 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

(B)     To the fullest extent permitted by law, if any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section  7.10(A) above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “ Foreign Action ”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (1) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section  7.10(A) above (an “ FSC Enforcement Action ”) and (2) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

SECTION 7.11.     Conflicts . So long as the Stockholders’ Agreement is in effect, in the event of any conflict between the terms of these Bylaws and those contained in the Stockholders’ Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Stockholders’ Agreement shall govern and control, except as provided otherwise by mandatory provisions of the DGCL.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 8.1.     Amendments .

(A)     I n furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the

 

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Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. Stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided , however , that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation only (A) prior to the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 50% in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, and (B) on and after the Trigger Date by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than 66 2 3 % in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. No Bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

(B)    So long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, the Board shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of these Bylaws, or the adoption of any new Bylaw, that (x) would be contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement or (y) amends, alters or repeals the provisions of this Section 8.1(B). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to limit the ability of the parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof, provided that no amendment to the Stockholders’ Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision of the Stockholders’ Agreement to which these Bylaws are subject) shall amend these Bylaws, and (2) no amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 7.6 shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these Bylaws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former director, officer or employee thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

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Brigham Minerals CLASS A COMMON STOCK CUSIP INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE THIS CERTIFIES THAT IS THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE PER SHARE OF BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC. transferable on the books of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of the Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. WITNESS, the facsimile signature of the Corporation’s duly authorized officers. Dated: Robert M. Roosa, Chief Executive Officer [SEAL] Blake C. Williams, Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 4.2

FORM OF

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of             , 2019, by and among Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and each of the other parties listed on the signature pages hereto (the “ Initial Holders ” and, together with the Company, the “ Parties ”).

WHEREAS, in connection with, and in consideration of, the transactions contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-            ), the Initial Holders have requested, and the Company has agreed to provide, registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as hereinafter defined) as set forth in this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

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

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other person which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, the Holders shall not be considered Affiliates of the Company.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405.

Blackout Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3(o) .

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Brigham LLC Agreement means the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated as of [                    ], as amended.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal holiday or any other day on which banking institutions in the State of Texas or the State of New York are authorized or required to be closed by law or governmental action.

Class  A Common Stock ” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.


Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or Exchange Act.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Company Securities ” means any equity interest of any class or series in the Company.

Demand Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(a)(i) .

Demand Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(a)(i) .

Effective Date ” means the time and date that a Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective.

Effectiveness Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(a)(ii) .

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

Holder ” means (i) each Initial Holder unless and until such Initial Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities; and (ii) any holder of Registrable Securities to whom registration rights conferred by this Agreement have been transferred in compliance with Section  8(e) hereof; provided that any Person referenced in clause (ii) shall be a Holder only if such Person agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement.

Holder Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6(a) .

Holder Lock-Up Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3(q) .

Initial Holders ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Initiating Holder(s) ” means the Holder(s) delivering the Demand Notice or the Underwritten Offering Notice, as applicable.

Lock-Up Period ” has the meaning set forth in the underwriting agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the initial underwritten public offering of shares of Class A Common Stock.

Losses ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6(a) .

Managing Underwriter ” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager or managers of such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering.

Material Adverse Change ” means (i) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United States; (ii) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States; (iii) a material outbreak or escalation of armed

 

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hostilities or other international or national calamity involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or a change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions; or (iv) any event, change, circumstance or effect that is or is reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Minimum Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(a)(i) .

Overnight Underwritten Offering ” means an Underwritten Offering that is expected to be launched after the close of trading on one trading day and priced before the open of trading on the next succeeding trading day.

Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, estate, trust, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

Piggyback Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(c)(i) .

Piggyback Registration Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(c)(i) .

Piggyback Registration Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(c)(i) .

Proceeding ” means any action, claim, suit, proceeding or investigation (including a preliminary investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, to be threatened.

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

Registrable Securities ” means the Shares; provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall not include: (i) any Shares that have been registered under the Securities Act and disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or otherwise transferred to a Person who is not entitled to the registration and other rights hereunder; (ii) any Shares that have been sold or transferred by the Holder thereof pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act) and the transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144; and (iii) any Shares that cease to be outstanding (whether as a result of repurchase and cancellation, conversion or otherwise).

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5 .

 

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Registration Statement ” means a registration statement of the Company in the form required to register under the Securities Act and other applicable law the resale of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution of each Holder of Registrable Securities included therein, and including any Prospectus, amendments and supplements to each such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Requested Underwritten Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(b) .

Requested Underwritten Offering Minimum Condition ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(a)(iii) .

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

Rule 405 ” means Rule 405 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

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

Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder (except as set forth in Section  5 ).

Shares ” means (i) the shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Holders as of the date hereof, including the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be delivered in exchange for Units held by the Holders as of the date hereof, and (ii) and any other equity interests of the Company or equity interests in any successor of the Company issued in respect of such shares by reason of or in connection with any stock dividend, stock split, combination, reorganization, recapitalization, conversion to another type of entity or similar event involving a change in the capital structure of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a holder of Shares and such Shares shall be deemed to be in existence whenever such Person has the right to acquire such Shares (upon conversion, exchange or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right other than vesting), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Shares.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means a Registration Statement of the Company filed with the Commission on Form S-3 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act) for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 (or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission) covering the Registrable Securities, as applicable.

 

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Suspension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8(b) .

Trading Market ” means the principal national securities exchange on which Registrable Securities are listed.

Underwritten Offering ” means an underwritten offering of Class A Common Stock for cash (whether a Requested Underwritten Offering or in connection with a public offering of Class A Common Stock by the Company, stockholders or both), excluding an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan, an offering relating to a transaction on Form S-4 or S-8 or an offering on any registration statement form that does not permit secondary sales.

Underwritten Offering Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(b) .

Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(c)(ii) .

Underwritten Offering Piggyback Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(c)(ii) .

Underwritten Piggyback Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2(c)(ii) .

Units has the meaning given to such term in the Brigham LLC Agreement.

VWAP ” means, as of a specified date and in respect of Registrable Securities, the volume weighted average price for such security on the Trading Market for the five trading days immediately preceding, but excluding, such date.

WKSI ” means a “ well known seasoned issuer ” as defined under Rule 405.

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (b) references to Sections refer to Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (d) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (e) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (f) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (g) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; (h) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and (i) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated.

 

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2.      Registration .

(a)     Demand Registration .

(i)    At any time after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, any Holder(s) shall have the option and right, exercisable by delivering a written notice to the Company (a “ Demand Notice ”), to require the Company to, pursuant to the terms of and subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement registering the offering and sale of the number and type of Registrable Securities on the terms and conditions specified in the Demand Notice, which may include sales on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Demand Registration ”). The Demand Notice must set forth the number of Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holder(s) intend to include in such Demand Registration and the intended methods of disposition thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the Company be required to effectuate a Demand Registration unless the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holder(s) and their respective Affiliates to be included therein have an aggregate value, based on the VWAP as of the date of the Demand Notice, of at least $50 million (the “ Minimum Amount ”).

(ii)    Within thirty Business Days after the receipt of the Demand Notice (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, within 45 days thereof), the Company shall, subject to the limitations of this Section  2(a) , file a Registration Statement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Demand Notice. The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof under the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold (the “ Effectiveness Period ”).

(iii)    Subject to the other limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated hereunder to (A) file any Registration Statement pursuant to a Demand Registration within 90 days after the closing of any Requested Underwritten Offering, unless as a result of  Section  2(d) , the Requested Underwritten Offering includes less than (the “ Requested Underwritten Offering Minimum Condition ”) the lesser of (i) Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holder(s) having an aggregate value, based on the VWAP as of the effective date of the related Registration Statement, of $50 million, and (ii) two-thirds of the number of Registrable Securities the Initiating Holder(s) set forth in the applicable Underwritten Offering Notice, or (B) effect a subsequent Demand Registration pursuant to a Demand Notice if a Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities held by the Initiating Holder(s) shall have become and remains effective under the Securities Act and is sufficient to permit offers and sales of the number and type of Registrable Securities on the terms and conditions specified in the Demand Notice in accordance with the intended timing and method or methods of distribution thereof specified in the Demand Notice. No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section  2(a)(iii) if the Registration Statement relating thereto does not become effective or is not maintained effective for its entire Effectiveness Period, in which case the Initiating Holder(s) shall be entitled to an additional Demand Registration in lieu thereof.

 

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(iv)    A Holder may withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration from such Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement. Upon receipt of a notice from an Initiating Holder that such Initiating Holder is withdrawing an amount of its Registrable Shares such that the remaining amount of Registrable Shares to be included in the Demand Registration is below the Minimum Amount, the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement.

(v)    The Company may include in any such Demand Registration other Company Securities for sale for its own account or for the account of any other Person, subject to Section  2(d) .

(vi)    Subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company shall effect any Demand Registration on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (A) as shall be selected by the Company and (B) as shall permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in the Demand Notice; provided that if the Company becomes, and is at the time of its receipt of a Demand Notice, a WKSI, the Demand Registration for any offering and selling of Registrable Securities shall be effected pursuant to an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, which shall be on Form S-3 or any equivalent or successor form under the Securities Act (if available to the Company). If at any time a Registration Statement on Form S-3 is effective and a Holder provides written notice to the Company that it intends to effect an offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement, the Company will amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such offering to take place.

(vii)    Without limiting Section  3 , in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to and in accordance with this Section  2(a) , the Company shall (A) promptly prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed (1) such additional forms, amendments, supplements, prospectuses, certificates, letters, opinions and other documents, as may be necessary or advisable to register or qualify the securities subject to such Demand Registration, including under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of registration and (2) such forms, amendments, supplements, prospectuses, certificates, letters, opinions and other documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Registrable Securities subject to such Demand Registration on the Trading Market and (B) do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate or reasonably requested by the Holders to enable the Holders to consummate a public sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended timing and method or methods of distribution thereof.

(viii)    In the event a Holder transfers Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement and such Registrable Securities remain Registrable Securities following such transfer, at the request of such Holder, the Company shall amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such transferee to offer and sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided that in no event

 

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shall the Company be required to file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement unless (A) such Registration Statement includes only Registrable Securities held by the Holder, Affiliates of the Holder or transferees of the Holder or (B) the Company has received written consent therefor from a Person for whom Registrable Securities have been registered on (but not yet sold under) such Registration Statement, other than the Holder, Affiliates of the Holder or transferees of the Holder.

(b)     Requested Underwritten Offering . Any Initiating Holder(s) then able to effectuate a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section  2(a) , ignoring for purposes of such determination Section  2(a)(iii)(B) , shall have the option and right, exercisable by delivering written notice to the Company of its intention to distribute Registrable Securities by means of an Underwritten Offering (an “ Underwritten Offering Notice ”), to require the Company, pursuant to the terms of and subject to the limitations of this Agreement, to effectuate a distribution of any or all of its Registrable Securities by means of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a new Demand Registration or pursuant to an effective Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities (a “ Requested Underwritten Offering ”); provided, that the Registrable Securities of such Holder(s) requested to be included in such Requested Underwritten Offering have an aggregate value of at least equal to the Minimum Amount as of the date of such Underwritten Offering Notice. The Underwritten Offering Notice must set forth the number of Registrable Securities that such Holder intends to include in such Requested Underwritten Offering. The Managing Underwriter of a Requested Underwritten Offering shall be designated by the Company; subject to the consent of the Initiating Holder(s) (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect a Requested Underwritten Offering within 90 days after the closing of a Requested Underwritten Offering, unless as a result of Section 2(d), the prior Requested Underwritten Offering failed to satisfy the Requested Underwritten Offering Minimum Condition.

(c)     Piggyback Registration and Piggyback Underwritten Offering .

(i)    If the Company shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Class A Common Stock (other than a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan), whether or not for its own account, then the Company shall promptly notify all Holders of such proposal reasonably in advance of (and in any event at least five Business Days before) the anticipated filing date (the “ Piggyback Registration Notice ”). The Piggyback Registration Notice shall offer Holders the opportunity to include for registration in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as they may request in writing (a “ Piggyback Registration ”). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include in each such Piggyback Registration such Registrable Securities for which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (“ Piggyback Registration Request ”) within three Business Days after sending the Piggyback Registration Notice. Each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw; provided that such request must be made in writing prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement and such withdrawal shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, a Holder shall no longer have any right to include

 

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Registrable Securities in the Piggyback Registration as to which such withdrawal was made. Any withdrawing Holder shall continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of Class A Common Stock, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

(ii)    If the Company shall at any time propose to conduct an Underwritten Offering (including a Requested Underwritten Offering), whether or not for its own account, then the Company shall promptly notify all Holders of such proposal reasonably in advance of (and in any event at least two Business Days before in connection with a “bought deal” or Overnight Underwritten Offering) the commencement of the offering, which notice shall set forth the principal terms and conditions of the issuance, including the proposed offering price (or range of offering prices), the anticipated filing date of the related registration statement (if applicable) and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are proposed to be registered (the “ Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice ”). Receipt of any Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice required to be provided in this Section 2(c)(ii)  to Holders shall be kept confidential by the Holder until such proposed Underwritten Offering is (i) publicly announced or (ii) such Holder receives notice that such proposed Underwritten Offering has been abandoned, which such notice shall be provided promptly by the Company to each Holder. The Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice shall offer Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering (and any related registration, if applicable) the number of Registrable Securities as they may request in writing (an “ Underwritten Piggyback Offering ”); provided, however, that in the event that the Company proposes to effectuate the subject Underwritten Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement of the Company other than an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, only Registrable Securities of Holders which are subject to an effective Shelf Registration Statement may be included in such Underwritten Piggyback Offering, unless the Company is then able to file an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement and in the reasonable judgment of the Company, the filing of the same including Registrable Securities of Holders that are not otherwise included in an effective Shelf Registration Statement would not have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock in such Underwritten Piggyback Offering. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include in each such Underwritten Piggyback Offering such Registrable Securities for which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (“ Underwritten Offering Piggyback Request ”) within three Business Days after sending the Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice (or one Business Day in connection with a “bought deal” or Overnight Underwritten Offering). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section  2(c)(ii) , if the Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section  2(c)(ii) is a “bought deal” (other than a variable price reoffer) or Overnight Underwritten Offering and the Managing Underwriter advises the Company that the giving of notice pursuant to this Section  2(c)(ii) would have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock in such Underwritten Offering, no such notice shall be required. Each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities from an Underwritten Piggyback Offering at any time, and such Holder shall continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent Underwritten Offerings, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

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(iii)    The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section  2(c) at any time in its sole discretion whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section  4 hereof.

(d)     Priority in Underwritten Offerings . In connection with an Underwritten Offering, if the Managing Underwriter of any such Underwritten Offering advises the Company, and the Company advises the Holders in writing, that the total amount of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock) that the Holders and any other Persons (including the Company) intend to include in such Underwritten Offering (and any related registration, if applicable) exceeds the number that can be included in such Underwritten Offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock offered or the market for the Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock), then the Class A Common Stock to be included in such Underwritten Offering (in each case subject to the other terms and provisions of this Agreement) shall include the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that such Managing Underwriter advises the Company can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated as follows (in each case, with respect to such Persons that have validly requested to include shares of Class A Common Stock in such Underwritten Offering in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to rights of registration granted by the Company):

(i)    if the offering was initiated for and on behalf of the Company:

(A) first, to the Company;

(B) second, to the Holders, pro rata in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder; and

(C) third, to all other holders of Class A Common Stock entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then held by such other holders;

(ii)    in the case of a Requested Underwritten Offering:

(A) first, the Holders, pro rata based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder;

(B) second, to the Company; and

(C) third, pro rata among all other holders of Class A Common Stock entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then held by such other holders;

 

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(iii)    if the offering was not initiated for and on behalf of the Company and was initiated for and on behalf of any holder of registration rights (other than any Holder):

(A) first, to such other holders and the Holders, pro rata based on the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by such other holders and the Holders;

(B) second, to the Company; and

(C) third, pro rata among all other holders of Class A Common Stock proposed to be included in such offering based on the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by such other holders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an offering was initiated by the Holders, the Holders are unable to include in the offering all of the shares of Class A Common Stock included in the Underwritten Offering Piggyback Request and the underwriters in such offering exercise their option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares sold in such offering, the shares to be included in such option closings shall be allocated first to the Holders pro rata in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder until all shares included in the Underwritten Offering Piggyback Request are sold and second to the Company.

3.      Registration and Underwritten Offering Procedures .

The procedures to be followed by the Company and each Holder electing to sell Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement, and the respective rights and obligations of the Company and such Holders, with respect to the preparation, filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement and the effectuation of any Underwritten Offering, are as follows:

(a)    In connection with a Demand Registration, the Company will, at least five Business Days prior to the anticipated filing of the Registration Statement and any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than, after effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any filing made under the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement), (i) furnish to such Holders copies of all such documents prior to filing and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to address in each such document when so filed with the Commission such comments as such Holders reasonably shall propose prior to the filing thereof.

(b)    In connection with a Piggyback Registration, Underwritten Piggyback Offering or a Requested Underwritten Offering, the Company will, at least three Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of any Overnight Underwritten Offering or “bought deal”) prior to the anticipated filing of any initial Registration Statement that identifies the Holders and any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than amendments and supplements that do not materially alter the previous disclosure or do nothing more than name Holders and provide information with respect thereto), as applicable, (i) furnish to such Holders copies of any such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto that identify the Holders and any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than amendments and supplements that do not materially alter the previous

 

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disclosure or do nothing more than name Holders and provide information with respect thereto) prior to filing and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to address in each such document when so filed with the Commission such comments as such Holders reasonably shall propose prior to the filing thereof.

(c)    The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as reasonably practicable (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered thereby for its Effectiveness Period and, subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and (iii) respond to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably practicable provide such Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that pertains to such Holders as selling stockholders but not any comments that would result in the disclosure to such Holders of material and non-public information concerning the Company.

(d)    The Company will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the Registration Statements and the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement.

(e)    The Company will notify such Holders who are included in a Registration Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable: (i) (A) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement in which such Holder is included has been filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of the applicable Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement (in which case the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of such Holders that pertain to such Holders as selling stockholders); and (C) with respect to each applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has been declared effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains to such Holders as sellers of Registrable Securities; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence (but not the details) of any event or passage of time that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that,

 

12


in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided, however, that no notice by the Company shall be required pursuant to this clause (v)  in the event that the Company either promptly files a prospectus supplement to update the Prospectus or a Form 8-K or other appropriate Exchange Act report that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which in either case, contains the requisite information that results in such Registration Statement no longer containing any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading).

(f)    The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, as promptly as reasonably practicable, or if any such order or suspension is made effective during any Blackout Period or Suspension Period, as promptly as reasonably practicable after such Blackout Period or Suspension Period is over.

(g)    During the Effectiveness Period, the Company will furnish to each such Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Holder (including those incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system.

(h)    The Company will promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) authorized by the Company for use and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request during the Effectiveness Period. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, including Section  8(b) , the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

(i)    The Company will cooperate with such Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free of all restrictive legends indicating that the Registrable Securities are unregistered or unqualified for resale under the Securities Act, Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request in writing. In connection therewith, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Company will promptly, after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with its transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without any such legend upon sale by the Holder of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement.

 

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(j)    Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section  3(e)(v) , as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Company will prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, if required by applicable law, to the affected Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(k)    With respect to Underwritten Offerings, subject to the right of a Holder to withdraw such Holder’s Registrable Securities from an Underwritten Offering in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (i) the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein, (ii) each Holder participating in such Underwritten Offering severally agrees to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form and sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled to select the Managing Underwriter hereunder and (iii) each Holder participating in such Underwritten Offering severally agrees to complete and execute all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents customarily and reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. The Company hereby agrees with each Holder that, in connection with any Underwritten Offering in accordance with the terms hereof, it will negotiate in good faith and execute all indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, including using all commercially reasonable efforts to procure customary legal opinions, auditor “comfort” letters and reports of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company relating to the oil and gas reserves of the Company included in the Registration Statement if the Company has had its reserves prepared, audited or reviewed by an independent petroleum engineer.

(l)    For a reasonable period prior to the filing of any Registration Statement and throughout the Effectiveness Period, the Company will make available, upon reasonable notice at the Company’s principal place of business or such other reasonable place, for inspection during normal business hours by a representative or representatives of the selling Holders, the Managing Underwriter and any attorneys or accountants retained by such selling Holders or underwriters, all such financial and other information and books and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary (and in the case of counsel, not violate an attorney-client privilege in such counsel’s reasonable belief) to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that any information that is not generally publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons unless disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or, in the opinion of counsel to such

 

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Person, law, in which case, such Person shall be required to give the Company written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Company, assist the Company in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure.

(m)    In connection with any Requested Underwritten Offering, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as the Holders reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities subject to such Requested Underwritten Offering and to cause appropriate officers and employees to be available, on a customary basis and upon reasonable notice, to meet with prospective investors in presentations, meetings and road shows.

(n)    Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company any other information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such securities as the Company reasonably determines is required to be included in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to an Underwritten Offering.

(o)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to file a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or effect a Requested Underwritten Offering (or, if the Company has filed a Shelf Registration Statement and has included Registrable Securities therein, the Company shall be entitled to suspend the offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement) for a period of up to 60 days if (i) the Board determines that a postponement is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders generally due to a pending transaction involving the Company (including a pending securities offering by the Company), (ii) the Board determines such registration would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities laws or (iii) the Board determines such registration would require disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential (any such period, a “ Blackout Period ”); provided that the Company shall not delay filing any demanded Registration Statement or effecting any Requested Underwritten Offering more than five times in the aggregate or more than twice in any consecutive 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall any Blackout Periods, any Suspension Periods and any Holder Lock-Up Periods collectively continue for more than 120 days in the aggregate during any consecutive 12-month period.

(p)    In connection with an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to provide to each Holder named as a selling securityholder in any Registration Statement a copy of any auditor “comfort” letters, customary legal opinions or reports of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company relating to the oil and gas reserves of the Company, in each case that have been provided to the Managing Underwriter in connection with the Underwritten Offering, not later than the Business Day prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement.

(q)    In connection with any Underwritten Offering, any Holder that together with its Affiliates owns ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, shall execute a customary “lock-up” agreement with the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering containing a lock-up period equal to the shorter of (A) the shortest number of days that a director of the Company, “executive officer” (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange

 

15


Act) of the Company or any stockholder of the Company (other than a Holder or director or employee of, or consultant to, the Company) who owns ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding Class A Common Stock contractually agrees to with the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering not to sell any securities of the Company following such Underwritten Offering and (B) 60 days from the date of the execution of the underwriting agreement with respect to such Underwritten Offering (each such period, a “ Holder Lock-Up Period ”).

4.      No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights . The Company shall not hereafter enter into, and is not currently a party to, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent in any material respect with rights granted to the Holders by this Agreement and any such agreement shall be considered void ab initio .

5.      Registration Expenses . All Registration Expenses incident to the Parties’ performance of or compliance with their respective obligations under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with any Demand Registration, Requested Underwritten Offering, Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Piggyback Offering (in each case, excluding any Selling Expenses) shall be borne by the Company, whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. “ Registration Expenses ” shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the Trading Market, (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws and (C) with respect to filings with FINRA), (ii) printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Company Securities and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel, auditors, accountants and independent petroleum engineers for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (vii) the fees and expenses of one law firm of national standing selected by the Holders owning the majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in any such registration or offering and (viii) all expenses relating to marketing the sale of the Registrable Securities, including expenses related to conducting a “road show.” In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including expenses payable to third parties and including all salaries and expenses of their officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on the Trading Market.

6.      Indemnification .

(a)    The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its Affiliates and each of their respective officers and directors and any agent thereof (collectively, “ Holder Indemnified Persons ”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, costs (including reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which

 

16


any Holder Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which any Registrable Securities were registered, in any preliminary prospectus (if the Company authorized the use of such preliminary prospectus prior to the Effective Date), or in any summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus (if such free writing prospectus was authorized for use by the Company) or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Company is required to keep the Registration Statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any Holder Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability the Company may otherwise have and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Section  6 shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement indefinitely.

(b)    In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder participates, such Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors and any agent thereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all Losses as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the Effective Date of such Registration Statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Company is required to keep the Registration Statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance and in conformity with information relating to the Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability such Holder may otherwise have and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any indemnified party. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation

 

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(c)    Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim or there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party that are in addition to or may conflict with those available to another indemnified party with respect to such claim. Failure to give prompt written notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligations hereunder.

(d)    If the indemnification provided for in this Section  6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any Losses referred to herein, the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other, in connection with the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a Holder hereunder exceed the net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.

 

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7.      Facilitation of Sales Pursuant to Rule 144 . The Company shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144), and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder in connection with that Holder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

8.      Miscellaneous .

(a)     Remedies . In the event of actual or potential breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b)     Discontinued Disposition . Subject to the last sentence of Section  3(o) , each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in clauses (ii)  through (v) of Section  3(e) , such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemental Prospectus or amended Registration Statement as contemplated by Section  3(j) or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Period ”). The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section  8(b) .

(c)     Amendments and Waivers . No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed by the Company and Holders that hold a majority of the Registrable Securities as of the date of such waiver or amendment; provided, that any waiver or amendment that would have a disproportionate adverse effect on a Holder relative to the other Holders shall require the consent of such Holder. The Company shall provide prior notice to all Holders of any proposed waiver or amendment. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

(d)     Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or electronic mail as specified in this Section  8(d) prior to 5:00 p.m.

 

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Central Time on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or electronic mail as specified in this Agreement later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. Central Time on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service (iv) upon actual receipt by the Party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

If to the Company:    Brigham Minerals, Inc.
   Attention: Blake C. Williams
   5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100
   Austin, Texas 78730
   Fax: [●]
   Electronic mail: [●]
With copy to:    Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
   Attention: Douglas E. McWilliams; Thomas G. Zentner
   1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
   Houston, Texas 77002
   Fax: (713) 615-5725
   Electronic mail: dmcwilliams@velaw.com;
   tzentner@velaw.com
If to any Person who is then the registered Holder:    To the address of such Holder as it appears in the applicable register for the Registrable Securities or such other address as may be designated in writing by such Holder (including on the signature pages hereto).

(e)     Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns. Except as provided in this Section  8(e) , this Agreement, and any rights or obligations hereunder, may not be assigned without the prior written consent of the Company (acting through the Board of Directors) and the Holders. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the rights of a Holder pursuant to this Agreement with respect to all or any portion of its Registrable Securities may be assigned without such consent (but only with all related obligations) with respect to such Registrable Securities (and any Registrable Securities issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of such Registrable Securities) by such Holder to a transferee of such Registrable Securities; provided (i) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holders.

(f)     No Third Party Beneficiaries . Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to give any Person, other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns, any legal or equitable right, remedy, claim or benefit under or in respect of this Agreement.

 

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(g)     Execution and Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of 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. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile or electronic mail transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the Party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such signature delivered by facsimile or electronic mail transmission were the original thereof.

(h)     Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York. Each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each Party anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the Parties irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.

(i)     Cumulative Remedies . The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

(j)     Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the Parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(k)     Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof and the matters addressed or governed hereby, whether oral or written.

 

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(l)     Termination . Except for Section  6 , this Agreement shall terminate as to any Holder, when all Registrable Securities held by such Holder no longer constitute Registrable Securities.

[THIS SPACE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:
Brigham Minerals, Inc.
By:  

                     

Name:  
Title:  

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


HOLDERS:
[HOLDERS]
By:  

                                                                       

Name:  
Title:  
Address for notice:
[                                                                                                        ]
Attention:
[                      ]
[                      ]
Fax: [                  ]
Electronic mail: [                                                                             ]

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

[●], 2019

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78730

Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the proposed offer and sale (the “ Offering ”) by the Company, pursuant to a prospectus forming a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-[●], originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2019 (such Registration Statement, as amended at the effective date thereof, being referred to herein as the “ Registration Statement ”), of up to [●] shares of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Subject Shares ”).

Pursuant to the terms of a corporate reorganization (the “ Reorganization ”) that will be completed in connection with the Offering, (a) all of the membership interests in Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Brigham LLC ”), held by its existing owners (the “ Existing Owners ”) will be converted into (i) a single class of units in Brigham LLC (the “ Brigham LLC Units ”) representing in the aggregate [●] Brigham LLC Units and (ii) the right to receive the shares of the Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class  B common stock ”), described in clause (c) below, (b) the Company will issue and contribute [●] shares of its Class B common stock and all of the net proceeds of the Offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for a number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of Subject Shares issued in the Offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (c) Brigham LLC will distribute to each of the Existing Owners one share of Class B common stock for each Brigham LLC Unit such Existing Owner holds.

In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective, (ii) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, in the

 

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form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will have become effective, (iii) the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham LLC, in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will have become effective, (iv) the Subject Shares will be issued and sold in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the prospectus relating thereto, (v) the Reorganization will have been consummated in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the prospectus relating thereto and (vi) a definitive underwriting agreement, in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, with respect to the sale of the Subject Shares will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto.

In connection with the opinion expressed herein, we have examined, among other things, (i) the form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the form of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham LLC filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (ii) the records of corporate proceedings that have occurred prior to the date hereof with respect to the Offering, (iii) the Registration Statement and (iv) the form of underwriting agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We have also reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. As to matters of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, and as to factual matters arising in connection with our examination of corporate documents, records and other documents and writings, we relied upon certificates and other communications of corporate officers of the Company, without further investigation as to the facts set forth therein. In making such examination and rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed without verification the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the legal capacity of all individuals executing any of the foregoing documents.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that, when the Subject Shares have been issued and delivered in accordance with a definitive underwriting agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein (not less than the par value of the Subject Shares), such Subject Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


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The foregoing opinions are limited in all respects to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we do not express any opinions as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the foregoing opinions are limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinions expressly set forth herein. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance.

We hereby consent to the statements with respect to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

Exhibit 10.3

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of [●], 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and                      (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

WHEREAS, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself;

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, (i) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “ Bylaws ”) requires indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company (ii) Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ DGCL ”) and (iii) the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, (i) Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, (ii) Indemnitee may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company without adequate protection, (iii) the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity, and (iv) Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.


AGREEMENT :

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1.     Definitions . (a) As used in this Agreement:

Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Company or (ii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

Disinterested Director ” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

Enterprise ” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary.

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

Expenses ” shall mean all reasonable costs, expenses, fees and charges, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, document and e-discovery costs, litigation expenses, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include, without limitation, (i) expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from, incurred by Indemnitee in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to, any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) for purposes of Section  12(d) hereof only, expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and (iv) any interest, assessments or other charges in respect of the foregoing. “Expenses” shall not include “Liabilities.”

Indemnity Obligations ” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under this Agreement, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

Independent Counsel ” shall mean a law firm of fifty (50) or more attorneys, or a member of a law firm of fifty (50) or more attorneys, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

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Liabilities ” shall mean all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, orders, fines, penalties and other amounts payable in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to any Proceeding, including, without limitation, amounts paid in settlement in any Proceeding and all costs and expenses in complying with any judgment, order or decree issued or entered in connection with any Proceeding or any settlement agreement, stipulation or consent decree entered into or issued in settlement of any Proceeding.

Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, governmental agency or body or any other legal entity.

Proceeding ” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, formal or informal hearing, inquiry or investigation, litigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed judicial, administrative or arbitration proceeding (including, without limitation, any such proceeding under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act or any other federal law, state law, statute or regulation), whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in each case, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be, or is threatened to be, involved as a party, witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.

(b)    For the purpose hereof, references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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Section 3.     Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, or any claim, issue or matter therein. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section  3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Section 4.     Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, and without limiting the rights of Indemnitee under any other provision hereof, including any rights to indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 or 3 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section  4 and without limitation, the termination of any Proceeding or claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 5.     Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise a participant, including by a request to respond to discovery requests, receipt of a subpoena or similar demand for documents or testimony, in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party and is not threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses suffered or incurred (or, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

Section 6.     Additional Indemnification . Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections  2 , 3 or 4 hereof, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, including but not limited to:

(a)    the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL; and

 

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(b)    the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

(a)    for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy obtained by the Company except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under such insurance policy;

(b)    for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

(e)    if a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter that is not subject to appeal shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful.

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

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Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

(a)    In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section  9(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b)    Subject to Section  12(d) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

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indemnification required under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

(c)    The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(d)     Reliance as Safe Harbor . For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section  11(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e)     Actions of Others . The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(d) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

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provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b)    In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement, as the case may be.

(c)    If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 , absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein; provided that, in absence of any such determination with respect to such Proceeding, the Company shall advance Expenses with respect to such Proceeding.

Section 13.     Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .

(a)    The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at

 

10


any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. The Company shall not adopt any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law relative to such rights prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change as of the effective date of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or

 

11


which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

(c)    The Company shall maintain an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance providing reasonable and customary coverage as compared with similarly situated companies (as determined by the Board in its reasonable discretion) for directors, officers, employees, trustees, or agents of any Enterprise, and Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee, trustee or agent under such policy or policies and such policies shall provide for and recognize that the insurance policies are primary to any rights to indemnification, advancement or insurance proceeds to which Indemnitee may be entitled from one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to the same extent as the Company’s indemnification and advancement obligations set forth in this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(d)    In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, including rights of indemnification provided to Indemnitee from any other person or entity with whom Indemnitee may be associated; provided, however, that the Company shall not be subrogated to the extent of any such payment of all rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated.

(e)    The indemnification and contribution provided for in this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Indemnitee.

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and

 

12


administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

Section 15.     Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 16.     Enforcement .

(a)    The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company.

(b)    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

13


Section 18.     Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 19.     Contribution . To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Liabilities or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and transaction(s).

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

Section 21.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 22.     Miscellaneous . Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

14


[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

15


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:  

                    

    By:  

                    

Name:       Name:  
Title:       Title:  

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

July 27, 2018

among

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC,

as Holdings,

BRIGHAM MINERALS, LLC,

as Borrower,

The Lenders and Issuing Banks Party Hereto

and

OWL ROCK CAPITAL CORPORATION

as First Lien Administrative Agent and as First Lien Collateral Agent

and

OWL ROCK CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC

as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Classification of Loans and Borrowings      64  

SECTION 1.03

  Terms Generally      64  

SECTION 1.04

  Accounting Terms; GAAP      65  

SECTION 1.05

  Effectuation of Transactions      65  

SECTION 1.06

  Limited Condition Transaction      65  

SECTION 1.07

  Certain Determinations      66  

ARTICLE II THE CREDITS

     67  

SECTION 2.01

  Commitments      67  

SECTION 2.02

  Loans and Borrowings      67  

SECTION 2.03

  Requests for Borrowings      68  

SECTION 2.04

  [Reserved]      69  

SECTION 2.05

  Letters of Credit      69  

SECTION 2.06

  Funding of Borrowings      75  

SECTION 2.07

  Interest Elections      76  

SECTION 2.08

  Termination and Reduction of Commitments      77  

SECTION 2.09

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      77  

SECTION 2.10

  Amortization of Term Loans      78  

SECTION 2.11

  Prepayment of Loans      79  

SECTION 2.12

  Fees      89  

SECTION 2.13

  Interest      90  

SECTION 2.14

  Alternate Rate of Interest      91  

SECTION 2.15

  Increased Costs      92  

SECTION 2.16

  Break Funding Payments      93  

SECTION 2.17

  Taxes      93  

SECTION 2.18

  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs      96  

SECTION 2.19

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      98  

SECTION 2.20

  Incremental Credit Extensions      99  

SECTION 2.21

  First Lien Refinancing Amendments      101  

SECTION 2.22

  Defaulting Lenders      102  

SECTION 2.23

  Illegality      103  


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

SECTION 2.24

  First Lien Loan Modification Offers      104  

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     105  

SECTION 3.01

  Organization; Powers      105  

SECTION 3.02

  Authorization; Enforceability      105  

SECTION 3.03

  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts      105  

SECTION 3.04

  Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect      106  

SECTION 3.05

  Properties      106  

SECTION 3.06

  Litigation and Environmental Matters      107  

SECTION 3.07

  Compliance with Laws      107  

SECTION 3.08

  Investment Company Status      107  

SECTION 3.09

  Taxes      108  

SECTION 3.10

  ERISA      108  

SECTION 3.11

  Disclosure      108  

SECTION 3.12

  Subsidiaries      109  

SECTION 3.13

  Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      109  

SECTION 3.14

  Solvency      109  

SECTION 3.15

  Security Interest      109  

SECTION 3.16

  Federal Reserve Regulations      110  

SECTION 3.17

  Use of Proceeds      110  

SECTION 3.18

  Swap Agreements      110  

SECTION 3.19

  Maintenance of Properties      110  

SECTION 3.20

  Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering; Anti-Corruption      111  

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS

     111  

SECTION 4.01

  Effective Date      111  

SECTION 4.02

  Each Credit Event      113  

SECTION 4.03

  Delayed Draw Term Facility      113  

ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     114  

SECTION 5.01

  Financial Statements and Other Information      115  

SECTION 5.02

  Notices of Material Events      118  

SECTION 5.03

  Information Regarding Collateral      118  

SECTION 5.04

  Existence; Conduct of Business      118  

SECTION 5.05

  Payment of Taxes, etc.      119  

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

SECTION 5.06

  Maintenance of Properties      119  

SECTION 5.07

  Insurance      119  

SECTION 5.08

  Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights      120  

SECTION 5.09

  Compliance with Laws      120  

SECTION 5.10

  Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit      120  

SECTION 5.11

  Additional Subsidiaries      120  

SECTION 5.12

  Further Assurances      121  

SECTION 5.13

  Designation of Subsidiaries      122  

SECTION 5.14

  Certain Post-Closing Obligations      122  

SECTION 5.15

  Line of Business      122  

SECTION 5.16

  Reserve Reports      123  

SECTION 5.17

  Title Matters      123  

ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     124  

SECTION 6.01

  Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities      124  

SECTION 6.02

  Liens      128  

SECTION 6.03

  Fundamental Changes; Holdings Covenant      131  

SECTION 6.04

  Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions      133  

SECTION 6.05

  Asset Sales      136  

SECTION 6.06

  Sale and Leaseback Transactions      138  

SECTION 6.07

  Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness      138  

SECTION 6.08

  Transactions with Affiliates      143  

SECTION 6.09

  Restrictive Agreements      144  

SECTION 6.10

  Amendment of Junior Financing      145  

SECTION 6.11

  Financial Performance Covenants      145  

SECTION 6.12

  Changes in Fiscal Periods      146  

SECTION 6.13

  Swap Agreements      146  

ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     147  

SECTION 7.01

  Events of Default      147  

SECTION 7.02

  Right to Cure      149  

SECTION 7.03

  Application of Proceeds      150  

ARTICLE VIII FIRST LIEN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     151  

SECTION 8.01

  Appointment and Authority      151  

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

SECTION 8.02

  Rights as a Lender      151  

SECTION 8.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      151  

SECTION 8.04

  Reliance by First Lien Administrative Agent      152  

SECTION 8.05

  Delegation of Duties      153  

SECTION 8.06

  Resignation of First Lien Administrative Agent      153  

SECTION 8.07

  Non-Reliance on First Lien Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      154  

SECTION 8.08

  No Other Duties, Etc.      155  

SECTION 8.09

  First Lien Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      155  

SECTION 8.10

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      155  

SECTION 8.11

  Withholding Taxes      156  

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     157  

SECTION 9.01

  Notices      157  

SECTION 9.02

  Waivers; Amendments      158  

SECTION 9.03

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      161  

SECTION 9.04

  Successors and Assigns      164  

SECTION 9.05

  Survival      170  

SECTION 9.06

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      171  

SECTION 9.07

  Severability      171  

SECTION 9.08

  Right of Setoff      171  

SECTION 9.09

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      172  

SECTION 9.10

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      173  

SECTION 9.11

  Headings      173  

SECTION 9.12

  Confidentiality      173  

SECTION 9.13

  USA PATRIOT Act      174  

SECTION 9.14

  Release of Liens and Guarantees      175  

SECTION 9.15

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      176  

SECTION 9.16

  Interest Rate Limitation      176  

SECTION 9.17

  Intercreditor Agreement      176  

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES :      
Schedule 1.01       Excluded Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.01(b)       Mortgaged Oil and Gas Properties
Schedule 2.01       Commitments and Loans
Schedule 3.03       Government Approvals; No Conflicts
Schedule 3.06       Litigation and Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.12       Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.18       Swap Agreements
Schedule 5.13       Closing Date Unrestricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.14       Certain Post-Closing Obligations
Schedule 6.01       Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02       Existing Liens
Schedule 6.04(e)       Existing Investments
Schedule 6.08       Existing Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 6.09       Existing Restrictions
Schedule 9.01       Notices
EXHIBITS :      
Exhibit A       Form of First Lien Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B       Form of First Lien Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit C       Form of Perfection Certificate
Exhibit D       Form of First Lien Collateral Agreement
Exhibit E       Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit F       Form of First Lien Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit G       Form of Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit H       Form of Closing Certificate
Exhibit I       Form of Intercompany Note
Exhibit J       Form of First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Notice
Exhibit K       Form of First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response
Exhibit L       Form of First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Notice
Exhibit M       Form of First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer
Exhibit N       Form of First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice
Exhibit O       Form of First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer
Exhibit P       Form of First Lien Acceptance and Prepayment Notice
Exhibit Q-1       Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate 1
Exhibit Q-2       Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate 2
Exhibit Q-3       Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate 3
Exhibit Q-4       Form of United States Tax Compliance Certificate 4
Exhibit R       Form of First Lien Note
Exhibit S       Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit T       Form of First Lien Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit U       Form of Letter of Credit Request

 

 

-v-


FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of July 27, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among Brigham Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Initial Holdings ”), Brigham Minerals, LLC a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party hereto, Owl Rock Capital Corporation (“ Owl Rock ”) as a Lender and Issuing Bank, and Owl Rock, as the First Lien Administrative Agent and the First Lien Collateral Agent.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms .

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR ” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acceptable Hedge Counterparty ” means (i) a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender (or a Person who was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time of execution and delivery of a Swap Agreement) who has entered into a Swap Agreement with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) any other Person reasonably acceptable to First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower that is a counterparty to a Swap Contract.

Acquired EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary (any of the foregoing, a “ Pro Forma Entity ”) for any period as the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” were references to such Pro Forma Entity and its subsidiaries that will become Restricted Subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity.

Acquired Entity or Business ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Acquisition Swaps ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.13.

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, a rate per annum equal to the product of (i) the LIBO Rate as in effect at such time for such Interest Period and (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate; provided that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any Interest Period shall not be less than 1.00% per annum.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the First Lien Administrative Agent.

Affected Class ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.24(a).

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


Affiliated Debt Fund ” means any Affiliated Lender that is a bona fide diversified debt fund primarily engaged in, or that advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course.

Affiliated Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that is an Investor or an Affiliate of an Investor (other than Holdings, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries) at such time, to the extent that such Person constitutes an Affiliate of Holdings, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

Agent ” means the First Lien Administrative Agent, the First Lien Collateral Agent, the Lead Arranger and the Bookrunner and any successors and assigns in such capacity, and “ Agents ” means two or more of them.

Agent Parties ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 9.01(c).

Agreement ” has the meaning given to such term in the preliminary statements hereto.

Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus  1 2 of 1.00% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the applicable Loan on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) for a deposit in dollars with a maturity of one month plus 1.00%; provided that, solely for purposes of the foregoing, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be calculated using the LIBO Rate based on the rate per annum determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent by reference to the ICE Benchmark Administration Interest Settlement Rates (as set forth by any service selected by the First Lien Administrative Agent that has been nominated by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any Person which takes over the administration of that rate) as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) (the “ ICE LIBOR ”) as published by Bloomberg (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the First Lien Administrative Agent from time to time) on such day at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) for deposits in dollars for a period equal to one month. If the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the First Lien Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition of Federal Funds Effective Rate, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) or (c), as applicable, of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Alternate Base Rate will be deemed to be 2.00% per annum if the Alternate Base Rate calculated pursuant to the foregoing provisions would otherwise be less than 2.00% per annum.

Applicable Fronting Exposure ” means, with respect to any Person that is an Issuing Bank at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit issued by such Person in its capacity as an Issuing Bank (if applicable) that remains available for drawing at such time and (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by such Person in its capacity as an Issuing Bank (if applicable) that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time.

 

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Applicable Percentage ” means, at any time with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time (or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, such Lender’s share of the total Revolving Exposure at that time); provided that, at any time any Revolving Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments (disregarding any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments pursuant to this Agreement and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

Applicable Rate ” means, for any day, with respect to any Initial Term Loan or Revolving Loan (a) prior to an IPO, (i) 4.50% per annum, in the case of an ABR Loan or (ii) 5.50% per annum, in the case of a Eurodollar Loan and (b) from and after the date of an IPO and the First Lien Administrative Agent’s receipt of a written notice from the Borrower confirming such IPO, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “ABR Spread” or “Adjusted LIBO Rate” as the case may be, based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which consolidated financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered following such IPO pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b):

 

Category

   Ratio Level      ABR
Spread
    Adjusted
LIBO Rate Spread
 

1

     > 2.00:1.00        4.50     5.50

2

     £ 2.00:1.00        4.00     5.00

For purposes of the foregoing, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the Business Day following the date of delivery to the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) of the consolidated financial statements and related Compliance Certificate indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) (i) at any time that an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a) or 7.01(b) has occurred and is continuing and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default shall cease to be continuing (and thereafter, the Category otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) or (ii) if the Borrower fails to deliver the consolidated financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) or any Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant hereto, in each case within the time periods specified herein for such delivery, during the period commencing on and including the day of the occurrence of a Default resulting from such failure and until the delivery thereof, then the Applicable Rate shall, at the option of (A) with respect to any Revolving Loans, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Required Revolving Lenders and (B) with respect to any Initial Term Loans, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, commencing upon written notice to the Borrower, conclusively equal the highest possible Applicable Rate provided for in this definition with respect to the Initial Term Loans and Revolving Loans, as applicable.

Approved Bank ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Investments.”

Approved Counterparty ” means (a) any Person who at the time of entering into a Swap Agreement is a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender and (b) any other Person whose long term senior unsecured debt rating is A-/A3 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher.

Approved Foreign Bank ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Investments.”

 

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Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

Approved Petroleum Engineers ” means (a) Cawley Gillespie & Associates, Inc. and (b) any other independent petroleum engineers reasonably acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent.

Asset Coverage Ratio ” means the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) the Present Value of the Proved Reserves of the Loan Parties as set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report that are subject to a Mortgage in favor of the First Lien Administrative Agent plus (ii) the Swap Mark-to-Market Value as of such date to (b) Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness as of such date.

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows, in each cases, including notes thereto, for the years ended December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Available Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, a cumulative amount equal to (without duplication):

(a) $8,750,000 (the “ Starter Basket ”), plus

(b) the sum of an amount (which amount shall not be less than zero) equal to the greater of (A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the first day of the first full fiscal quarter of the Borrower commencing after the Effective Date to the end of the most recently ended Test Period as of such date and (B) the sum of Excess Cash Flow (but not less than zero in any period) for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2019 and Excess Cash Flow for each succeeding completed fiscal year as of such date, in each case, that was not required to be offered to prepay Term Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.11(d) without giving effect to any reduction set forth in the proviso to such Section, plus

(c) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Permitted Investments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on Investments made using the Available Amount (not to exceed the aggregate amount of such Investments), plus

(d) Investments of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary made using the Available Amount that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or that has been merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (up to the lesser of (i) the fair market value determined in good faith by the Borrower of the Investments of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such re-designation or merger or consolidation and (ii) the fair market value determined in good faith by the Borrower of the original Investment by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary), plus

(e) the Net Proceeds of a sale or other Disposition (other than to Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including from the issuance of stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary) received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash or Permitted Investments after the Effective Date in excess of the amount of investments made in such subsidiary in reliance on Section 6.04 (with the exception of Section 6.04(m) subclauses (B) and (C)), plus

 

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(f) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, dividends or other distributions or returns on capital received in cash or Permitted Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date in excess of the original amounts of investments made in such subsidiary in reliance on Section 6.04 (with the exception of Section 6.04(m) subclauses (B) and (C)), plus

(g) the fair market value of capital contributions (other than in the form of cash or Permitted Investments) received by the Borrower after the Effective Date, plus

(h) the aggregate amount of any Retained Declined Proceeds since the Effective Date.

Available Equity Amount ” means a cumulative amount equal to (without duplication):

(a) the Net Proceeds of new public or private issuances of Qualified Equity Interests (excluding Qualified Equity Interests the proceeds of which will be applied as Cure Amounts) of any parent of the Borrower which are contributed to the Borrower after the Effective Date, plus

(b) capital contributions (excluding any capital contributions which will be applied as Cure Amounts) received by the Borrower after the Effective Date in cash or Permitted Investments (other than in respect of any Disqualified Equity Interest), plus

(c) the net cash proceeds received by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from Indebtedness and Disqualified Equity Interest issuances issued after the Effective Date and which have been exchanged or converted into Qualified Equity Interests, plus

(d) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Permitted Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on Investments made using the Available Equity Amount (not to exceed the amount of such Investments).

Available Revolving Commitment ” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the total Revolving Commitments in effect at such time, minus (b) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, minus (c) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed or converted into Revolving Loans at such time, minus (d) the aggregate principal balance of any Revolving Loans outstanding at such time.

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

Board of Directors ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such Person or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board, (b) in the case of any limited liability company, the board of managers, board of directors, manager or managing member of such Person or the functional equivalent of the foregoing or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board, manager or managing member, (c) in the case of any partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of such Person and (d) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing.

 

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

Bookrunner ” means Owl Rock Capital Advisors LLC and any of its permitted successors and/or assigns.

Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statements hereto.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Minimum ” means (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, $250,000 and (b) in the case of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, $250,000.

Borrowing Multiple ” means (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, $100,000 and (b) in the case of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, $100,000.

Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit T.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by Requirements of Law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , that all obligations of any Person that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capitalized Lease or Capital Lease Obligation) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following the Effective Date that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Capital Lease Obligation, to the extent that financial reporting shall not be affected hereby. For purposes of Section 6.02, a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned by the lessee.

Capitalized Leases ” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date, recorded as capitalized leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Software Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Cash Management Obligations ” means (a) obligations of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds and (b) other obligations in respect of netting services, employee credit or purchase card programs and similar arrangements.

Cash Management Services ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Secured Cash Management Obligations.”

Casualty Event ” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CFC ” means (a) a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code and (b) any Subsidiary of a Person described in clause (a).

CFC Holdco ” means a Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than capital stock (and debt securities, if any) of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs, or of other CFC Holdcos.

Change in Law ” means: (a) the adoption of any rule, regulation, treaty or other law after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or other law or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided , that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all rules, regulations, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank of 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,” to the extent enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued after the date of this Agreement, but only to the extent such rules, regulations, or published interpretations or directives are applied to Holdings and its Subsidiaries by the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender in substantially the same manner as applied to other similarly situated borrowers under comparable credit facilities, including, without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.15.

Change of Control ” means (a) the failure of Holdings prior to an IPO, or, after the IPO, the IPO Entity, directly or indirectly through wholly owned subsidiaries, to own all of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, (b) prior to an IPO, the failure by the Permitted Holders to own, directly or indirectly through one or more holding company parents of Holdings, beneficially and of record, Equity Interests in Holdings representing at least a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of members of the Board of Directors of Holdings represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in Holdings, unless the Permitted Holders otherwise have the right (pursuant to contract, proxy, ownership of Equity Interests or otherwise), directly or indirectly, to designate, nominate or appoint (and do so designate, nominate or appoint) a majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings, (c) after an IPO, the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group, other than the Permitted Holders (directly or indirectly, including through one or more holding companies), of Equity Interests representing 40% or more of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the IPO Entity and the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power so held is greater than the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the Equity Interests in

 

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the IPO Entity held by the Permitted Holders, unless the Permitted Holders (directly or indirectly, including through one of more holding companies) otherwise have the right (pursuant to contract, proxy or otherwise), directly or indirectly, to designate, nominate or appoint (and do so designate, nominate or appoint) a majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings or the IPO Entity or (d) the occurrence of a “Change of Control” (or similar event, however denominated), as defined in the documentation governing any Junior Financing that is Material Indebtedness.

For purposes of this definition, (i) “beneficial ownership” shall be as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act, (ii) the phrase “Person or group” is within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or “group” and its subsidiaries and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and (iii) if any Person or “group” includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings, the IPO Entity or the Borrower, as applicable, directly or indirectly owned by the Permitted Holders that are part of such Person or “group” shall not be treated as being owned by such Person or “group” for purposes of determining whether clause (c) of this definition is triggered).

Class ” when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Other First Lien Revolving Loans, Initial Term Loans, First Lien Incremental Term Loans or Other First Lien Term Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, Other First Lien Revolving Commitment, Term Commitment or Other First Lien Term Commitment and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments. Other First Lien Term Commitments, Other First Lien Term Loans, Other First Lien Revolving Commitments (and the Other First Lien Revolving Loans made pursuant thereto), and First Lien Incremental Term Loans that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes. “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Collateral ” means any and all assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, on which Liens are granted, or are purported to be granted, pursuant to the First Lien Security Documents as security for the Secured Obligations.

Collateral and Guarantee Requirement ” means, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received from (i) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) either (x) a counterpart of the First Lien Guarantee Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person or (y) in the case of any Person that becomes a Loan Party after the Effective Date (including by ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary), a supplement to the First Lien Guarantee Agreement, in substantially the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person and (ii) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party either (x) a counterpart of the First Lien Collateral Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person or (y) in the case of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party after the Effective Date (including by ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary), a supplement to the First Lien Collateral Agreement, in substantially the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, in each case under this clause (a) together with, in the case of any such First Lien Loan Documents executed and delivered after the Effective Date, to the extent reasonably requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent, opinions and documents of the type referred to in Sections 4.01(b) and 4.01(d);

 

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(b) all outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Equity Interests constituting Excluded Assets or Equity Interests of Immaterial Subsidiaries) owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party, shall have been pledged pursuant to the First Lien Collateral Agreement, and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received certificates, if any, or other instruments, if any, representing all such Equity Interests to the extent constituting “certificated securities” (other than such Equity Interests in Immaterial Subsidiaries), together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;

(c) if any Indebtedness for borrowed money of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or more is owing by such obligor to any Loan Party and such Indebtedness is evidenced by a promissory note, such promissory note shall be pledged pursuant to the First Lien Collateral Agreement, and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank; provided , however, that the foregoing delivery requirement with respect to any intercompany indebtedness may be satisfied by delivery of an intercompany note in the form of Exhibit I hereto executed by all Loan Parties as payees and all such obligors as payors;

(d) all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and Intellectual Property Security Agreements required by this Agreement, the First Lien Security Documents, Requirements of Law and reasonably requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the First Lien Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, this Agreement, the First Lien Security Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent for filing, registration or recording;

(e) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property (if the Mortgaged Property is in a jurisdiction that imposes a mortgage recording or similar tax is imposed on the amount secured by such Mortgage, then the amount secured by such Mortgage shall be limited to the book value of such Mortgaged Property, as reasonably determined by the Borrower), (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance (or marked unconditional commitment to issue such policy or policies) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a first priority Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 6.02, together with such customary lender’s endorsements (other than a creditor’s rights endorsement) as the First Lien Administrative Agent may reasonably request to the extent available in the applicable jurisdiction at commercially reasonable rates (it being agreed that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall accept zoning reports from a nationally recognized zoning company in lieu of zoning endorsements to such title insurance policies), in an amount equal to the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property or as otherwise reasonably agreed by the parties; provided that in no event will the Borrower be required to obtain independent appraisals of such Mortgaged Properties, unless required by FIRREA, (iii) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property, and if any Mortgaged Property is located in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) to be located in special flood hazard area, a duly executed notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance and evidence of such flood insurance as provided in Section 5.07(b), (iv) opinions, addressed to the First Lien

 

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Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, from counsel qualified to opine in each jurisdiction where a Mortgaged Property is located regarding the enforceability of the Mortgage such other matters as may be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, (v) a survey or existing survey together with a no change affidavit of such Mortgaged Property, in compliance with the 2011 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, and (vi) evidence of payment of title insurance premiums and expenses and all recording, mortgage, transfer and stamp taxes and fees payable in connection with recording the Mortgage, any amendments thereto and any fixture filings in appropriate county land office(s); and

(f) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of an Oil and Gas Mortgage with respect to each Mortgaged Oil and Gas Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property and (ii) with respect to each Mortgaged Oil and Gas Property, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the item described in clause (iv) of the preceding clause (e).

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, (a) the foregoing provisions of this definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets of the Loan Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Subsidiary, if, and for so long as the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree in writing that the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or obtaining such title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees (taking into account any adverse tax consequences to Holdings and its Affiliates (including the imposition of withholding or other material taxes)), outweighs the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom; (b) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the First Lien Security Documents; (c) [reserved]; (d) in no event shall any Loan Party be required to complete any filings or other action with respect to the perfection of security interests in any jurisdiction outside of the United States, and no actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be required to be taken to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the United States (including any Equity Interests of Foreign Subsidiaries and any Intellectual Property governed by or arising or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia) or to perfect or make enforceable any security interests in any such assets (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (e) in no event shall any Loan Party be required to complete any filings or other action with respect to perfection of security interests in assets subject to certificates of title beyond the filing of UCC financing statements; (f) other than the filing of UCC financing statements, no perfection shall be required with respect to promissory notes evidencing debt for borrowed money in a principal amount of less than $5,000,000; (g) in no event shall any Loan Party be required to complete any filings or other action with respect to security interests in Intellectual Property beyond the filing of UCC financing statements and the filing of Intellectual Property Security Agreements with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office; (h) no actions shall be required to perfect a security interest in letter of credit rights (other than the filing of UCC financing statements); (i) in no event shall the Collateral include any Excluded Assets; and (j) in no event shall control agreements or control or similar arrangements be required with respect to cash and cash equivalents, Permitted Investments, other deposit accounts or securities and commodities accounts (including securities entitlements and related assets), letter of credit rights or other assets requiring perfection by control. The First Lien Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of any Guarantee by any Subsidiary

 

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(including extensions beyond the Effective Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Effective Date) and any other obligations under this definition where it determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required to be accomplished by this Agreement or the First Lien Security Documents.

Commitment ” means with respect to any Lender, its Revolving Commitment, Other First Lien Revolving Commitment of any Class, Term Commitment, Delayed Draw Term Commitment, Other First Lien Term Commitment of any Class or any combination thereof (as the context requires).

Commitment Fee Percentage ” means 0.50% per annum.

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq .), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Compliance Certificate ” means the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d).

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus :

(a) without duplication and to the extent already deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, the sum of (A) premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses incurred in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets plus (B) the portion of rent expense with respect to such period under Capitalized Leases that is treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP plus (C) the implied interest component of synthetic leases with respect to such period plus (D) any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments plus (E) bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus (F) [reserved], plus (G) amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, debt discount or premium, terminated hedging obligations and other commissions, financing fees and expenses and, adjusted, to the extent included, to exclude any refunds or similar credits received in connection with the purchasing or procurement of goods or services under any purchasing card or similar program;

(ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital and sales taxes, including federal, foreign, state, franchise, excise, and similar taxes paid or accrued during such period (including in respect of repatriated funds) including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations;

(iii) Non-Cash Charges;

(iv) operating expenses incurred on or prior to the Effective Date attributable to (A) salary obligations paid to employees terminated prior to the Effective Date and (B) wages paid to executives in excess of the amounts the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are required to pay pursuant to their respective employment agreements;

 

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(v) extraordinary losses or charges in accordance with GAAP;

(vi) unusual or non-recurring losses or charges (including any unusual or non-recurring operating expenses, losses or charges directly attributable to the implementation of cost savings initiatives), severance, relocation costs, integration and facilities’ opening costs and other business optimization expenses and operating improvements (including related to new product introductions or integration transaction costs (including consulting fees, relocation costs and IT implementation) following the consummation of any acquisition), recruiting fees, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, transition costs, costs related to closure/consolidation of facilities and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities), contract terminations and professional and consulting fees incurred in connection with any of the foregoing;

(vii) restructuring charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves), whether or not classified as restructuring expense on the consolidated financial statements; provided that the aggregate amounts increasing Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (a)(vii) and clause (b) shall not exceed 33% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to any such increase);

(viii) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back in such period) in calculating Consolidated Net Income;

(ix) (A) the amount of board of directors, management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) the Sponsor (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements) and (B) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to shareholders of such Person or its direct or indirect parent companies, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, in each case to the extent permitted in the First Lien Loan Documents;

(x) losses on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(xi) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of any Equity Interests, and hedging obligations or other derivative instruments (in each case, including pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Codification No. 815—Derivatives and Hedging but only to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized);

(xii) any loss relating to amounts paid in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any hedging obligation that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income for such period;

 

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(xiii) any gain relating to hedging obligations associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (c)(vi) and (c)(vii) below;

(xiv) any costs or expenses incurred by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any severance agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are non-cash or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of Holdings or Net Proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of Holdings (other than Disqualified Equity Interests);

(xv) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature;

(xvi) [Reserved];

(xvii) [Reserved];

(xviii) [Reserved];

(xix) charges, losses, lost profits, expenses (including litigation expenses, fee and charges) or write-offs to the extent indemnified or insured by a third party, including expenses or losses covered by indemnification provisions or by any insurance provider in connection with the Transactions, a Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition or Investment, disposition or any Casualty Event, in each case, to the extent that coverage has not been denied and so long as such amounts are actually reimbursed in cash within one year after the related amount is first added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xix) (and if not so reimbursed within one year, such amount shall be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA during the next measurement period);

(xx) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenses) not included in Consolidated EBITDA in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such receipts were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (c) below for any previous period and not added back;

(xxi) earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments, in each case in connection with acquisitions or Investments;

(xxii) Public Company Costs; provided that the amounts increasing Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (a)(xxii) shall not exceed $500,000 in any twelve (12) month period;

(xxiii) [Reserved];

(xxiv) other add-backs and adjustments reflected in the Model;

 

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(xxv) [Reserved];

(xxvi) [Reserved]; plus

(b) without duplication, the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements, other operating improvements and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of actions taken, committed to be taken or planned to be taken, on or prior to the date that is 12 months after the end of the relevant Test Period (including actions initiated prior to the Effective Date) (which cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements, other operating improvements and synergies shall be added to Consolidated EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements, other operating improvements and synergies had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that (A) such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements, other operating improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable (as certified by a financial officer, the chief executive officer or president of the Borrower) and (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements, other operating improvements or synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (b) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operating enhancements, other operating improvements or synergies that are included in clauses (a)(vi), (a)(vii) and (a)(xxiv) above or in the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment” (it being understood and agreed that “run rate” shall mean the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken); provided that the aggregate amounts increasing Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (b) and clause (a)(vii) shall not exceed 33% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to any such increase); less

(c) without duplication and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) extraordinary gains and unusual or non-recurring gains;

(ii) non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period);

(iii) gains on asset sales, disposals or abandonments (other than asset sales, disposals or abandonments in the ordinary course of business);

(iv) any non-cash gain attributable to the mark to market movement in the valuation of any Equity Interests, and hedging obligations or other derivative instruments (in each case, including pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Codification No. 815—Derivatives and Hedging but only to the extent the cash impact resulting from such gain has not been realized);

(v) any gain relating to amounts received in cash prior to the stated settlement date of any hedging obligation that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in such period;

(vi) any loss relating to hedging obligations associated with transactions realized in the current period that has been reflected in Consolidated Net Income in prior periods and excluded from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (a)(xii) and (a)(xiii) above; and

 

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(vii) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary added (and not deducted in such period) to Consolidated Net Income;

(viii) [Reserved]; plus

(d) any income from investments recorded using the equity method of accounting or the cost method of accounting, without duplication and to the extent not included in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, except to the extent such income was attributable to income that would be deducted pursuant to clause (c) if it were income of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries; minus

(e) any losses from investments recorded using the equity method of accounting or the cost method of accounting, without duplication and to the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, except to the extent such loss was attributable to losses that would be added back pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above if it were a loss of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; plus

(f) an amount, with respect to investments recorded using the equity method of accounting or the cost method of accounting and without duplication of any amounts added pursuant to clause (d) above, equal to the amount attributable to each such investment that would be added to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above if instead attributable to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, pro-rated according to the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary’s percentage ownership in such investment; minus

(g) an amount, with respect to investments recorded using the equity method of accounting or the cost method of accounting and without duplication of any amounts deducted pursuant to clause (e) above, equal to the amount attributable to each such investment that would be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (c) above if instead attributable to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, pro-rated according to the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary’s percentage ownership in such investment, in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP;

in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; provided that:

(I) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of assets or liabilities (including the net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances),

(II) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period any adjustments resulting from the application of Financial Accounting Standards Codification No. 815—Derivatives and Hedging,

 

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(III) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of (but not including the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired) (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired, including pursuant to the Transactions or pursuant to a transaction consummated prior to the Effective Date, and not subsequently so disposed of, an “ Acquired Entity or Business ”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “ Converted Restricted Subsidiary ”), in each case based on the Acquired EBITDA of such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis and (B) an adjustment in respect of each Pro Forma Entity equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Pro Forma Entity for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition or conversion) as specified in the Pro Forma Adjustment certificate delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent (for further delivery to the Lenders);

(IV) there shall be (A) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP (other than (x) if so classified on the basis that it is being held for sale unless such sale has actually occurred during such period and (y) for periods prior to the applicable sale, transfer or other disposition, if the Disposed EBITDA of such Person, property, business or asset is positive (i.e., if such Disposed EBITDA is negative, it shall be added back in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period)) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified, a “ Sold Entity or Business ”), and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “ Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary ”), in each case based on the Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer, disposition, closure, classification or conversion) determined on a historical Pro Forma Basis and (B) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period in which a Sold Entity or Business is disposed, an adjustment equal to the Pro Forma Disposal Adjustment with respect to such Sold Entity or Business (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such disposal) as specified in the Pro Forma Disposal Adjustment certificate delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent (for further delivery to the Lenders); and

(V) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA any expense (or income) as a result of adjustments recorded to contingent consideration liabilities relating to the Transaction or any Permitted Acquisition (or other Investment permitted hereunder).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to equal (a) $4,845,000 for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017, (b) $6,435,000 for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2017, (c) $7,539,000 for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017 and (d) $9,329,000 for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018 (it being understood that such amounts are subject to adjustments, as and to the extent otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, in connection with any Pro Forma Adjustment or any calculation on a Pro Forma Basis); provided that such amounts of Consolidated EBITDA for any such fiscal quarter shall be adjusted to include, without duplication, any cost savings that would otherwise be included pursuant to clause (b) of this definition.

 

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Consolidated Cash Interest Expense ” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the amount payable with respect to such period in respect of (a) total interest expense payable in cash with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including the interest component under Capitalized Leases, but excluding, to the extent included in interest expense, (i) fees and expenses (including any penalties and interest relating to Taxes) associated with the consummation of the Transactions, (ii) annual agency fees paid to the administrative agents and collateral agents under any credit facilities or other debt instruments or documents, (iii) costs associated with obtaining Swap Agreements and any interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Swap Agreements or other derivative instruments, and any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of Swap Agreements for interest rates, (iv) fees and expenses (including any penalties and interest relating to Taxes) associated with any Investment not prohibited by Section 6.04, the issuance of Equity Interests or Indebtedness, (v) any interest component relating to accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities, (vi) all non-recurring cash interest expense consisting of liquidated damages for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (vii) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses or expensing of any financing fees or prepayment or redemption premiums or penalty and any other amounts of non-cash interest (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting), and (viii) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto and with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP minus (b) cash interest income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries earned during such period, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding, without duplication,

(a) extraordinary items for such period,

(b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(c) any Transaction Costs incurred during such period ,

(d) any fees and expenses (including any transaction or retention bonus or similar payment) incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, non-recurring costs to acquire equipment to the extent not capitalized in accordance with GAAP, Investment, recapitalization, asset disposition, non-competition agreement, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of or waiver or consent relating to any debt instrument (in each case, including the Transaction Costs and any such transaction consummated prior to the Effective Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction-related expenses in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805 and gains or losses associated with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 460),

(e) any income (loss) (and all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, hedging agreements or other derivative instruments,

 

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(f) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited under this Agreement in accordance with GAAP (including any adjustment of estimated payouts on earn-outs) or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

(g) stock-based award compensation expenses,

(h) any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts,

(i) any income (loss) from Investments recorded using the equity method,

(j) the amount of any expense required to be recorded as compensation expense related to contingent transaction consideration,

(k) any unrealized gain or loss due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects, determined in accordance with GAAP,

(l) any lease signing bonuses, and

(m) (i) the net income of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent person or a subsidiary thereof in respect of such period and (ii) the net income shall include any ordinary course dividend distribution or other payment in cash received from any Person in excess of the amounts included in clause (i) above.

There shall be included in Consolidated Net Income, without duplication, the amount of any cash tax benefits related to the tax amortization of intangible assets in such period. There shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the effects from applying acquisition method accounting, including applying acquisition method accounting to inventory, property and equipment, loans and leases, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue (including deferred costs related thereto and deferred rent) required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of the Transactions, any acquisition or Investment consummated prior to the Effective Date and any Permitted Acquisitions (or other Investment not prohibited hereunder) or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof.

In addition, to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received or due from business interruption insurance or reimbursement of expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification and other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition or other Investment or any disposition of any asset permitted hereunder.

Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, of (a) Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Test Period, multiplied by two.

 

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Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Consolidated Total Indebtedness that is not subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations and that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens granted under the First Lien Security Documents in favor of the First Lien Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in all respects, minus the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments (in each case, free and clear of all liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 excluding cash and Permitted Investments that are listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date unless “restricted” in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities).

Consolidated Senior Secured Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Consolidated Total Indebtedness that is not subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations and that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral in all respects, minus the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments (in each case, free and clear of all liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000, excluding cash and Permitted Investments that are listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date unless “restricted” in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities).

Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, of (a) Consolidated Senior Secured Indebtedness as of such date to (b) the product of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Test Period, multiplied by two.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of the acquisition method accounting in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition (or other Investment not prohibited hereunder)) consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, drawn but unreimbursed obligations under letters of credit, obligations in respect of Capitalized Leases and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments.

Consolidated Working Capital ” means, at any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all amounts (other than cash and Permitted Investments) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, excluding the current portion of current and deferred income taxes over (b) the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, including deferred revenue but excluding, without duplication, (i) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (ii) all Indebtedness consisting of Loans and obligations under Letters of Credit to the extent otherwise included therein, (iii) the current portion of interest and (iv) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes; provided that, for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow, increases or decreases in working capital (A) arising from acquisitions or dispositions by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be measured from the date on which such acquisition or disposition occurred until the first anniversary of such acquisition or disposition with respect to the Person subject to such acquisition or disposition and (B) shall exclude (I) the impact of non-cash adjustments contemplated in the Excess Cash Flow calculation, (II) the impact of adjusting items in the definition of Consolidated Net Income and (III) any changes in current assets or current liabilities as a result of (x) the effect of fluctuations in the amount of accrued or contingent obligations, assets or liabilities under hedging agreements or other derivative obligations, (y) any reclassification in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (z) the effects of acquisition method accounting.

 

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Contract Consideration ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”

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

Converted Restricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness issued, incurred or otherwise obtained by the Borrower (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace or refinance, in whole or part, existing Term Loans, or Revolving Loans (or unused Revolving Commitments), (“ Refinanced Debt ”); provided that such exchanging, extending, renewing, replacing or refinancing Indebtedness (a) is in an original aggregate principal amount not greater than the aggregate principal amount of the Refinanced Debt (plus any premium, accrued interest and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such exchange, extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing), (b)(i) does not mature earlier than or, except in the case of Revolving Commitments, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than the Refinanced Debt and (ii) if such Indebtedness is unsecured or secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis to the Secured Obligations, does not mature or have scheduled amortization or payments of principal prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date, (c) shall not be guaranteed by any entity that is not a Loan Party, (d) in the case of any secured Indebtedness (i) is not secured by any assets not securing the Secured Obligations and (ii) if not comprising Other First Lien Term Loans hereunder, is subject to the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s) and (e) shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation as determined by the Borrowers and the Lenders and/or First Lien Additional Lenders providing such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, subject to the restrictions and exceptions set forth above. For the avoidance of doubt, such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be subject to any “most favored nation” pricing provisions.

Cure Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02(a).

Cure Right ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02(a).

Debt to Capitalization Ratio ” means, as of any day, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such day to (b) Total Invested Capital as of such day.

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

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

 

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Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.22(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans or participations in respect of Letters of Credit, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the First Lien 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) has notified the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement or provided any written notification to any Person to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit (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) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the First Lien Administrative Agent (whether acting on its own behalf or at the reasonable request of the Borrower (it being understood that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall comply with any such reasonable request)) or any Issuing Bank, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank and the Borrower that it will comply with its funding obligations (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has (i) become or is insolvent, (ii) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (iii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iv) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; 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.

Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the obligations with respect to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank other than First Lien Loan Document Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Delayed Draw Commitment Fee Rate ” means a rate payable pursuant to Section 2.12(e) with respect to the Delayed Draw Term Facility equal to 1.00% per annum, accruing beginning on the Effective Date on the average daily undrawn portion of the Delayed Draw Term Facility, payable quarterly in arrears, calculated based upon the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year.

Delayed Draw Term Borrowing ” means a Borrowing consisting of Delayed Draw Term Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect made by each of the Delayed Draw Term Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

Delayed Draw Term Commitment ” means, with respect to each Delayed Draw Term Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Delayed Draw Term Lender to make a Delayed Draw Term Loan hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Delayed Draw Term Loan to be made by such Delayed Draw Term Lender hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Delayed Draw Term Lender pursuant to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption. The amount of each Delayed Draw Term Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the First Lien Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Delayed Draw Term Lender shall have assumed its Delayed Draw Term Commitment. As of the date hereof, the total Delayed Draw Term Commitment is $75,000,000.

 

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Delayed Draw Term Commitment Expiration Date ” means the earlier to occur of (x) the date that is fifteen (15) months from the Effective Date and (y) the date on which the Delayed Draw Term Commitments are reduced to zero.

Delayed Draw Term Facility ” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of Delayed Draw Term Commitments at such time.

Delayed Draw Term Lender ” means a Lender with a Delayed Draw Term Commitment or an outstanding Delayed Draw Term Loan. From and after the date of any Borrowing of any Delayed Draw Term Loan, each Delayed Draw Term Lender shall be deemed a Term Lender hereunder, for all purposes.

Delayed Draw Term Loans ” means the Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(b). From and after the date of any Borrowing of any Delayed Draw Term Loan, each Delayed Draw Term Loan shall be deemed an Initial Term Loan hereunder for all purposes.

Delayed Draw Commitment Fee ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(e).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Subsidiary in connection with a Disposition pursuant to Section 6.05(k) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within 180 days following the consummation of the applicable Disposition).

Dispose ” and “ Disposition ” each have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.05.

Disposed EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period through (but not after) the date of such disposition, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA” (and in the component financial definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its subsidiaries or to such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its subsidiaries), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Disqualified Equity Interest ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest in such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

(b) is convertible or exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof, for Indebtedness or Equity Interests (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests); or

 

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(c) is redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests) or is required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its Affiliates, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof;

in each case, on or prior to the date ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date; provided , however , that (i) an Equity Interest in any Person that would not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest but for terms thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to redeem or purchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or a “change of control” or similar event shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest if any such requirement becomes operative only after repayment in full of all the Loans and all other First Lien Loan Document Obligations that are accrued and payable, the cancellation or expiration of all Letters of Credit and the termination of the Commitments and (ii) if an Equity Interest in any Person is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interest shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest solely because it may be required to be repurchased by Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof) or any of its subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations of such Person.

Disqualified Lenders ” means (i) those banks, financial institutions and other Persons identified by the Borrower to the Lead Arranger in writing prior to July 27, 2018 as being “Disqualified Lenders,” (ii) those Persons who are competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries identified by the Sponsor or the Borrower to the First Lien Administrative Agent from time to time in writing (including by email) which designation shall become effective two (2) days after delivery of each such written designation to the First Lien Administrative Agent, but which shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loan and (iii) in the case of each Person identified pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above, any of their Affiliates that are either (x) identified in writing by the Sponsor or the Borrower from time to time or (y) known or reasonably identifiable as Affiliates (other than, in the case of this clause (y), in the case of persons identified in clause (ii) above, Affiliates that are bona fide debt funds) and (iv) any Affiliate of the Lead Arranger that is engaged as a principal primarily in private equity or venture capital. Upon inquiry by any Lender to the First Lien Administrative Agent as to whether a specified potential assignee or prospective participant is on the list of Disqualified Lenders, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall be permitted to disclose to such Lender whether such specific potential assignee or prospective participant is on the list of Disqualified Lenders.

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

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the law of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

ECF Percentage ” means, with respect to the prepayment required by Section 2.11(d) with respect to any fiscal year of the Borrower, (a) prior to an IPO, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio (prior to giving effect to the applicable prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(d), but after giving effect to any voluntary prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.11(a) prior to the date of such prepayment) as of the end of such fiscal year is (i) greater than 3.00 to 1.00, 75% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year, (ii) greater than 2.00 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, 50% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and (iii) less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00, 25% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and (b) after an IPO, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio (prior to giving effect to the applicable prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(d), but after giving effect to any voluntary prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.11(a) prior to the date of such prepayment) as of the end of such fiscal year is (i) greater than 2.00 to 1.00, 25% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and (ii) less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00, 0% of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year.

 

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Effective Date ” means July 27, 2018.

Effective Yield ” means, as to any Indebtedness, the effective yield on such Indebtedness in the reasonable determination of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower and consistent with generally accepted financial practices, taking into account the applicable interest rate margins, any interest rate floors (the effect of which floors shall be determined in a manner set forth in the proviso below) or similar devices and all fees, including upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (amortized over the shorter of (a) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness and (b) the four years following the date of incurrence thereof) payable generally to lenders or other institutions providing such Indebtedness (which shall include (x) the Underwriting Fee (as defined in the First Lien Administrative Agent Fee Letter) and (y) the Arrangement Fee (as defined in the First Lien Arranger Fee Letter)(together with the Underwriting Fee, the “Facility Fees”)), with the Facilities Fees equated to interest margins based on an assumed four-year life to maturity), but excluding any arrangement, syndication, commitment, prepayment premiums, structuring, ticking or other similar fees payable in connection therewith that are not payable to all the relevant Lenders and, if applicable, consent fees for an amendment paid generally to consenting Lenders and, solely for purposes of determining the effective yield for purposes of Section 2.11(a)(i), any original issue discount or upfront fees payable in connection with the Loans issued on the Effective Date or the Delayed Draw Term Loans; provided that with respect to any Indebtedness that includes a “LIBOR floor” or “Base Rate floor,” (i) to the extent that the LIBO Rate or Alternate Base Rate (without giving effect to any floors in such definitions), as applicable, on the date that the Effective Yield is being calculated is less than such floor, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the interest rate margin for such Indebtedness for the purpose of calculating the Effective Yield and (ii) to the extent that the LIBO Rate or Alternate Base Rate (without giving effect to any floors in such definitions), as applicable, on the date that the Effective Yield is being calculated is greater than such floor, then the floor shall be disregarded in calculating the Effective Yield.

Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any other Person (other than Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates), other than, in each case, (i) a natural person, (ii) a Defaulting Lender or (iii) a Disqualified Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Loan Party and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment made to a Disqualified Lender unless (i) (A) the First Lien Administrative Agent has acted with gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment) or (B) such assignment resulted from a material breach of the First Lien Loan Documents by the First Lien Administrative Agent (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment) and (ii) the Borrower has not consented to such assignment or is not deemed to have consented to such assignment to the extent required by Section 9.04(b).

Environmental Laws ” means all applicable treaties, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, judgments, orders, decrees and other applicable Requirements of Law, and all applicable injunctions or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, in each instance relating to the protection of the environment, to preservation or reclamation of natural resources, to Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, to health or safety matters.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, obligation, loss, claim, action, order or cost, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of medical monitoring, costs of environmental remediation or restoration, administrative oversight costs, consultants’ fees, fines, penalties and indemnities) directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or permit, license or approval issued thereunder, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, or treatment of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which, and to the extent, liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person.

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

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

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, in each case whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA, of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code); (e) the incurrence by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) with respect to the termination of any Plan or by application of Section 4069 of ERISA with respect to any terminated plan; (f) the receipt by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, or to an intention to terminate or to appoint a trustee to administer any plan or plans in respect of which such Loan Party or such ERISA Affiliate would be deemed to be an employer under Section 4069 of ERISA; (g) the incurrence by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan; (h) the receipt by a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability, or the failure of a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to any Withdrawal Liability; or (i) the withdrawal of a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA.

Eurodollar ” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.

Excess Cash Flow ” means, for any period, an amount equal to the excess of:

(a) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period,

 

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(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all Non-Cash Charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term account receivables for such period , and

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on dispositions by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, less :

(b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income (including any amounts included in Consolidated Net Income of proceeds received or due from business interruption insurance or reimbursement of expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification and other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition or other Investment or any disposition of any asset permitted under this Agreement to the extent such amounts are due but not received during such period) and cash charges included in clauses (a) through (j) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” (other than cash charges in respect of Transaction Costs paid on or about the Effective Date to the extent financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness incurred on the Effective Date or an equity investment on the Effective Date),

(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xii) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of capital expenditures made in cash or accrued during such period, except to the extent that such capital expenditures were financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries other than the First Lien Loan Document Obligations,

(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness (including (1) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Leases and (2) the amount of any mandatory prepayment of Loans to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase, but excluding all other prepayments of Term Loans and all prepayments of revolving loans (including Revolving Loans)) made during such period, other than (A) in respect of any revolving credit facility (other than the Revolving Credit Facility hereunder) except to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder and (B) to the extent financed with the proceeds of other Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on dispositions by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term account receivables for such period,

 

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(vi) cash payments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness,

(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xii) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Investments (other than Investments in Permitted Investments) and acquisitions not prohibited by this Agreement to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(viii) the amount of dividends and other Restricted Payments (including the amount of Tax Distributions made by the Borrower during such period, to the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income) paid in cash during such period, to the extent such dividends and Restricted Payments were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(ix) the aggregate amount of payments and expenditures actually made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such payments and expenditures are not expensed during such period,

(x) cash payments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of Non-Cash Charges included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in any prior period,

(xi) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness,

(xii) at the option of the Borrower, and without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, (1) the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts, commitments, letters of intent or purchase orders (the “ Contract Consideration ”), in each case, entered into prior to or during such period and (2) to the extent set forth in a certificate of a Financial Officer delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent at or before the time the Compliance Certificate for the period ending simultaneously with such Test Period is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d), the aggregate amount of cash that is reasonably expected to be paid in respect of planned cash expenditures by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (the “ Planned Expenditures ”), in the case of each of clauses (1) and (2), relating to Permitted Acquisitions, other Investments (other than Investments in Permitted Investments) or capital expenditures (including Capitalized Software Expenditures or other purchases of Intellectual Property) to be consummated or made during a subsequent Test Period (and in the case of Planned Expenditures, the subsequent Test Period); provided, that to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Investments or capital expenditures during such Test Period is less than the Contract Consideration and Planned Expenditures, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such Test Period; provided, further, that to the extent deducted from Excess Cash Flow in any Test Period, such Contract Consideration and/or Planned Expenditure is not deducted again in any subsequent Test Period,

 

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(xiii) the amount of cash rent payments made in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of rent payments deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, and

(xiv) the amount of taxes (including penalties and interest) paid in cash and/or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period.

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

Excluded Account ” means any (a) payroll account, (b) zero balance account, (c) withholding tax, trust and fiduciary account, (d) pension fund, escrow (including, without limitation, any escrow accounts for the benefit of any Grantor’s (as defined in the First Lien Collateral Agreement) customers but excluding any escrow accounts for the benefit of any Grantor), or similar account and (e) any other account reasonably agreed to by the First Lien Administrative Agent.

Excluded Assets ” means (a) any fee-owned real property (other than any Oil and Gas Property or any surface estate necessary for the access or exploration of any Oil and Gas Property) that is not Material Real Property and all leasehold (including ground lease) interests in real property (other than any Oil and Gas Property or any surface estate necessary for the access or exploration of any Oil and Gas Property but including requirements to deliver landlord lien waivers, estoppels and collateral access letters), (b) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title or ownership, (c) letter of credit rights (except to the extent constituting supporting obligations (as defined under the UCC) in which a security interest can be perfected with the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement), (d) commercial tort claims (except to the extent can be perfected with the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement), (e) Equity Interests in any Person (other than any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries) to the extent the pledge thereof to the First Lien Collateral Agent is not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents, (f) voting Equity Interests constituting an amount greater than 65% of the total voting Equity Interests of any Subsidiary that is (i) a CFC or CFC Holdco and (ii) owned directly by a Borrower or Guarantor, (g) any lease, license or other agreement, government approval or franchise with any Person if, to the extent and for so long as, the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the Secured Obligations constitutes a breach of or a default under, or creates a right of termination in favor of any party (other than any Loan Party) to, such lease, license or other agreement, government approval or franchise (but only to the extent any of the foregoing is not rendered ineffective by, or is otherwise unenforceable under, the Uniform Commercial Code or any Requirements of Law and so long as such prohibition was not incurred in contemplation of such lease, license or other agreement, government approval or franchise), other than proceeds and receivables thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition, (h) any asset subject to a Lien of the type permitted by Section 6.02(iv) (whether or not incurred pursuant to such Section) or a Lien permitted by Section 6.02(xi) (so long as in the case of acquisition of a Subsidiary, any such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition), in each case if, to the extent and for so long as the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the Secured Obligations constitutes a breach of or a default under, or creates a right of termination in favor of any party (other than any Loan Party) to, any agreement pursuant to which such Lien has been created (but only to the extent any of the foregoing is not rendered ineffective by, or is otherwise unenforceable under, the Uniform Commercial Code or any Requirements of Law), (i) any intent-to-use trademark applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1051, prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or the filing of an “Amendment to Allege Use” pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act, (j) any asset if, to the extent and for so long as the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the

 

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Secured Obligations is prohibited by an applicable law, rule or regulation or contractual obligation existing on the Effective Date (or if later, on the date the entity owning such asset becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (so long as in the case of an acquisition of such Restricted Subsidiary, any such prohibition was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition)) (other than to the extent that any such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable Requirements of Law) or which would require any governmental or regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization to do so, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained (other than to the extent that such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code), (k) margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors, as in effect from time to time), (l) [reserved], (m) any Excluded Account and (n) any assets with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower (as agreed to in writing), the cost or other consequences (including adverse tax consequences) of pledging such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

Excluded Information ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(A).

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings, (b) each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01, (c) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation or contractual obligation existing on the Effective Date or, if later, the date such Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (so long as in the case of an acquisition of such Subsidiary, any such prohibition was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), from guaranteeing the Secured Obligations or which would require any governmental or regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization to do so, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained, (d) any CFC, (e) any CFC Holdco, (f) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (g) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower (as agreed in writing), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing the Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (h) any other Subsidiary excused from becoming a Loan Party pursuant to the last paragraph of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”, (i) any Subsidiary that is (or, if it were a Loan Party, would be) an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (j) any not-for profit Subsidiaries, captive insurance companies or other special purpose subsidiaries, (k) any joint venture or any special purpose securitization vehicle (or similar entity) and (l) each Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , that any Immaterial Subsidiary that is a signatory to the First Lien Collateral Agreement and the First Lien Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed not to be an Excluded Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents unless the Borrower has otherwise notified the First Lien Administrative Agent; provided further that the Borrower may at any time and in its sole discretion, upon notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent, and subject to, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, the consent of the Administrative Agent, deem that any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be an Excluded Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Guarantor at any time, any Secured Swap Obligation under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act, if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Loan Guarantor of, or the grant by such Loan Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Secured Swap 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 Loan Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to any “Keepwell”, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Loan Guarantor, at the time such guarantee or grant of a security interest becomes effective with respect to such related Secured Swap Obligation. If a Secured Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Secured Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps that are or would be rendered illegal due to such guarantee or security interest.

 

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Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other First Lien Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured by) such recipient’s net income (however denominated) and franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes) by a jurisdiction (i) as a result of such recipient being organized or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office in such jurisdiction, or (ii) as a result of any other present or former connection between such 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 or received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under or enforced any First Lien Loan Documents or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to this Agreement or having sold or assigned an interest in any First Lien Loan Documents), (b) any branch profits Tax imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (a) above, (c) any U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed pursuant to FATCA, (d) any withholding Tax that is attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e) and (e) except in the case of an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.19 hereto, any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to a Lender pursuant to a Requirement of Law in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax under Section 2.17(a).

Existing Debt Documents ” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2014, by and among, inter alios , Brigham Minerals, LLC and Rearden Minerals, LLC as borrowers and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as administrative agent.

Facilities ” means the Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Facility and all extensions of credit pursuant thereto as the context may require.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable thereto), any current or future Treasury regulations thereunder or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements implementing the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the First Lien Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or corporate controller of the Borrower.

Financial Performance Covenant ” means, collectively, the covenants set forth in Section 6.11.

 

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FIRREA ” means the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended.

First Lien Acceptable Discount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(2).

First Lien Acceptable Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(3).

First Lien Acceptance and Prepayment Notice ” means an irrevocable written notice from a Term Lender accepting a First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment at the First Lien Acceptable Discount specified therein pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit P.

First Lien Acceptance Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(2).

First Lien Accepting Lenders ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.24(a).

First Lien Additional Lender ” means any First Lien Additional Revolving Lender or any First Lien Additional Term Lender, as applicable.

First Lien Additional Revolving Lender ” means, at any time, any bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that agrees to provide any portion of any (a) First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase pursuant to a First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment in accordance with Section 2.20 or (b) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a First Lien Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.21; provided that each First Lien Additional Revolving Lender shall be subject to the approval of the First Lien Administrative Agent (and, if such First Lien Additional Revolving Lender will provide a First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase, each Issuing Bank), in each case only if such consent would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Revolving Loans or Revolving Commitments, as applicable, to such bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor (such approval in each case not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and the Borrower.

First Lien Additional Term Lender ” means, at any time, any bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that agrees to provide any portion of any (a) First Lien Incremental Term Loans pursuant to a First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment in accordance with Section 2.20 or (b) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a First Lien Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.21; provided that each First Lien Additional Term Lender shall be subject to the approval of the First Lien Administrative Agent if such consent would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Term Loans or Term Commitments, as applicable, to such bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and the Borrower.

First Lien Administrative Agent ” means Owl Rock, in its capacity as administrative agent hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Article VIII.

First Lien Administrative Agent Fee Letter ” means that certain First Lien Administrative Agent Fee Letter, dated as of July 27, 2018, by and among the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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First Lien Applicable Account ” means, with respect to any payment to be made to the First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder, the account specified by the First Lien Administrative Agent from time to time for the purpose of receiving payments of such type.

First Lien Applicable Discount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(2).

First Lien Arranger Fee Letter ” means that certain First Lien Arranger Fee Letter, dated as of July 27, 2018, by and among the Borrower and Owl Rock Capital Advisors LLC.

First Lien Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any Person whose consent is required by Section 9.04), substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form reasonably approved by the First Lien Administrative Agent.

First Lien Auction Agent ” means (a) the First Lien Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor employed by the Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the First Lien Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(A); provided that the Borrower shall not designate the First Lien Administrative Agent as the First Lien Auction Agent without the written consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent (it being understood that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the First Lien Auction Agent).

First Lien Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment ” means the offer by the Borrower to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a First Lien Specified Discount to par pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B).

First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers ” means the solicitation by the Borrower of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Term Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D).

First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers ” means the solicitation by the Borrower of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Term Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified range at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C).

First Lien Collateral Agent ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 8.01(b) and its successors in such capacity as provided in Article VIII.

First Lien Collateral Agreement ” means the First Lien Collateral Agreement among the Borrower, each other Loan Party and the First Lien Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B)(2).

First Lien Discount Range ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(1).

First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(1).

 

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First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Notice ” means a written notice of a First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C) substantially in the form of Exhibit L.

First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer ” means the irrevocable written offer by a First Lien Term Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit M, submitted in response to an invitation to submit offers following the First Lien Auction Agent’s receipt of a First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Notice.

First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(1).

First Lien Discount Range Proration ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(3).

First Lien Discounted Prepayment Determination Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(3).

First Lien Discounted Prepayment Effective Date ” means in the case of a First Lien Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment or First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offer, five (5) Business Days following the receipt by each relevant Term Lender of notice from the First Lien Auction Agent in accordance with Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B), Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C) or Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D), as applicable unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Borrower and the First Lien Auction Agent.

First Lien Discounted Term Loan Prepayment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(A).

First Lien Fee Letters ” means, collectively, the First Lien Arranger Fee Letter and the First Lien Administrative Agent Fee Letter.

First Lien Financing Transactions ” means (a) the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the First Lien Loan Documents to which it is to be a party, (b) the borrowing of Loans hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof and (c) the issuance, amendment or extension of Letters of Credit hereunder and the use of proceeds thereof.

First Lien Guarantee Agreement ” means the First Lien Master Guarantee Agreement among the Loan Parties and the First Lien Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

First Lien Incremental Equivalent Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(a)(xx).

First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(d).

First Lien Incremental Facility ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

 

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First Lien Incremental Term Facility ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

First Lien Incremental Term Increase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

First Lien Incremental Term Loan ” means any Term Loan provided under any Incremental Facility.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F among the First Lien Administrative Agent and one or more Senior Representatives for holders of Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies), with such modifications thereto as the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower may reasonably agree.

First Lien Loan Document Obligations ” means (a) the due and punctual payment in cash by the Borrower of (i) the principal of the Loans and LC Disbursements, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the applicable rate or rates provided in this Agreement (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other First Lien Loan Documents, including obligations to pay fees, expenses, reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual payment in cash and performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to each of the First Lien Loan Documents and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other First Lien Loan Documents (including interest and monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding).

First Lien Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, any First Lien Refinancing Amendment, any First Lien Loan Modification Agreement, any First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment, the First Lien Guarantee Agreement, the First Lien Collateral Agreement, the other First Lien Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if applicable), the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if applicable), the First Lien Fee Letters and, except for purposes of Section 9.02, any First Lien Note delivered pursuant to Section 2.09(e).

First Lien Loan Modification Agreement ” means a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, among the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent and one or more First Lien Accepting Lenders, effecting one or more Permitted Amendments and such other amendments hereto and to the other First Lien Loan Documents as are contemplated by Section 2.24.

First Lien Loan Modification Offer ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.24(a).

First Lien Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit R, payable to a Lender in any Facility in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Revolving Commitment or Term Loans, as applicable, of such Lender.

 

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First Lien Offered Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(1).

First Lien Offered Discount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(1).

First Lien Refinancing Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower executed by each of (a) the Borrower and Holdings, (b) the First Lien Administrative Agent and (c) each First Lien Additional Lender and Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness being incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.21.

First Lien Security Documents ” means the First Lien Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages and each other security agreement or pledge agreement executed and delivered pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Sections 5.11, 5.12 or 5.14 to secure any of the Secured Obligations.

First Lien Solicited Discount Proration ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(3).

First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(1).

First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice ” means an irrevocable written notice of a First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit N.

First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer ” means the irrevocable written offer by each First Lien Term Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit O, submitted following the First Lien Administrative Agent’s receipt of a First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(1).

First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B)(1).

First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Notice ” means an irrevocable written notice of the Borrower of First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit J.

First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B)(1).

First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response ” means the irrevocable written response by each First Lien Term Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit K, to a First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

First Lien Specified Discount Proration ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B)(3).

 

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First Lien Specified Discount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(B)(1).

First Lien Submitted Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(1).

First Lien Submitted Discount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(1).

Fixed Amounts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(b).

Flood Insurance Laws ” means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (v) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Foreign Prepayment Event ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(g).

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

Form Intercreditor Agreements ” means (a) an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or (b) an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable.

Funded Debt ” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided , however , that if the Borrower notifies the First Lien Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the First Lien Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (a) 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 FASB Accounting Standards Codification 825-Financial Instruments, or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of any subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein and (b) the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capital Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capital Lease Obligations.

 

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Governmental Approvals ” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, Governmental Authorities.

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

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “ guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Effective Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive, radioactive, hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum by-products or distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances, wastes, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants of any nature and in any form regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law due to their dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics.

Holdings ” means (a) prior to any IPO, Initial Holdings and (b) upon and after an IPO, (i) if the IPO Entity is Initial Holdings or any Person of which Initial Holdings is a Subsidiary, Initial Holdings or (ii) if the IPO Entity is an Intermediate Parent, the IPO Entity.

Hydrocarbon Interests ” means all presently existing or after-acquired rights, titles and interests in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, other Hydrocarbon leases, mineral interests, mineral servitudes, overriding royalty interests, royalty interests, net profits interests, production payment interests and other similar interests. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a Hydrocarbon Interest or Hydrocarbon Interests in this Agreement shall refer to a Hydrocarbon Interest or Hydrocarbon Interests of Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries.

ICE LIBOR ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Alternate Base Rate.”

Identified Participating Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(3).

 

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Identified Qualifying Lenders ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(3).

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary other than a Material Subsidiary.

Impacted Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b).

Incurrence Based Amounts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(b).

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (x) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, (y) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid after being due and payable and (z) expenses accrued in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; provided that the term “Indebtedness” shall not include (i) deferred or prepaid revenue, (ii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty, indemnity or other unperformed obligations of the seller, (iii) any obligations attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, (iv) Indebtedness of any Person that is a direct or indirect parent of Holdings appearing on the balance sheet of Holdings or the Borrower, or solely by reason of push down accounting under GAAP, (v) any non-compete or consulting obligations incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, (vi) any reimbursement obligations under pre-paid contracts entered into with clients in the ordinary course of business or (vii) for the avoidance of doubt, any Qualified Equity Interests issued by Holdings or the Borrower. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall (unless such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person) be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (B) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall exclude intercompany liabilities arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations and intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any rollover or extensions of terms).

Indemnified Taxes ” means all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

Information ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12(a).

Initial Holdings ” has the meaning given to such term in the preliminary statements hereto.

 

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Initial Term Loans ” means (a) the Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a) on the Effective Date and (b) the Delayed Draw Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

Initial Reserve Report ” means that certain reserve report with respect to the Loan Parties’ Proved Reserve, dated as of December 31, 2017 by Cawley Gillespie & Associates, Inc.

Intellectual Property ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the First Lien Collateral Agreement.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement ” means short-form security agreements, suitable for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office (as applicable), with respect to any Intellectual Property that is registered, issued or applied for in the United States and that constitute Collateral.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as the context may require.

Interest Election Request ” means a written request by the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E , to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last Business Day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

Interest Period ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date such Borrowing is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and ending on the date that is one, two, three or six months thereafter as selected by the Borrower in its Borrowing Request (or, if agreed to by each Lender participating therein, twelve months or such other period less than one month thereafter as the Borrower may elect); provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month at the end of such Interest Period and (c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond (i) in the case of Term Loans, the Term Maturity Date and (ii) in the case of Revolving Loans, the Revolving Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Intermediate Parent ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings and of which the Borrower and each other Restricted Subsidiary is a subsidiary.

Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the

 

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case of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) intercompany advances arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations and (ii) intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. The amount, as of any date of determination, of (a) any Investment in the form of a loan or an advance shall be the principal amount thereof outstanding on such date, minus any cash payments actually received by such investor representing interest in respect of such Investment (to the extent any such payment to be deducted does not exceed the remaining principal amount of such Investment and without duplication of amounts increasing the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount), but without any adjustment for write-downs or write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date thereof, (b) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof, as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer, (c) any Investment in the form of a transfer of Equity Interests or other non-cash property by the investor to the investee, including any such transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a Financial Officer) of such Equity Interests or other property as of the time of the transfer, minus any payments actually received by such investor representing a return of capital of, or dividends or other distributions in respect of, such Investment (to the extent such payments do not exceed, in the aggregate, the original amount of such Investment and without duplication of amounts increasing the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount), but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the date of such Investment, and (d) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) by the specified Person in the form of a purchase or other acquisition for value of any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other Person shall be the original cost of such Investment (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith), plus (i) the cost of all additions thereto and minus (ii) the amount of any portion of such Investment that has been repaid to the investor in cash as a repayment of principal or a return of capital, and of any cash payments actually received by such investor representing interest, dividends or other distributions in respect of such Investment (to the extent the amounts referred to in clause (ii) do not, in the aggregate, exceed the original cost of such Investment plus the costs of additions thereto and without duplication of amounts increasing the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount), but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the date of such Investment. For purposes of Section 6.04, if an Investment involves the acquisition of more than one Person, the amount of such Investment shall be allocated among the acquired Persons in accordance with GAAP; provided that pending the final determination of the amounts to be so allocated in accordance with GAAP, such allocation shall be as reasonably determined by a Financial Officer.

Investor ” means a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof).

IPO ” means the initial underwritten public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) of common Equity Interests in the IPO Entity.

IPO Entity ” means, at any time upon and after an IPO, Initial Holdings, a parent entity of Initial Holdings or an Intermediate Parent, as the case may be, the Equity Interests of which were issued or otherwise sold pursuant to the IPO; provided that, immediately following the IPO, the Borrower is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such IPO Entity and such IPO Entity owns, directly or through its subsidiaries, substantially all the businesses and assets owned or conducted, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower immediately prior to the IPO.

 

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ISP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank and in effect at the time of issuance of such Letter of Credit).

Issuing Bank ” means (a) Owl Rock or an Affiliate or designee thereof that is reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, (b) each Revolving Lender that shall have become an Issuing Bank hereunder as provided in Section 2.05(k) (other than any Person that shall have ceased to be an Issuing Bank as provided in Section 2.05(l)), (c) any financial institution acceptable to Owl Rock and the Borrower and (d) any of the foregoing entities’ respective Affiliates or branches, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank or a bank or other legally authorized Person reasonably acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate, bank or authorized Person with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate, bank or authorized Person.

Junior Financing ” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than any permitted intercompany Indebtedness owing to Holdings, Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) that is unsecured, secured on a junior priority basis to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations or subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations.

Latest Maturity Date ” means, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Other First Lien Term Loan, any Other First Lien Term Commitment, any Other First Lien Revolving Loan or any Other First Lien Revolving Commitment, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

LC Disbursement ” means an honoring of a drawing by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

LC Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit that remains available for drawing at such time and (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.13 or 3.14 of the ISP or for any Letter of Credit issued with the exclusion of Article 36 of the UCP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

LCT Election ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.06.

LCT Test Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.06.

 

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Lead Arranger ” means each of Owl Rock Capital Advisors LLC and any permitted successors and assigns.

Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption, a First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment, a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement or a First Lien Refinancing Amendment, in each case, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption.

Letter of Credit ” means any letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to this Agreement other than any such letter of credit or bank guarantee that shall have ceased to be a “Letter of Credit” outstanding hereunder pursuant to Section 9.05.

Letter of Credit Request ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to $5,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of and not in addition to the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

LIBO Rate ” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum equal to (i) the ICE Benchmark Administration LIBOR rate or the successor thereto if the ICE Benchmark Administration is no longer making a LIBOR rate available, as published by Bloomberg (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the First Lien Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Borrowing being made, continued or converted by the First Lien Administrative Agent and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by three major banking institutions in immediately available funds in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or the other First Lien Loan Documents, the term “LIBO Rate” may be amended to refer to (x) a comparable successor rate, with the consent of the Required Lenders, First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or (y) to the extent the First Lien Administrative Agent determines in good faith that the consents referenced in the preceding clause (x)(i) are not attainable following commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consents, a comparable successor rate that is the prevailing market standard for credit agreements of this type for the replacement of or successors to the eurodollar rate in the U.S. syndicated loan market as reasonably determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower), and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such amendment.

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

 

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Limited Condition Transaction ” means any (1) Permitted Acquisition or other investment permitted hereunder by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing, (2) repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness with respect to which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar irrevocable notice) is delivered or (iii) any dividends or distributions on, or redemptions of equity in connection with, a Permitted Acquisition or other investment, of the type set forth under clause (1) hereof, and requiring declaration in advance thereof.

Liquidity ” means, at any date of determination, the sum of (a) the Unrestricted Cash Amount plus (b) the Available Revolving Commitment.

Loan Guarantors ” means Holdings, any Intermediate Parent and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

Loan Parties ” means Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

Loans ” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Majority in Interest ”, when used in reference to Lenders of any Class, means, at any time, (a) in the case of the Revolving Lenders, Lenders having Revolving Exposures and unused Revolving Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate Revolving Exposures and the unused aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time and (b) in the case of the Term Lenders of any Class, Lenders holding outstanding Term Loans of such Class representing more than 50% of all Term Loans of such Class outstanding at such time; provided that whenever there are one or more Defaulting Lenders, the total outstanding Term Loans and Revolving Exposures of, and the unused Revolving Commitments of, each Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Majority in Interest.

Management Investors ” means the members of the Board of Directors, officers and employees of Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries who are (directly or indirectly through one or more investment vehicles) investors in Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof).

Master Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Swap Agreement.”

Material Adverse Effect ” means a circumstance or condition affecting the business, financial condition, or results of operations of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on (i) the ability of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the First Lien Loan Documents or (ii) the rights and remedies of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under the First Lien Loan Documents in any material respect.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the First Lien Loan Document Obligations), Capital Lease Obligations, unreimbursed obligations for letter of credit drawings and financial guarantees (other than ordinary course of business contingent reimbursement obligations) or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

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Material Non-Public Information ” means (a) if the Borrower is a public reporting company, material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws, and (b) if the Borrower is not a public reporting company, information that is (i) of the type that would not be publicly available if the Borrower were a public reporting company and (ii) material with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws.

Material Real Property ” means real property (other than Oil and Gas Property but including fixtures) located in the United States and owned by any Loan Party with a book value, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith, greater than or equal to $5,000,000 (it being understood that no real property owned by any Loan Party as of the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be Material Real Property).

Material Subsidiary ” means (i) each Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, had net revenues or total assets for such quarter in excess of 5.0% of the consolidated net revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such quarter; provided that in the event that the Immaterial Subsidiaries, taken together, had as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended net revenues or total assets in excess of 10.0 % of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such quarter, the Borrower shall designate at its sole discretion one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries to be a Material Subsidiary as may be necessary such that the foregoing 10.0% limit shall not be exceeded, and any such Subsidiary shall thereafter be deemed to be an Material Subsidiary hereunder; provided further that the Borrower may re-designate Material Subsidiaries as Immaterial Subsidiaries so long as Borrower is in compliance with the foregoing.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

Model ” means that certain financial model delivered by the Borrower to the First Lien Administrative Agent on June 19, 2018.

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

Mortgage ” means a mortgage, deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents or other security document granting a Lien on any Mortgaged Property in favor of the First Lien Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. Each Mortgage shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

Mortgaged Property ” means each parcel of Material Real Property and all Mortgaged Oil and Gas Properties with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, Section 5.11, Section 5.12 or Section 5.14 (if any).

Mortgaged Oil and Gas Properties ” means (a) the Oil and Gas Properties listed on Schedule 1.01(b) which shall become subject to a mortgage within ninety (90) days following the Effective Date (or such later date as the First Lien Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) and (b) any additional Oil and Gas Properties which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered after the Effective Date (whether pursuant to Section  5.11(d) or otherwise).

 

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

Net Proceeds ” means, with respect to any event, (a) the proceeds received in respect of such event in cash or Permitted Investments, including (i) any cash or Permitted Investments received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment or earn-out, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds that are actually received, and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments that are actually received, minus (b) the sum of (i) all fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such event (including attorney’s fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant, accountant and other customary fees), (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), (x) the amount of all payments that are permitted hereunder and are made by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than the Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event, (y) the pro rata portion of net cash proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (y)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result thereof and (z) the amount of any liabilities directly associated with such asset and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable), the amount of Tax Distributions, dividends and other restricted payments that Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries may make pursuant to Section 6.07(a)(vi)(A) or (B) as a result of such event, and the amount of any reserves established by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, that are directly attributable to such event, provided that any reduction at any time in the amount of any such reserves (other than as a result of payments made in respect thereof) shall be deemed to constitute the receipt by the Borrower at such time of Net Proceeds in the amount of such reduction.

New Project ” shall mean (a) each facility which is either a new facility, branch or office or an expansion, relocation, remodeling or substantial modernization of an existing facility, branch or office owned by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries which in fact commences operations and (b) each creation (in one or a series of related transactions) of a business unit to the extent such business unit commences operations or each expansion (in one or a series of related transactions) of business into a new market.

Non-Accepting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24(c).

Non-Cash Charges ” means (a) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down, including impairment charges or asset write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and Investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles pursuant to GAAP (which, without limiting the foregoing, shall include any impairment charges resulting from the application of FASB Statements No. 142 and 144 and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141), (b) all losses from Investments recorded using the equity method, (c) all Non-Cash Compensation Expenses, (d) the non-cash impact of acquisition method accounting, (e) depreciation and amortization (including, without limitation, as they relate to acquisition accounting, amortization of deferred financing fees or costs, Capitalized Software Expenditures and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pension and other post-employment benefits) and (f) other non-cash charges (including

 

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non-cash charges related to deferred rent) ( provided , in each case, that if any non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period).

Non-Cash Compensation Expense ” means any non-cash expenses and costs that result from the issuance of stock-based awards, partnership interest-based awards and similar incentive based compensation awards or arrangements.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).

Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

Not Otherwise Applied ” means, with reference to the Available Amount or the Available Equity Amount, as applicable, that such amount was not previously applied pursuant to Sections 6.04(m), 6.07(a)(vii) and 6.07(b)(ix).

Oil and Gas Properties ” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests; (b) the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; (d) 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; (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, the lands covered thereby and all oil in tanks and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in anywise appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests: and (g) all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereafter 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, buildings, 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. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to an Oil and Gas Property or to Oil and Gas Properties in this Agreement shall refer to an Oil and Gas Property or Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Ongoing Hedges ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.13.

Organizational Documents ” means, with respect to any Person, the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person.

 

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Other First Lien Revolving Commitments ” means one or more Classes of Revolving Commitments hereunder or extended Revolving Commitments that result from a First Lien Refinancing Amendment or a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement.

Other First Lien Revolving Loans ” means the Revolving Loans made pursuant to any Other First Lien Revolving Commitment or a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement.

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future recording, stamp, documentary, excise, transfer, sales, property or similar Taxes, charges or levies arising from any payment made under any First Lien Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any First Lien Loan Document.

Other First Lien Term Commitments ” means one or more Classes of term loan commitments hereunder that result from a First Lien Refinancing Amendment or a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement.

Other First Lien Term Loans ” means one or more Classes of Term Loans that result from a First Lien Refinancing Amendment or a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement.

Owl Rock ” has the meaning given to such term in the preliminary statements hereto.

Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c)(i).

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c)(ii).

Participating Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(C)(2).

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

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Permitted Acquisition ” means the purchase or other acquisition, by merger, consolidation or otherwise, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of), any Person; provided that (a) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests in a Person, (i) such Person, upon the consummation of such purchase or acquisition, will be a Subsidiary (including as a result of a merger or consolidation between any Subsidiary and such Person), or (ii) such Person is merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary and such Subsidiary is the surviving entity of such merger or consolidation, (b) the business of such Person, or such assets, as the case may be, constitute a business permitted by Section 5.15, (c) with respect to each such purchase or other acquisition, to the extent applicable to such Subsidiary or asset, all actions required to be taken with respect to such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (including each subsidiary thereof) or assets in order to satisfy the requirements set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” to the extent applicable shall have been taken (or arrangements for the taking of such actions after the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition shall have been made that are reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent) and (c) after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition and the incurrence of Indebtedness or any other related transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (except with respect to a Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the execution of the definitive agreement for such transaction and no Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) shall have occurred and be continuing after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition and the incurrence of Indebtedness or any other related transaction).

 

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Permitted Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement and, if applicable the other First Lien Loan Documents, effected in connection with a First Lien Loan Modification Offer pursuant to Section 2.24, providing for an extension of a maturity date applicable to the Loans and/or Commitments of the First Lien Accepting Lenders and, in connection therewith, (a) a change in the Applicable Rate with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments of the First Lien Accepting Lenders and/or (b) a change in the fees payable to, or the inclusion of new fees to be payable to, the First Lien Accepting Lenders.

Permitted Encumbrances ” means:

(a) Liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP or otherwise so long as such Liens would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) Liens with respect to outstanding motor vehicle fines and Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or construction contractors’ Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or, if more than 30 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP, or otherwise so long as such Liens would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation or (ii) securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instrument for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise supporting the payment of items set forth in the foregoing clause (i);

(d) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices;

(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions, zoning restrictions and other similar encumbrances and title defects affecting real property that, in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(f) Liens securing, or otherwise arising from, judgments not constituting an Event of Default under Section 7.01(j);

 

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(g) Liens on (i) goods the purchase price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit issued for the account of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or Liens on bills of lading, drafts or other documents of title arising by operation of law or pursuant to the standard terms of agreements relating to letters of credit, bank guarantees and other similar instruments; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit to the extent such obligations are permitted by Section 6.01 and (ii) specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(h) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar filings made in respect of operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries;

(i) rights of recapture of unused real property (other than any Mortgaged Property) in favor of the seller of such property set forth in customary purchase agreements and related arrangements with any Governmental Authority;

(j) Liens in favor of deposit banks or securities intermediaries securing customary fees, expenses or charges in connection with the establishment, operation or maintenance of deposit accounts or securities accounts;

(k) Liens in favor of obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(l) Liens arising from grants of non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of Intellectual Property made in the ordinary course of business;

(m) rights of setoff, banker’s lien, netting agreements and other Liens arising by operation of law or by of the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance of administration of deposit accounts, securities accounts, cash management arrangements or in connection with the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees or other similar instruments;

(n) Liens arising from the right of distress enjoyed by landlords or Liens otherwise granted to landlords, in either case, to secure the payment of arrears of rent or performance of other obligations in respect of leased properties, so long as such Liens are not exercised or except where the exercise of such Liens would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(o) Liens or security given to public utilities or to any municipality or Governmental Authority when required by the utility, municipality or Governmental Authority in connection with the supply of services or utilities to the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiaries;

(p) servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements, facilities sharing agreements, cost sharing agreements and other agreements pertaining to the use or development of any of the assets of the Person, provided the same do not result in (i) a substantial and prolonged interruption or disruption of the business activities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(q) Liens securing Priority Obligations; and

(r) Liens under any oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, production sales contracts, division orders, contracts for sale, operating agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, production handling agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, transportation agreements, marketing agreements, processing 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 in each case to the extent the same (i) are ordinary and customary to the oil, gas and other mineral exploration, development, processing or extraction business and (ii) secure obligations that are not delinquent and do not in any case materially detract from the value of the Oil and Gas Property subject thereto;

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness for borrowed money other than Liens referred to in clauses (d) and (k) above securing obligations under letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto and in clause (g) above, in each case to the extent any such Lien would constitute a Lien securing Indebtedness for borrowed money.

Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt ” means any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and/or any Loan Party in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes or senior secured loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, (ii) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (iii) such Indebtedness does not have mandatory redemption features (other than customary asset sale, insurance and condemnation proceeds events, change of control offers or events of default) that could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Refinanced Debt and (iv) a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s); provided that if such Indebtedness is the initial Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt incurred by the Borrower, then the Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties, the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Senior Representative for such Indebtedness shall have executed and delivered the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s). Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Holders ” means (a) the Sponsor and (b) the Management Investors.

Permitted Investments ” means any of the following, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) dollars, euros, Canadian dollars, or such other currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government or any agency or instrumentality of (i) the United States, (ii) the United Kingdom, (iii) Canada, (iv) Switzerland or (v) any member nation of the European Union rated A (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P and A2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, having average maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of such country or such member nation of the European Union is pledged in support thereof;

 

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(c) time deposits with, or certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) is a Lender or (ii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of foreign banks (any such bank in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) being an “ Approved Bank ”), in each case with average maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(d) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by an Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable or fixed rate note issued by, or guaranteed by, a corporation rated A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in each case with average maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(e) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with an Approved Bank, a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer covering securities described in clauses (b) and (c) above;

(f) marketable short-term money market and similar highly liquid funds substantially all of the assets of which are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (b) through (e) above;

(g) securities with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, a member of the European Union or by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, member, commonwealth or territory having an investment grade rating from either S&P or Moody’s (or the equivalent thereof);

(h) investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in mutual funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s;

(i) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above denominated in euros or any other foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and customarily used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Subsidiary organized in such jurisdiction;

(j) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in money market investment programs that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or that are administered by financial institutions having capital of at least $250,000,000 or its equivalent, and, in either case, the portfolios of which are limited such that substantially all of such investments are of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a) through (i) of this definition;

(k) with respect to 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: (i) obligations of the national government of the country in which such Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business; provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in each case maturing within one year after the date of investment therein, (ii) certificates of deposit of, bankers acceptances of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business; provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and

 

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Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least “P-2” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “ Approved Foreign Bank ”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition and (iii) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank; and

(l) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (k) above.

Permitted Refinancing ” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other amounts paid, and fees and expenses incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(v), Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (c) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (d) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xiii), (a)(xviii) or (a)(xix), such Indebtedness complies with the Required Additional Debt Terms, (e) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(ii), (i) the other terms and conditions of any such Permitted Refinancing shall be as agreed between the Borrower and the lenders providing any such Permitted Refinancing and (ii) the primary obligor in respect of, and/or the Persons (if any) that Guarantee, the Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension are the primary obligor in respect of, and/or Persons (if any) that Guaranteed the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and (f) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xiii), the Indebtedness resulting from such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is (x) unsecured if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is unsecured or (y) not secured on a more favorable basis than the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is secured. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that a Permitted Refinancing may constitute a portion of an issuance of Indebtedness in excess of the amount of such Permitted Refinancing; provided that such excess amount is otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that a Permitted Refinancing includes successive Permitted Refinancings of the same Indebtedness.

Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt ” means any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and/or any Loan Party in the form of one or more series of junior lien secured notes or junior lien secured loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior lien, subordinated basis to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, (ii) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (iii) such Indebtedness does not have mandatory redemption features (other than customary asset sale, insurance and condemnation proceeds events, change of control offers or events of default) that

 

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could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Refinanced Debt, and (iv) a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s). Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt ” means any unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and/or any Loan Party in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or senior unsecured loans; provided that (i) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) such Indebtedness does not have mandatory redemption features (other than customary asset sale, insurance and condemnation proceeds events, change of control offers or events of default) that could result in redemptions of such Indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Refinanced Debt, and (iii) such Indebtedness is not secured by any Lien on any property or assets of Holdings, Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary. Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity, whether existing as of the date hereof or subsequently created or coming to exist.

Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which a Loan Party is an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA or to which a Loan Party has any liability (including any liability on account of any ERISA Affiliate).

Planned Expenditures ” has the meaning assigned to such term in clause (b) of the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”

Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Post-Transaction Period ” means, with respect to any Specified Transaction, the period beginning on the date such Specified Transaction is consummated and ending on the last day of the eighth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Specified Transaction is consummated.

Prepayment Event ” means:

(a) any non-ordinary course sale, transfer or other disposition of any property or asset of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries permitted by (i) Section 6.05(k) other than dispositions resulting in aggregate Net Proceeds not exceeding (A) $3,750,000 in the case of any single transaction or series of related transactions and (B) $7,000,000 for all such transactions during any fiscal year of the Borrower or (ii) Section 6.05(f) other than dispositions constituting a sale-leaseback to the extent consummated substantially contemporaneously with the acquisition by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of the property subject to such sale-leaseback transaction; or

(b) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 (other than Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt, Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, Other First Lien Term Loans, Other First Lien Revolving Loans and Other First Lien Revolving Commitments which shall constitute a Prepayment Event to the extent required by the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness”) or permitted by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.02.

 

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Prepayment Premium ” means, with respect to the prepayment of any Initial Term Loans: (a) if such prepayment is made prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, a prepayment premium in an amount equal to 2.00% of the aggregate amount of the Term Loans so prepaid; (b) if such prepayment is made on or after the first anniversary of the Effective Date but prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date, a prepayment premium in an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate amount of the Term Loans so prepaid; and (c) if such prepayment is on or after the second anniversary of the Effective Date, zero.

Present Value ” means, as of any date of determination, the discounted net present value, on a pre-income tax basis, of projected future cash flows from the production of the Loan Parties’ Proven Reserves which is: (a) calculated in a manner consistent with the methodologies used in the preparation of the Initial Reserve Report and such determination shall be made using Strip Prices for crude oil (WTI Cushing), for natural gas liquids (Mont Belvieu) and natural gas (Henry Hub); (b) discounted using an annual discount rate of 9%; (c) as set forth in the mostly recently delivered Independent Engineering Report; and (d) in all cases, adjusted to give pro forma effect to all acquisitions, extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of Proven Reserves, and all estimated Proven Reserves produced or disposed of, or downward revisions of estimates of Proven Reserves, in each case, since the date of the mostly recently delivered Independent Engineering Report.

Prime Rate ” means a rate per annum equal to the rate last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent).

Priority Obligation ” means any obligation that is secured by a Lien on any Collateral in favor of a Governmental Authority, which Lien ranks or is capable of ranking prior to or pari passu with the Liens created thereon by the applicable First Lien Security Documents, including any such Lien securing amounts owing for wages, vacation pay, severance pay, employee deductions, sales tax, excise tax, other Taxes, workers compensation, governmental royalties and stumpage or pension fund obligations.

Pro Forma Adjustment ” means, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Transaction Period with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Pro Forma Entity or the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken, prior to or during such Post-Transaction Period, for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and quantifiable cost savings, or (b) any additional costs incurred prior to or during such Post-Transaction Period in connection with the combination of the operations of such Pro Forma Entity with the operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (A) so long as such actions are taken prior to or during such Post-Transaction Period or such costs are incurred prior to or during such Post-Transaction Period it may be assumed, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period, (B) any Pro Forma Adjustment to Consolidated EBITDA shall be certified by a Financial Officer, the chief executive officer or president of the Borrower and (C) any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, for such Test Period.

 

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Pro Forma Basis ,” “ Pro Forma Compliance ” and “ Pro Forma Effect ” mean, with respect to compliance with any test, financial ratio or covenant hereunder required by the terms of this Agreement to be made on a Pro Forma Basis, that (a) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (b) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test, financial ratio or covenant: (i) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (A) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any subsidiary of Holdings or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, shall be excluded and (B) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (ii) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (iii) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination and interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period; provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (a) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to operating expense reductions that are (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment; provided , further that (1) any determination of Pro Forma Compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant required at any time prior to September 30, 2018, shall be made assuming that compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant for the Test Period ending on September 30, 2018 is required with respect to the most recent Test Period prior to such time, and (2) all pro forma adjustments made pursuant to this definition (including the Pro Forma Adjustment) with respect to the Transactions shall be consistent in character and amount with the adjustments reflected in the Pro Forma Financial Statements. References herein to Pro Forma Compliance or compliance on a pro forma basis with the Financial Performance Covenant shall mean Pro Forma Compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant whether or not then in effect.

Pro Forma Disposal Adjustment ” means, for any Test Period that includes all or a portion of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Transaction Period with respect to any Sold Business or Entity, the pro forma increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of contractual arrangements between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary entered into with such Sold Entity or Business at the time of its disposal or within the Post-Transaction Period and which represent an increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA which is incremental to the Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business for the most recent Test Period prior to its disposal.

Pro Forma Entity ” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “Acquired EBITDA.”

Pro Forma Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.04(c).

 

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Projected Oil and Gas Production ” means the projected production of oil or gas (measured by volume unit or BTU equivalent, not sales price) for the term of the contracts from Oil and Gas Properties and interests owned by Borrower and its Subsidiaries which have attributable to them Proved Developed Producing Reserves, as such production is projected in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to this Agreement, after deducting projected production from any Oil and Gas Properties or Hydrocarbon Interests sold or under contract for sale that had been included in such report and after adding projected production from any Oil and Gas Properties or Hydrocarbon Interests that had not been reflected in such report but that are reflected in a separate or supplemental Reserve Report.

Proposed Acquisition ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.13.

Proposed Change ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).

Proved Developed Producing Reserves ” means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved developed producing (in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves approved by the Board of Directors of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc. from time to time) in the Reserve Report most recently delivered to First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

Proved Reserves ” means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved (in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves approved by the Board of Directors of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc. from time to time) in the Reserve Report most recently delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio ” means the ratio of (a) the Proved Reserves of the Loan Parties as set forth in the Reserve Report mostly recently delivered pursuant hereto to (b) Consolidated Total Indebtedness.

Public Company Costs ” means, as to any Person, costs associated with, or in anticipation of, or preparation for, compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and costs relating to compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act or any other comparable body of laws, rules or regulations, as companies with listed equity, directors’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, costs relating to investor relations, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees, in each case to the extent arising solely by virtue of the listing of such Person’s equity securities on a national securities exchange.

Public Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Qualified Equity Interests ” means Equity Interests of Holdings or the Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.

Qualifying Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D)(3).

Refinanced Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinancing ” means the repayment on the Effective Date of all outstanding obligations under the Existing Debt Documents and the termination of all commitments thereunder.

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b)(iv).

 

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Registered Equivalent Notes ” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same Guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

Reimbursement Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(f).

Rejection Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(e).

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, trustees, agents, controlling persons, advisors and other representatives of such Person and of each of such Person’s Affiliates and permitted successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

Release ” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, or leaching into or through the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata).

Removal Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06.

Required Additional Debt Terms ” means with respect to any Indebtedness, (a) such Indebtedness does not mature earlier than the Initial Term Loans (except in the case of customary bridge loans which subject to customary conditions (including no payment or bankruptcy event of default), would either automatically be converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent refinancing which does not mature earlier than the Initial Term Loans) or have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans, (b) other than with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xiii), such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any entity that is not a Loan Party, (c) such Indebtedness that is secured (i) other than with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xiii), is not secured by any assets not securing the Secured Obligations and (ii) is subject to the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s) and (d) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (except in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, in which case no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the date of the execution of the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction.

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate Revolving Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at such time; provided that to the extent set forth in Section 9.02 or Section 9.04 whenever there are one or more Defaulting Lenders, the total outstanding Term Loans and Revolving Exposures of, and the unused Revolving Commitments of, each Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Required Revolving Lenders ” means, at any time, Revolving Lenders having Revolving Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50.0% of the aggregate Revolving Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided that to the extent set forth in Section 9.02 or Section 9.04 whenever there are one or more Defaulting Lenders, the total outstanding Revolving Exposures of, and the unused Revolving Commitments of, each Defaulting Lender, shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Lenders.

Requirements of Law ” means, with respect to any Person, any statutes, laws, treaties, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, writs, injunctions or determinations of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

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Reserve Report ” means (a) the Initial Reserve Report and (b) each report regarding the Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Loan Parties delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.16 and otherwise prepared in a manner consistent with the methodology used in preparing the Initial Reserve Report. Each Reserve Report shall set forth volumes, projections of the future rate of production, Hydrocarbon prices (which shall be based upon the Strip Price), net proceeds of production, operating expenses and Present Value.

Resignation Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.06.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer, or other similar officer, manager or a member of the Board of Directors of a Loan Party and with respect to certain limited liability companies or partnerships that do not have officers, any manager, sole member, managing member or general partner thereof, and as to any document delivered on the Effective Date or thereafter pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” any secretary or assistant secretary of a Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, unless otherwise specified herein, any Subsidiary of Holdings other than the Borrower and any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Retained Declined Proceeds ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(e).

Revolving Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

Revolving Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum possible aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption, (ii) a First Lien Refinancing Amendment, (iii) a First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase, or (iv) a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the First Lien Assignment and Assumption, First Lien Loan Modification Agreement or First Lien Refinancing Amendment pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as the case may be. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $10,000,000.

Revolving Credit Facility ” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitment at such time.

 

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Revolving Exposure ” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.

Revolving Lender ” means a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Exposure.

Revolving Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.

Revolving Maturity Date ” means (i) July 27, 2024 or (ii) with respect to any Revolving Lender that has extended its Revolving Commitment pursuant to a Permitted Amendment and with respect to any Issuing Bank that has consented to such extension, the extended maturity date set forth in any such First Lien Loan Modification Agreement.

Sanctioned Country ” means a country or territory which is the target of any comprehensive Sanctions (as of the date hereof, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

Sanctioned Person ” means (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 (“ OFAC ”), the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned by any such Person or Persons.

Sanctions ” means economic sanctions imposed, administered or enforced by (a) 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, or (b) the United Nations Security Council.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and any successor to its rating agency business.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G , among the First Lien Administrative Agent and one or more Senior Representatives for holders of Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to be secured by the Collateral, with such modifications thereto as the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower may reasonably agree.

Secured Cash Management Obligations ” means the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, cash pooling arrangements and cash management services, corporate credit and purchasing cards and related programs or any automated clearing house transfers of funds (collectively, “ Cash Management Services ”) provided to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whenever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor)) that are (a) owed to the First Lien Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, (b) owed on the Effective Date to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date or (c) owed to a Person that is an Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or Lender at the time such obligations are incurred, in each case, to the extent designated by the Borrower as “Secured Cash Management Obligations” in writing to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Secured Obligations ” means (a) the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, (b) the Secured Cash Management Obligations and (c) the Secured Swap Obligations (excluding with respect to any Loan Guarantor, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Guarantor).

Secured Parties ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the First Lien Collateral Agreement.

Secured Swap Obligations ” means the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under each Swap Agreement that is with an Acceptable Hedge Counterparty and for which such Acceptable Hedge Counterparty has entered into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement by joinder or otherwise.

Senior Representative ” means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to be secured on the Collateral on a pari passu or junior or “silent” subordinated basis, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

Settlement ” means the transfer of cash or other property with respect to any credit or debit card charge, check or other instrument, electronic funds transfer, or other type of paper-based or electronic payment, transfer, or charge transaction for which a Person acts as a processor, remitter, funds recipient or funds transmitter in the ordinary course of its business.

Settlement Asset ” means any cash, receivable or other property, including a Settlement Receivable, due or conveyed to a Person in consideration for a Settlement made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.

Settlement Indebtedness ” means any payment or reimbursement obligation in respect of a Settlement Payment.

Settlement Lien ” means any Lien relating to any Settlement or Settlement Indebtedness (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the grant of a Lien in or other assignment of a Settlement Asset in consideration of a Settlement Payment, Liens securing intraday and overnight overdraft and automated clearing house exposure, and similar Liens).

Settlement Payment ” means the transfer, or contractual undertaking (including by automated clearing house transaction) to effect a transfer, of cash or other property to effect a Settlement.

Settlement Receivable ” means any general intangible, payment intangible, or instrument representing or reflecting an obligation to make payments to or for the benefit of a Person in consideration for a Settlement made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person.

Sold Entity or Business ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

Specified Transaction ” means, with respect to any period, any Investment, sale, transfer or other disposition of assets, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, subsidiary designation, New Project or other event that by the terms of the First Lien Loan Documents requires “Pro Forma Compliance” with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

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Sponsor ” means Warburg Pincus LLC, Yorktown Partners LLC and Pine Brook Road Advisors, LP, and their respective Affiliates.

Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset or similar percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by any Governmental Authority of the United States. Such reserve, liquid asset or similar percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board of Governors. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D of the Board of Governors or any other applicable law, rule or regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Strip Price ” means, as of any date of determination, the forward month prices as of the last Business Day of the fiscal year or fiscal quarter of Borrower immediately preceding such date of determination for crude oil (WTI Cushing), for natural gas liquids (WTI Cushing) and natural gas (Henry Hub), as applicable to such future production month for a five-year period (or such shorter period if forward month prices are not quoted for crude oil (WTI Cushing), for natural gas liquids (WTI Cushing) and natural gas (Henry Hub), as applicable for the full five year period), with such price held flat for each subsequent year based on the average forward month price for each of the twelve months in such fifth year, as such prices are (a) quoted on the NYMEX (or its successor) as of the date of determination and (b) adjusted, in good faith by the Borrower, solely for any basis differential as of the date of determination, without future escalation.

subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held (unless parent does not Control such entity), or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent; in each case, whether existing as of the date hereof or subsequently created or coming to exist.

Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of Holdings other than the Borrower (unless otherwise specified).

Subsidiary Loan Party ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a party to the First Lien Guarantee Agreement.

Successor Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03(a)(iv).

Swap Agreement ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options,

 

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forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Mark-to-Market Value ” means, as of any date of determination, the net mark-to-market value of the Loan Parties’ Swap Agreements with Approved Counterparties in respect of commodities then in effect.

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.07(a)(vi)(A).

Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Lender hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption, (ii) a First Lien Refinancing Amendment, (iii) a First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment in respect of any Term Loans or (iv) a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement. The amount of each Lender’s Term Commitment as of the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the First Lien Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Term Commitment, First Lien Loan Modification Agreement or First Lien Refinancing Amendment, as the case may be. As of the Effective Date, the total Term Commitments, including Delayed Draw Term Commitments, are $200,000,000, as set forth on Schedule 2.01.

Term Lender ” means a Lender with a Term Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loans ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, Initial Term Loans (including the Delayed Draw Term Loans), Other First Lien Term Loans and First Lien Incremental Term Loans.

Term Maturity Date ” means July 27, 2024 (or, with respect to any Term Lender that has the maturity date of its Term Loans pursuant to a Permitted Amendment, the extended maturity date set forth in any such First Lien Loan Modification Agreement).

Test Period ” means, at any date of determination, the period of two consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended as of such time for which financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b); provided that for any date of determination before the delivery of the first financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), the Test Period shall be the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended as of such time.

 

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Total Invested Capital ” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the equity investment made in cash by the Sponsor and management in the Borrower (which, subject to adjustment as set forth below, equals $360,999,997) (the “ Initial Invested Capital ”), plus (b) the amount of any primary equity investment made in cash in the Borrower after the Effective Date (other than any Qualified Equity Interests the proceeds of which will be applied as Cure Amounts), plus (c) Funded Debt. For purposes of the foregoing calculation, to the extent the valuation of any primary equity investment made in cash in the Borrower after the Effective Date (other than any Qualified Equity Interests the proceeds of which will be applied as Cure Amounts) in excess of $35,000,000 is done at a markup to the cost basis of the Initial Invested Capital (a “ Markup Capital Raise ”), the valuation of the previously invested capital will be adjusted upward to reflect the valuation of the Markup Capital Raise.

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date, minus the aggregate amount of cash and Permitted Investments (in each case, free and clear of all liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000, excluding cash and Permitted Investments that are listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date unless “restricted” in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the Collateral along with the Facilities) to (b) the product of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Test Period, multiplied by two.

Transaction Costs ” means all fees, costs and expenses incurred or payable by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions.

Transactions ” means (a) the First Lien Financing Transactions, (b) the Refinancing and (c) the payment of the Transaction Costs.

Type ,” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

UCC ” or “ Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided , however , that, at any time, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of the First Lien Collateral Agent’s security interest in any item or portion of the Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a U.S. jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” and “Uniform Commercial Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, at such time, in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.

UCP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce, in its Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank and in effect at the time of issuance of such Letter of Credit).

Unaudited Financial Statements ” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of April 30, 2018 and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows, in each case, for the four (4) month period then ended (subject to normal audit adjustments, lack of footnotes and other presentation items).

United States Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(e)(ii)(C).

 

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Unrestricted Cash Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of cash (free and clear of all liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02) (excluding cash that is listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date unless “restricted in favor of the Facilities).

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.13 on or subsequent to the Effective Date.

USA PATRIOT Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended from time to time.

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

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person at any date, a subsidiary of such Person of which securities or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests (other than (a) directors’ qualifying shares and (b) nominal shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law) are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a “complete withdrawal” or “partial withdrawal” (as such terms are defined in Sections 4201 through 4205 of ERISA) from such Multiemployer Plan.

SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings .

For purposes of this Agreement, Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g ., a “ Revolving Loan ”) or by Type ( e.g ., a “ Eurodollar Loan ” or “ ABR Loan ”) or by Class and Type ( e.g ., a “ Eurodollar Revolving Loan ”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g ., a “ Revolving Borrowing ” or “ Term Borrowing ”) or by Type ( e.g ., a “ Eurodollar Borrowing ”) or by Class and Type ( e.g ., a “ Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing ”).

SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally .

The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement (including this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents), instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any

 

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restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP .

(a) 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, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Unaudited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Agreement, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio and any other financial ratio or test shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to all Specified Transactions that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made.

SECTION 1.05 Effectuation of Transactions .

All references herein to Holdings, the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be references to such Persons, and all the representations and warranties of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties contained in this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents shall be deemed made, in each case, after giving effect to the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 1.06 Limited Condition Transaction .

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, when (a) calculating any applicable ratio, the amount or availability of the Available Amount or any other basket based on Consolidated EBITDA or total assets, or determining other compliance with this Agreement, (b) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom), (c) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires compliance with any representations and warranties set forth herein or (d) the satisfaction of all other conditions precedent to the incurrence of Indebtedness, the creation of Liens, the making of any disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or the repayment of Indebtedness, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or other provisions, determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, determination of compliance with any representations or warranties or the satisfaction of any other conditions shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “ LCT Election ”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “ LCT

 

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Test Date ”). If on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) such ratios and other provisions are calculated as if such Limited Condition Transaction or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which financial statements of the Borrower have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if any of such ratios or other provisions are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA or other components of such ratio) or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, if the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries (x) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes asset sales, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based Basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes asset sales, Investments or Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based Basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (x) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based Basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.

SECTION 1.07 Certain Determinations .

(a) For purposes of determining compliance with any of the covenants set forth in Article V or Article VI (including in connection with any First Lien Incremental Facility) at any time (whether at the time of incurrence or thereafter), any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, Disposition, Restricted Payment or Affiliate transaction meets the criteria of one, or more than one, of the categories permitted pursuant to Article V or Article VI (including in connection with any First Lien Incremental Facility), the Borrower (i) shall in its sole discretion determine under which category such Lien (other than Liens with respect to the Initial Term Loans), Investment, Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness consisting of the Initial Term Loans), Disposition, Restricted Payment or Affiliate transaction (or, in each case, any portion there) is permitted and (ii) shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to make any redetermination and/or to divide, classify or reclassify under which category or categories such Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, Disposition, Restricted Payment or Affiliate transaction is permitted from time to time as it may determine and without notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, if the applicable date for meeting any requirement hereunder or under any other Loan Document falls on a day that is not a Business Day, compliance with such requirement shall not be required until noon on the first Business Day following such applicable date.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, any Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio and/or Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Net Leverage Ratio) (any such amounts, the “ Fixed Amounts ”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “ Incurrence Based Amounts ”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall

 

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be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence, except that incurrences of Indebtedness and Liens constituting Fixed Amounts shall be taken into account for purposes of Incurrence Based Amounts other than Incurrence Based Amounts contained in Section 6.01 or Section 6.02.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Form Intercreditor Agreements shall be deemed to be reasonable and acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be deemed to have consented to the use of each such Form Intercreditor Agreement (and to the First Lien Administrative Agent’s execution thereof) in connection with any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred, issued and/or assumed by the Borrower or any of the other Subsidiaries of Holdings pursuant to Section 6.01.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

SECTION 2.01 Commitments.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) each Term Lender agrees to make Initial Term Loans to the Borrower on the Effective Date denominated in dollars in a principal amount not exceeding such Term Lender’s Term Commitment (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include such Term Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Commitment), (b) each Delayed Draw Term Lender agrees to make Delayed Draw Term Loans to the Borrower on and after the Effective Date until the Delayed Draw Term Commitment Expiration Date in one or more drawings denominated in dollars in an aggregate principal amount not exceed such Delayed Draw Term Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Commitment and (c) each Revolving Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower denominated in dollars from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount which will not result in such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings .

(a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder, provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and other than as expressly provided herein with respect to a Defaulting Lender, no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required hereby.

(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing and Term Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as ABR Borrowings unless the Borrower shall have given the notice required for a Eurodollar Borrowing under Section 2.03, and provided an indemnity letter extending the benefits of Section 2.16 to Lenders in respect of such Borrowings. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum; provided that a Eurodollar Borrowing that results from a continuation of an outstanding Eurodollar Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to such outstanding Borrowing. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of twelve Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(f).

SECTION 2.03 Requests for Borrowings.

To request a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the First Lien Administrative Agent of such request in writing (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing (or, in the case of any Eurodollar Borrowing to be made on the Effective Date, one (1) Business Day) or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such written Borrowing Request shall be signed by the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit T and shall be irrevocable and shall be delivered by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission to the First Lien Administrative Agent. Each such written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information:

(i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Revolving Borrowing, a Term Borrowing or a Borrowing of any other Class (specifying the Class thereof);

(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing (which, in the case of any Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans, shall be in an minimum amount of $5,000,000);

(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(v) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”;

(vi) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06, or, in the case of any ABR Revolving Borrowing requested to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(f), the identity of the Issuing Bank that made such LC Disbursement; and

(vii) that (x) with respect to Delayed Draw Term Loans, the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 are satisfied and (y) with respect to any other Borrowing after the Effective Date, as of the date of such Borrowing, the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(a) and 4.02(b) are satisfied.

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified as to any Borrowing, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

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SECTION 2.04 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.05 Letters of Credit.

(a) General . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including Section 2.22), each Issuing Bank agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Lenders and the Borrower set forth in this Section 2.05 and elsewhere in the First Lien Loan Documents, to issue Letters of Credit for the Borrower’s own account (or for the account of any Subsidiary of the Borrower so long as the Borrower is an obligor in respect of all First Lien Loan Document Obligations arising under or in respect of such Letter of Credit), in a form reasonably acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, which shall reflect the standard operating procedures of such Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the period from the Effective Date until the date that is the fifth (5 th ) Business Day prior to the Revolving Maturity Date. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit or bank guarantee application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the applicable Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(b) Issuance, Amendment, Renewal or Extension; Certain Conditions . To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall deliver in writing by hand delivery or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the recipient) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the First Lien Administrative Agent (at least ten (10) Business Days before the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension or such shorter period as the applicable Issuing Bank and the First Lien Administrative Agent may agree) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (d) of this Section 2.05), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend or extend, as the case may be, such Letter of Credit. Each such notice shall be in the form of Exhibit U, appropriately completed (each, a “ Letter of Credit Request ”). If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) subject to Section 9.04(b)(ii), the Applicable Fronting Exposure of each Issuing Bank shall not exceed its Revolving Commitment, (ii) the aggregate Revolving Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments and (iii) the aggregate LC Exposure shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. To the extent there is more than one Issuing Bank, the Borrower will use reasonable efforts to request Letters of Credit from such Issuing Banks in such a way that the aggregate LC Exposure of any Issuing Bank as a percentage of all the aggregate LC Exposures of all of the Issuing Banks in respect of all Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement shall be generally in line with such Issuing Bank’s proportionate share of the Letter of Credit Sublimit (determined based on the Letter of Credit Sublimit being divided equally among the Issuing Banks); it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Borrower shall have no obligation to request Letters of Credit pursuant to the foregoing to the extent the Borrower determines, in its sole discretion, that any such request would not be feasible or commercially beneficial. No Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if (i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank

 

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from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Requirements of Law applicable to such Issuing Bank or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise fully compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, (ii) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank now or hereafter in effect and applicable to letters of credit generally, (iii) except as otherwise agreed in writing by the First Lien Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars, (iv) except as otherwise agreed by the First Lien Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $500,000, in the case of a standby Letter of Credit, or (v) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, if after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv), any Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure remains outstanding, unless such Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of cash collateral, reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such Issuing Bank’s Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or such Letter of Credit and all other LC Exposure as to which such Issuing Bank has Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure. No Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation (i) to amend or extend any Letter of Credit if (x) such Issuing Bank would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or (y) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit or (ii) to issue any Letter of Credit if such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder or after the expiry date of such Letter of Credit.

(c) Notice . Each Issuing Bank agrees that it shall not permit any issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit to occur unless it shall have given to the First Lien Administrative Agent written notice thereof required under paragraph (m) of this Section 2.05 followed by a copy of such Letter of Credit.

(d) Expiration Date . Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension thereof, the date to which it has been extended (not in excess of one year from the last applicable expiry date)) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date; provided that if such expiry date is not a Business Day, such Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day; provided further that any Letter of Credit may, upon the request of the Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed or extended automatically for additional consecutive periods of one year or less (but not beyond the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date) unless the applicable Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof within the time period specified in such Letter of Credit or, if no such time period is specified, at least thirty (30) days prior to the then-applicable expiration date, that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed or extended; provided further that such Letter of Credit shall not be required to expire on such fifth (5 th ) Business Day prior to the Revolving Maturity Date if such Letter of Credit is cash collateralized or backstopped in an amount, by an institution and otherwise pursuant to arrangements, in each case reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank.

(e) Participations . Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank that is the issuer thereof or the Lenders, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have purchased and the applicable Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have sold a participation in such Letter

 

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of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its acquisition of participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or any reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each payment required to be made by it under the preceding sentence shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(f) Reimbursement . If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Issuing Bank an amount (in same day funds) equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives notice of such LC Disbursement (the “ Reimbursement Date ”), together with accrued interest thereon in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 2.05. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) unless the Borrower shall have notified the First Lien Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date such LC Disbursement is made that the Borrower intends to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for the amount of the LC Disbursement (including any accrued interest thereon) with funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given a timely Borrowing Request to the First Lien Administrative Agent requesting Revolving Lenders to make Revolving Loans that are ABR Revolving Loans on the Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement (together with any accrued interest thereon), and (ii) subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified in Section 4.02, Revolving Lenders shall, on the Reimbursement Date, make Revolving Loans that are ABR Revolving Loans in an amount equal to their Applicable Percentage of such LC Disbursement (together with any accrued interest thereon), the proceeds of which shall be applied directly by the First Lien Administrative Agent to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for the amount of such LC Disbursement (together with any accrued interest thereon); provided that if for any reason proceeds of Revolving Loans are not received by the Issuing Bank on the Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement (together with any accrued interest thereon), the Borrower shall reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank, on demand, in an amount in same day funds equal to the excess of such LC Disbursement (together with any accrued interest thereon) over the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans, if any, which are so received. The Revolving Loans made pursuant to this paragraph (f) shall be made without regard to the Borrowing Minimum.

(g) Obligations Absolute . The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05 is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document, or any term or provision herein or therein, (ii) any exchange, change, waiver or release of any Collateral for, or any other Person’s guarantee of or other liability for, any of the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which the Borrower or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Person or, in the case of a Lender, against the Borrower, whether in connection herewith, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured), (iv) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of

 

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Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (v) payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply strictly with the terms of such Letter of Credit ( provided that the Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse such LC Disbursements unless payment is made against presentation of a draft or other document that at least substantially complies with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (vi) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) any breach hereof or any other First Lien Loan Document by any party hereto or thereto, (viii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or (ix) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.05, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. As between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank, the Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank and the proceeds thereof, by the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit or any assignees or transferees thereof. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, none of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility for: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged other than to confirm such documents comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such 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 of any such Letter of Credit to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit; (iv) its honor of any presentation under a Letter of Credit that appears on its face to substantially comply with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit; (v) any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder); (vi) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vii) any loss or delay in the transmission of any document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit; (viii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (ix) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank, including any act by a Governmental Authority and fluctuation in currency exchange rates. None of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Issuing Bank’s rights or powers hereunder or place the Issuing Bank under any liability to the Borrower or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the above shall be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential, incidental, exemplary or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment) when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if (notwithstanding the appearance of substantial compliance) such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, and any such acceptance or refusal shall be deemed not to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

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(h) Disbursement Procedures . Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing (delivered by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05.

(i) Interim Interest . If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the First Lien Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.05 to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment and shall be payable on demand or, if no demand has been made, on the date on which the Borrower reimburses the applicable LC Disbursement in full.

(j) Cash Collateralization . If (i) effective immediately, without demand or other notice of any kind, as of any expiration date of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, (ii) effective immediately, without demand or other notice of any kind, as of the occurrence of any Event of Default under paragraph (h) or (i) of Section 7.01, or (iii) any Event of Default under paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 7.01 shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day on which the Borrower receives notice from the First Lien Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing more than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all Revolving Lenders) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the First Lien Administrative Agent, in the name of the First Lien Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, an amount of cash in dollars equal to 103% of the portions of the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit, as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11(b). Each such deposit shall be held by the First Lien Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, if any Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure remains outstanding (after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv)), then promptly upon the request of the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall deliver to the First Lien Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover such Defaulting Lender Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to any cash collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). The First Lien Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the First Lien Administrative Agent in Permitted Investments and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, moneys in such account shall be applied by the First Lien Administrative Agent first to reimburse the Issuing Banks for LC Disbursements for which they have not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, the balance shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing more than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all the Revolving

 

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Lenders), such balance shall be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default or the existence of a Defaulting Lender, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived or after the termination of Defaulting Lender status, as applicable. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder pursuant to Section 2.11(b), such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower as and to the extent that, after giving effect to such return, the Borrower would remain in compliance with Section 2.11(b) and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(k) Designation of Additional Issuing Banks . The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, designate as additional Issuing Banks one or more Revolving Lenders that agree in writing to serve in such capacity as provided below. The acceptance by a Revolving Lender of an appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower, executed by the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent and such designated Revolving Lender and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such Revolving Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to include such Revolving Lender in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

(l) Resignation or Termination of an Issuing Bank . Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, any Issuing Bank may resign at any time by giving thirty (30) days’ written notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. The Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Issuing Bank, with a copy to the First Lien Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (i) such Issuing Bank’s acknowledging receipt of such notice and (ii) the fifth Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof; provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the LC Exposure attributable to all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero. At the time any such resignation or termination shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the resigning or terminated Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such resignation or termination, the resigning or terminated Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or termination, but shall not (a) be required (and shall be discharged from its obligations) to issue any additional Letters of Credit or extend or increase the amount of Letters of Credit then outstanding, without affecting its rights and obligations with respect to Letters of Credit previously issued by it, or (b) be deemed an Issuing Bank for any other purpose.

(m) Issuing Bank Reports to the First Lien Administrative Agent . Unless otherwise agreed by the First Lien Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section 2.05, report in writing to the First Lien Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity (for such period or recurrent periods as shall be requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) within five (5) Business Days following the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends, renews or extends any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and face amount of the Letters of Credit issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date and amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the

 

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Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and amount of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the First Lien Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank; provided that no Issuing Bank shall have any liability hereunder to any Person for any failure to deliver the reports contemplated by this paragraph (m) of Section 2.05.

(n) Applicability of ISP and UCP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued or when it is amended with the consent of the beneficiary thereof, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the applicable Issuing Bank shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the applicable Issuing Bank’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the applicable Issuing Bank required or permitted under any law, order or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the applicable law or any order of any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the applicable Issuing Bank or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

SECTION 2.06 Funding of Borrowings .

(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the First Lien Applicable Account of the First Lien Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The First Lien Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(f) shall be remitted by the First Lien Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

(b) Unless the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the First Lien Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the First Lien Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section 2.06 and may, in reliance on such assumption and in its sole discretion, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the First Lien Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender agrees to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent an amount equal to such share on demand of the First Lien Administrative Agent. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon demand of the First Lien Administrative Agent therefor, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower agrees to pay such corresponding amount to the First Lien Administrative Agent forthwith on demand. The First Lien Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or Borrower interest on such corresponding amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the First Lien Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.13. If such Lender pays such amount to the First Lien Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

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(c) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Term Loans and Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.03(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 9.03(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 9.03(c).

SECTION 2.07 Interest Elections .

(a) Each Revolving Borrowing and Term Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03 and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.07. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the First Lien Administrative Agent of such election in writing substantially in the form of Exhibit E by the time that a Revolving Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such written Interest Election Request shall be signed by the Borrower, shall be irrevocable and shall be delivered by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission to the First Lien Administrative Agent.

(c) Each written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.03:

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request in accordance with this Section 2.07, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

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(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the First Lien Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.08 Termination and Reduction of Commitments .

(a) Unless previously terminated, (i) the Term Commitments shall terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date, (ii) the Delayed Draw Term Commitments shall terminate on the Delayed Draw Term Commitment Expiration Date and (iii) the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments of any Class, provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 unless such amount represents all of the remaining Commitments of such Class and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the aggregate Revolving Exposures would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

(c) The Borrower shall notify, in writing, the First Lien Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section 2.08 at least one (1) Business Day prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of the proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date of termination) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments of such Class. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Delayed Draw Term Commitments may only be reduced among the Delayed Draw Term Lenders on a ratable basis.

SECTION 2.09 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt .

(a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the First Lien Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Lender on the Revolving Maturity Date and (ii) to the First Lien Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.10.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

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(c) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section 2.09 shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein, provided that the failure of any Lender or the First Lien Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay any amounts due hereunder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the entries made pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 2.09, the accounts maintained by the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.09 shall control.

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans of any Class made by it be evidenced by a First Lien Note. In such event, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender a First Lien Note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns).

SECTION 2.10 Amortization of Term Loans .

(a) (i) Prior to an IPO, subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 2.10, the Borrower shall repay Initial Term Loans on the last day of each March, June, September and December (commencing on December 31, 2019) in each case in an amount equal to 1.25% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans made on the Effective Date and (commencing with the last day of the fiscal quarter during which the Delayed Draw Commitment Expiration Date occurs) such amounts shall be increased by an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Delayed Draw Term Loans drawn prior to the date of any such payment (and the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent will be permitted to re-establish the amortization schedule to make any Delayed Draw Term Loan to be fungible with the then outstanding Initial Term Loans funded on the Effective Date); provided that if any such date is not a Business Day, such payment shall be due on the next preceding Business Day.

(b) (ii) After an IPO, subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 2.10, the Borrower shall repay Initial Term Loans on the last day of each March, June, September and December (commencing with the first such date after such IPO) in each case in an amount equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of Initial Term Loans Borrowed on the Effective Date and (commencing with the first such date after such IPO) such amounts shall be increased by an amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Delayed Draw Term Loans drawn prior to the date of any such payment (and the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent will be permitted from time to time to re-establish the amortization schedule to make any Delayed Draw Term Loan to be fungible with the then outstanding Initial Term Loans funded on the Effective Date); provided that if any such date is not a Business Day, such payment shall be due on the next preceding Business Day.

(c) To the extent not previously paid, all Initial Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Maturity Date.

 

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(d) Any prepayment of a Term Borrowing of any Class (i) pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i) shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled and outstanding repayments of the Term Borrowings of such Class to be made pursuant to this Section 2.10 as directed by the Borrower (and absent such direction in direct order of maturity) and (ii) pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or 2.11(d) shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled and outstanding repayments of the Term Borrowings of such Class to be made pursuant to this Section 2.10, or, except as otherwise provided in any First Lien Refinancing Amendment or First Lien Loan Modification Agreement, pursuant to the corresponding section of such First Lien Refinancing Amendment or First Lien Loan Modification Agreement, as applicable, as directed by the Borrower and, in the absence of such direction, in direct order of maturity.

(e) Prior to any repayment of any Term Borrowings of any Class hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings of the applicable Class to be repaid and shall notify the First Lien Administrative Agent in writing (delivered by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) of such election not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the scheduled date of such repayment. In the absence of a designation by the Borrower as described in the preceding sentence, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.16. Each repayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the repaid Borrowing. Repayments of Term Borrowings shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount repaid.

SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans .

(a) (i) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, subject to Section 2.11(h).

(ii) Notwithstanding anything in any First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries may offer to prepay all or a portion of the outstanding Term Loans on the following basis:

(A) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par (such prepayment, the “ Discounted Term Loan Prepayment ”) pursuant to a First Lien Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers or First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, in each case made in accordance with this Section 2.11(a)(ii); provided that Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall not make any Borrowing of Revolving Loans to fund any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and (y) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall not initiate any action under this Section 2.11(a)(ii) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment unless (I) at least ten (10) Business Days shall have passed since the consummation of the most recent Discounted Term Loan Prepayment as a result of a prepayment made by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries on the applicable Discounted Prepayment Effective Date; or (II) at least three (3) Business Days shall have passed since the date Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries were notified that no Term Lender was willing to accept any prepayment of any Term Loan and/or Other First Lien Term Loan at the First Lien Specified Discount, within the First Lien Discount Range or at any discount to par value, as applicable, or in the case of First Lien Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, the date of Holdings’, any Intermediate Parent’s, the Borrower’s or any of their respective Subsidiaries’ election not to accept any First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and (z) each Lender participating in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, (1) the Borrower then may have, and later may come into possession of, information regarding the Term

 

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Loans or the Loan Parties hereunder that is not known to such Lender and that may be material to a decision by such Lender to participate in such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment (“ Excluded Information ”), (2) such Lender has independently and, without reliance on Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent or any of their respective Affiliates, made its own analysis and determination to participate in such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment notwithstanding such Lender’s lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information and (3) none of Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent, or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such Lender, and such Lender hereby waives and releases, to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law, any claims such Lender may have against Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent, and their respective Affiliates, under applicable laws or otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information; provided further that any Term Loan that is prepaid will be automatically and irrevocably cancelled.

(B) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries may from time to time offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by providing the First Lien Auction Agent with three (3) Business Days’ notice in the form of a First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, to each Term Lender and/or each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “ First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Amount ”) with respect to each applicable tranche, the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the specific percentage discount to par (the “ First Lien Specified Discount ”) of such Term Loans to be prepaid (it being understood that different First Lien Specified Discounts and/or First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such an event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section), (III) the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 and whole increments of $500,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such offer shall remain outstanding through the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date. The First Lien Auction Agent will promptly provide each relevant Term Lender with a copy of such First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Notice and a form of the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response to be completed and returned by each such Lender to the First Lien Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to the relevant Term Lenders (the “ First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date ”).

(2) Each relevant Term Lender receiving such offer shall notify the First Lien Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date whether or not it agrees to accept a prepayment of any of its relevant then outstanding Term Loans at the First Lien Specified Discount and, if so (such accepting Term Lender, a “ First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender ”), the amount and the tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans to be prepaid at such offered discount. Each acceptance of a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by a First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender shall be irrevocable. Any Term Lender whose First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response is not received by the First Lien Auction Agent by the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept the applicable First Lien Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment.

 

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(3) If there is at least one First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries will make prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (B) to each First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and tranches of Term Loans specified in such Lender’s First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (2); provided that, if the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans accepted for prepayment by all First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders exceeds the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Amount, such prepayment shall be made pro-rata among the First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts accepted to be prepaid by each such First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender and the First Lien Auction Agent (in consultation with Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and subject to rounding requirements of the First Lien Auction Agent made in its reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “ First Lien Specified Discount Proration ”). The First Lien Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within three (3) Business Days following the First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such offer, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the First Lien Specified Discount on such date and (III) each First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender of the First Lien Specified Discount Proration, if any, and confirmation of the principal amount, tranche and Type of Loans of such Lender to be prepaid at the First Lien Specified Discount on such date. Each determination by the First Lien Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be due and payable by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries may from time to time solicit First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the First Lien Auction Agent with three (3) Business Days’ notice in the form of a First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, to each Term Lender and/or each Lender with respect to any Class of Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “ First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Amount ”), the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the maximum and minimum percentage discounts to par (the “ First Lien Discount Range ”) of the principal amount of such Term Loans with respect to each relevant tranche of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries (it being understood that different First Lien Discount Ranges and/or First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such an event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section), (III) the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 and whole increments of $500,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall remain outstanding through the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date. The First Lien Auction Agent will promptly provide each relevant Term Lender with a copy of such First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Notice and a form of the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding relevant Term Lender to the First Lien Auction

 

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Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to the relevant Term Lenders (the “ First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date ”). Each relevant Term Lender’s First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer shall be irrevocable and shall specify a discount to par within the First Lien Discount Range (the “ First Lien Submitted Discount ”) at which such Term Lender is willing to allow prepayment of any or all of its then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable tranche or tranches and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans (the “ First Lien Submitted Amount ”) such Lender is willing to have prepaid at the First Lien Submitted Discount. Any Term Lender whose First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer is not received by the First Lien Auction Agent by the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount to their par value within the First Lien Discount Range.

(2) The First Lien Auction Agent shall review all First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offers received on or before the applicable First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date and shall determine (in consultation with Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and subject to rounding requirements of the First Lien Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the First Lien Applicable Discount and Term Loans to be prepaid at such First Lien Applicable Discount in accordance with this subsection (C). Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries agree to accept on the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offers received by the First Lien Auction Agent by the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, in the order from the First Lien Submitted Discount that is the largest discount to par to the First Lien Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par, up to and including the First Lien Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the First Lien Discount Range (such First Lien Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the First Lien Discount Range being referred to as the “ First Lien Applicable Discount ”) which yields a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment in an aggregate principal amount equal to the lower of (I) the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Amount and (II) the sum of all First Lien Submitted Amounts. Each Lender that has submitted a First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer to accept prepayment at a discount to par that is larger than or equal to the First Lien Applicable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its First Lien Submitted Amount (subject to any required proration pursuant to the following subsection (3)) at the First Lien Applicable Discount (each such Lender, a “ Participating Lender ”).

(3) If there is at least one Participating Lender, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Offer at the First Lien Applicable Discount; provided that if the First Lien Submitted Amount by all Participating Lenders offered at a discount to par greater than the First Lien Applicable Discount exceeds the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the relevant Term Loans for those Participating Lenders whose First Lien Submitted Discount is a discount to par greater than or equal to the First Lien Applicable Discount (the “ Identified Participating Lenders ”) shall be made pro-rata among the Identified Participating Lenders in accordance with the First Lien Submitted Amount of each such Identified Participating Lender and the First Lien Auction Agent (in consultation with Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and subject to rounding requirements of the First Lien Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “ First Lien Discount Range Proration ”). The First Lien Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) Business Days

 

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following the First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries of the respective Term Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the First Lien Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the First Lien Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount and tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the First Lien Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Lender to be prepaid at the First Lien Applicable Discount on such date, and (z) if applicable, each Identified Participating Lender of the First Lien Discount Range Proration. Each determination by the First Lien Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be due and payable by such Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries may from time to time solicit First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the First Lien Auction Agent with three (3) Business Days’ notice in the form of a First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, to each Term Lender and/or each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate dollar amount of the Term Loans (the “ First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount ”) and the tranche or tranches of Term Loans Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries is willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such an event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section), (III) the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 and whole increments of $500,000 in excess thereof and (IV) each such solicitation by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall remain outstanding through the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The First Lien Auction Agent will promptly provide each relevant Term Lender with a copy of such First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice and a form of the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Term Lender to the First Lien Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to the relevant Term Lenders (the “ First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date ”). Each Term Lender’s First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer shall (x) be irrevocable, (y) remain outstanding until the First Lien Acceptance Date, and (z) specify both a discount to par (the “ First Lien Offered Discount ”) such Term Lender is willing to allow to be applied to the prepayment of its then outstanding Term Loan and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Loans (the “ First Lien Offered Amount ”) such Term Lender is willing to have prepaid subject to such First Lien Offered Discount. Any Term Lender whose First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer is not received by the First Lien Auction Agent by the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount.

 

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(2) The First Lien Auction Agent shall promptly provide Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries with a copy of all First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall review all such First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the largest of the First Lien Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Term Lenders in the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries (the “ First Lien Acceptable Discount ”), if any. If Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries elects to accept any First Lien Offered Discount as the First Lien Acceptable Discount, then as soon as practicable after the determination of the First Lien Acceptable Discount, but in no event later than by the third Business Day after the date of receipt by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries from the First Lien Auction Agent of a copy of all First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection (2) (the “ First Lien Acceptance Date ”), Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall submit a First Lien Acceptance and Prepayment Notice to the First Lien Auction Agent setting forth the First Lien Acceptable Discount. If the First Lien Auction Agent shall fail to receive a First Lien Acceptance and Prepayment Notice from Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries by the First Lien Acceptance Date, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have rejected all First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.

(3) Based upon the First Lien Acceptable Discount and the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by First Lien Auction Agent by the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of a First Lien Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “ Discounted Prepayment Determination Date ”), the First Lien Auction Agent will determine (in consultation with Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and subject to rounding requirements of the First Lien Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans (the “ First Lien Acceptable Prepayment Amount ”) to be prepaid by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries at the First Lien Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.11(a)(ii)(D). If Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries elects to accept any First Lien Acceptable Discount, then Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries agrees to accept all First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by First Lien Auction Agent by the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, in the order from largest First Lien Offered Discount to smallest First Lien Offered Discount, up to and including the First Lien Acceptable Discount. Each Lender that has submitted a First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer with a First Lien Offered Discount that is greater than or equal to the First Lien Acceptable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its First Lien Offered Amount (subject to any required pro-rata reduction pursuant to the following sentence) at the First Lien Acceptable Discount (each such Lender, a “ Qualifying Lender ”). Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (D) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer at the First Lien Acceptable Discount; provided that if the aggregate First Lien Offered Amount by all Qualifying Lenders whose First Lien Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the First Lien Acceptable Discount exceeds the First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the Term Loans for those Qualifying Lenders whose First Lien Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the First

 

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Lien Acceptable Discount (the “ Identified Qualifying Lenders ”) shall be made pro-rata among the Identified Qualifying Lenders in accordance with the First Lien Offered Amount of each such Identified Qualifying Lender and the First Lien Auction Agent (in consultation with Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and subject to rounding requirements of the First Lien Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “ Solicited Discount Proration ”). On or prior to the Discounted Prepayment Determination Date, the First Lien Auction Agent shall promptly notify (I) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and First Lien Acceptable Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Term Lender who made a First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the First Lien Acceptable Discount, and the First Lien Acceptable Prepayment Amount of all Term Loans and the tranches to be prepaid to be prepaid at the First Lien Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of such Lender to be prepaid at the First Lien Acceptable Discount on such date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Qualifying Lender of the Solicited Discount Proration. Each determination by the First Lien Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to such Borrower and Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to such Borrower shall be due and payable by such Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).

(E) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the First Lien Auction Agent may require as a condition to any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of reasonable and customary fees and expenses from Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection therewith.

(F) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with paragraphs (B) through (D) above, Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall make such prepayment to the First Lien Auction Agent, for the account of the First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, at the First Lien Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the remaining principal installments of the relevant tranche of Term Loans on a pro rata basis across such installments. The Term Loans so prepaid shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the par principal amount so prepaid up to, but not including, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11(a)(ii) shall be paid to the First Lien Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable. The aggregate principal amount of the tranches and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the tranches of Term Loans prepaid on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment.

(G) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Term Loan Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures consistent with the provisions in this Section 2.11(a)(ii), established by the First Lien Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

 

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(H) Notwithstanding anything in any First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.11(a)(ii), each notice or other communication required to be delivered or otherwise provided to the First Lien Auction Agent (or its delegate) shall be deemed to have been given upon First Lien Auction Agent’s (or its delegate’s) actual receipt during normal business hours of such notice or communication; provided that any notice or communication actually received outside of normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given as of the opening of business on the next Business Day.

(I) Each of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries and the Lenders acknowledges and agrees that the First Lien Auction Agent may perform any and all of its duties under this Section 2.11(a)(ii) by itself or through any Affiliate of the First Lien Auction Agent and expressly consents to any such delegation of duties by the First Lien Auction Agent to such Affiliate and the performance of such delegated duties by such Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to each Affiliate of the First Lien Auction Agent and its respective activities in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment provided for in this Section 2.11(a)(ii) as well as activities of the First Lien Auction Agent.

(J) Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall have the right, by written notice to the First Lien Auction Agent, to revoke in full (but not in part) its offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and rescind the applicable First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Notice, First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Notice or First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice therefor at its discretion at any time on or prior to the applicable First Lien Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, First Lien Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or First Lien Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, as applicable (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to the preceding clauses, any failure by such Borrower to make any prepayment to a Term Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.11(a)(ii) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 7.01 or otherwise).

(b) In the event and on each occasion that the aggregate Revolving Exposures exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay Revolving Borrowings (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in an account with the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j)) in an aggregate amount necessary to eliminate such excess.

(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Prepayment Event or Casualty Event, the Borrower shall, within five (5) Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received (or, in the case of a Prepayment Event described in clause (b) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event,” on the date of such Prepayment Event), prepay Term Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the amount of such Net Proceeds; provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event” or in the event of a Casualty Event, if the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries invest (or commit to invest) the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof) within 12 months after receipt of such Net Proceeds in the business of the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries (including any acquisitions permitted under Section 6.04), then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of such Net Proceeds in respect of such event (or the applicable portion of such Net Proceeds, if applicable) except to the extent of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so invested (or committed to be invested) by the end of such 12-month period (or if committed to be so invested

 

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within such 12-month period, have not been so invested within 18 months after receipt thereof), at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so invested (or committed to be invested); provided further that the Borrower may use a portion of such Net Proceeds to prepay or repurchase any other Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness, in each case in an amount not to exceed the product of (x) the amount of such Net Proceeds and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of such other Indebtedness and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans and such other Indebtedness.

(d) Following the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, the Borrower shall prepay Term Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to the ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year; provided that such amount shall, at the option of the Borrower, be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis for such fiscal year by the aggregate amount of prepayments and repurchases of (i) Term Loans (and, to the extent the Revolving Commitments are reduced in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.08, Revolving Loans) made pursuant to Section 2.11(a) or otherwise in a manner not prohibited by Section 9.04(g) during such fiscal year or within 90 days after the end of such fiscal year and prior to the time such prepayment is due (without duplication to subsequent years) as provided below; provided further that (x) any such voluntary prepayments that have not been applied to reduce the payments which may be due from time to time pursuant to this Section 2.11(d) shall be carried over to subsequent periods, and may reduce the payments due from time to time pursuant to this Section 2.11(d) during such subsequent periods, until such time as such voluntary prepayments reduce such payments which may be due from time to time, (y) such reduction as a result of prepayments pursuant to clause (ii) thereof shall be limited to the actual amount of such cash prepayment) and (ii) other Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Indebtedness, (provided that, in the case of the prepayment of any revolving commitments, there is a corresponding reduction in commitments) (excluding all such prepayments funded with the proceeds of other long-term Indebtedness or the issuance of Equity Interests); provided further , that the Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Net Leverage Ratio in the definition of “ECF Percentage” shall be recalculated to give pro forma effect to any amount referred to in proviso clauses (i) and (ii) above that is paid or otherwise realized or accounted for after the end of the applicable fiscal year but prior to the making of the Excess Cash Flow payment required for such fiscal year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such prepayment shall only be required under this clause (d) if the net amount after giving effect to the reductions set forth above exceeds $2,000,000 and thereafter only the amount above such $2,000,000 shall be required to be prepaid. Each prepayment pursuant to this paragraph shall be made on or before the date that is ten (10) days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 with respect to the fiscal year for which Excess Cash Flow is being calculated.

(e) Prior to any optional prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i), the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.11. In the event of any mandatory prepayment of Term Borrowings made at a time when Term Borrowings of more than one Class remain outstanding, the Borrower shall select Term Borrowings to be prepaid so that the aggregate amount of such prepayment is allocated between Term Borrowings (and, to the extent provided in the First Lien Refinancing Amendment for any Class of Other First Lien Term Loans, the Borrowings of such Class) pro rata based on the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Borrowings of each such Class; provided that any Term Lender (and, to the extent provided in the First Lien Refinancing Amendment or First Lien Loan Modification Agreement for any Class of Other First Lien Term Loans, any Lender that holds Other First Lien Term Loans of such Class) may elect, by notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent in writing (delivered by facsimile) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the prepayment date, to decline all or any portion of any prepayment of its Term Loans or Other First Lien Term Loans of any such Class pursuant to this Section 2.11 (other than an optional prepayment pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section or a mandatory prepayment as a result of the Prepayment Event set forth in clause (b) of the definition thereof,

 

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which may not be declined), in which case the aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have been applied to prepay Term Loans or Other First Lien Term Loans of any such Class but was so declined (and not used pursuant to the immediately following sentence) shall be retained by the Borrower unless required to be used to repay or retire other Indebtedness by the terms thereof (such retained amounts, “ Retained Declined Proceeds ”). If a Lender fails to deliver a written notice (“ Rejection Notice ”) to the First Lien Administrative Agent within the timeframe set forth above, or if such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount of the Term Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory repayment of Term Loans. Optional prepayments of Term Borrowings shall be allocated among the Classes of Term Borrowings as directed by the Borrower. In the absence of a designation by the Borrower as described in the preceding provisions of this paragraph of the Type of Borrowing of any Class, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.16; provided that, in connection with any mandatory prepayments by the Borrower of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (d), such prepayments shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans being prepaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans are ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans.

(f) The Borrower shall notify the First Lien Administrative Agent of any optional prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i) in writing (delivered by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment; provided that a notice of optional prepayment may state that such notice is conditional upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of the proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, in which case such notice of prepayment may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13, and subject to Section 2.11(a)(i), shall be without premium or penalty. At the Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.11, such prepayment shall not be applied to any Term Loan or Revolving Loan of a Defaulting Lender (under any of subclauses (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”) and shall be allocated ratably among the relevant non-Defaulting Lenders.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of Section 2.11(c) or (d), (A) to the extent that any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Prepayment Event by a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (d) (a “ Foreign Prepayment Event ”) or Excess Cash Flow are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the Borrower, the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.11(c) or (d), as the case may be, and such amounts may be retained by such Subsidiary; provided that once the Borrower has determined in good faith that such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow permitted to be so repatriated will be applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof)

 

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to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (d), as applicable, (B) to the extent that and for so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Prepayment Event or Excess Cash Flow would have a material adverse tax or cost consequence with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.11(c) or Section 2.11(d), as the case may be, and such amounts may be retained by such Subsidiary; provided that once the Borrower determines in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Prepayment Event or Excess Cash Flow would no longer have a material adverse tax consequence with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, an amount equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow able to be so repatriated shall be applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or Section 2.11(d), as applicable, and (C) to the extent that and for so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Prepayment Event or Excess Cash Flow would give rise to a risk of liability for the directors of such Subsidiary, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.11(c) or Section 2.11(d), as the case may be, and such amounts may be retained by such Subsidiary.

(h) All prepayments of the Term Loans under Section 2.11(a), mandatory prepayments of the Term Loans under Section 2.11(c) with respect to any Prepayment Event of the types described in clause (b) of the definition of “Prepayment Event”, prepayment upon acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section  7.01 , or any other refinancing, replacement, substitution or conversion of the Term Loans shall, in each case, be accompanied by the Prepayment Premium, if applicable. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Prepayment Premium shall not apply to any prepayment of the Term Loans made with the proceeds of an IPO in an amount not to exceed the lesser of (x) 50% of the Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such IPO (assuming for such purposes that the full amount of Delayed Draw Term Loans have been funded at such time) and (y) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans in excess of $100,000,000 (assuming for such purposes that the full amount of Delayed Draw Term Loans have been funded at such time).

SECTION 2.12 Fees .

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent in dollars for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the rate of the Commitment Fee Percentage per annum on the average daily unused amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing commitment fees, a Revolving Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of such Lender.

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the First Lien Administrative Agent in dollars for the account of each Revolving Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements but taking into account the maximum amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit, whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including

 

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the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank in dollars a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate to be agreed by each Issuing Bank, not to be greater than the applicable third party costs borne by the Issuing Bank with respect to the issuance of applicable Letter of Credit, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December, respectively, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to an Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent in the First Lien Fee Letters.

(d) The Borrower agrees to pay the Agents, for their own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the applicable Agents.

(e) The Borrower agrees to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent for the account of each Delayed Draw Term Lender a commitment fee (the “ Delayed Draw Commitment Fee ”) in dollars at a rate per annum equal to the Delayed Draw Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily undrawn portion of the Delayed Draw Term Facility, payable quarterly in arrears, calculated based upon the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year for the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the Delayed Draw Term Commitment Expiration Date. The Delayed Draw Commitment Fee shall be distributed to the Delayed Draw Term Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amount of each such Delayed Draw Term Lender’s Delayed Draw Term Commitment. Accrued commitments fees shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the Delayed Draw Term Commitment Expiration Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 2.22, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any amounts to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.12.

SECTION 2.13 Interest .

(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under paragraph (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Section 7.01 any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this

 

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Section 2.13 or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% per annum plus the rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section 2.13; provided that no amount shall be payable pursuant to this Section 2.13(c) to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender; provided , further that no amounts shall accrue pursuant to this Section 2.13(c) on any overdue amount, reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or other amount payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender.

(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments, provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.13 shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest .

If at least two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the First Lien Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

(b) the First Lien Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period (in each case with respect to the Loans impacted by this clause (b) or clause (a) above, “ Impacted Loans ”);

(c) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders in writing (or, with the consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent, by telephone promptly followed by writing) or by facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the First Lien Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, then such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing; provided , however , that, in each case, the Borrower may revoke any Borrowing Request that is pending when such notice is received.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the First Lien Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a) of this Section 2.14 and/or is advised by the Required Lenders of their determination in accordance with clause (b) of this Section 2.14 and the Borrower

 

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shall so request, the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend the definition of “LIBO Rate” and other applicable provisions to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change; provided that, until so amended, such Impacted Loans will be handled as otherwise provided pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.14.

SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs .

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any Issuing Bank (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Excluded Taxes or Taxes indemnified under Section 2.17) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or issue any Letter of Credit) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then, from time to time upon request of such Lender or Issuing Bank, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such increased costs actually incurred or reduction actually suffered.

(b) If any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then, from time to time upon request of such Lender or Issuing Bank, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction actually suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or its holding company in reasonable detail, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 2.15 delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 2.15 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of

 

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the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.16 Break Funding Payments .

In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Revolving Loan or Term Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(f) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or Section 9.02(c), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by any Lender affected by any such event (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense (excluding loss of profit) actually incurred by it as a result of such event. Such loss, cost or expense shall in no event exceed that which would have been incurred by such Lender had it funded each Eurodollar Loan made by it at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the applicable interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Loan was in fact so funded. A certificate of any Lender setting forth in reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 and the reasons therefor delivered to the Borrower shall be prima facie evidence of such amounts. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 days after receipt of such demand. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 2.16 will not apply to losses, costs or expenses resulting from Taxes, as to which Section 2.17 shall govern. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender shall demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.16 if it shall not at the time be the general policy or practice of such Lender to demand such compensation in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other credit agreements.

SECTION 2.17 Taxes .

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any First Lien Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Requirements of Law. If the applicable withholding agent shall be required by applicable Requirements of Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable withholding agent) to deduct any Taxes from such payments, then the applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions and shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, and if such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, then the amount payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all such required deductions have been made (including such deductions applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section 2.17), each Lender (or, in the case of a payment made to the First Lien Administrative Agent for its own account, the First Lien Administrative Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made.

(b) Without limiting the provisions of paragraph (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Requirements of Law.

 

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(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the First Lien Administrative Agent and each Lender within 30 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any First Lien Loan Document and any Other Taxes paid by the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.17) and any 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 setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the First Lien Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of any Taxes by a Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the First Lien 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 First Lien Administrative Agent.

(e) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by Borrower or the First Lien Administrative Agent, provide Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent with any properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by any Requirement of Law, or reasonably requested by Borrower or the First Lien Administrative Agent, certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, any withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under the First Lien Loan Documents. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation expired, obsolete or inaccurate in any respect (including any specific documentation required below in this Section 2.17(e)), deliver promptly to Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the applicable withholding agent) or promptly notify Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so. Unless the applicable withholding agent has received forms or other documents satisfactory to it indicating that payments under any First Lien Loan Document to or for a Lender are not subject to withholding tax or are subject to Tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, Borrower, First Lien Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall withhold amounts required to be withheld by applicable law from such payments at the applicable statutory rate.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(i) Each Lender that is a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.

(ii) Each Lender that is not a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of Borrower or the First Lien Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States of America is a party,

 

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(B) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(C) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) two properly completed and duly signed certificates, substantially in the form of Exhibit Q (any such certificate a “ United States Tax Compliance Certificate ”), and (y) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms),

(D) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Foreign Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY (or other successor forms) or any other required information from each beneficial owner that would be required under this Section 2.17 if such beneficial owner were a Lender, as applicable ( provided that, if the Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s)), or

(E) any other form prescribed by applicable Requirements of 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 Requirements of Law to permit Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(iii) If a payment made to any Lender under any First Lien 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 First Lien Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the First Lien 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 First Lien Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and, if necessary, to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.

(f) If the Borrower determines in good faith that a reasonable basis exists for contesting any Taxes for which indemnification has been demanded hereunder, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the relevant Lender, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower in a reasonable challenge of such Taxes if so requested by the Borrower, provided that (a) the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender determines in its reasonable discretion that it would not be subject to any unreimbursed third party cost or expense or otherwise be prejudiced by cooperating in such challenge, (b) the Borrower pays all related expenses of the First Lien Administrative

 

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Agent or such Lender, as applicable and (c) the Borrower indemnifies the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, for any liabilities or other costs incurred by such party in connection with such challenge. If the First Lien Administrative Agent or a Lender receives 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 2.17, 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 2.17 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender 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 First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees promptly to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. The First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, shall, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant taxing authority ( provided that the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender may delete any information therein that the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender deems confidential). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.17(f) shall not be construed to require the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to Taxes which it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other person).

(g) The agreements in this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the First Lien Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(h) For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” shall include any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable Requirements of Law” includes FATCA.

SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs .

(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it under any First Lien Loan Document (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other First Lien Loan Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, recoupment or setoff. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the First Lien Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to such account as may be specified by the First Lien Administrative Agent, except payments to be made directly to any Issuing Bank shall be made as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other First Lien Loan Documents shall be made to the Persons specified therein. The First Lien Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. Except as otherwise provided herein, if any payment under any First Lien Loan Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding

 

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two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate for the period of such extension. All payments or prepayments of any Loan shall be made in dollars, all reimbursements of any LC Disbursements shall be made in dollars, all payments of accrued interest payable on a Loan or LC Disbursement shall be made in dollars, and all other payments under each First Lien Loan Document shall be made in dollars.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the First Lien Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii)  second , towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans, Term Loans or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans, Term Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans, Term Loans and participations in LC Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans, Term Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant or (C) any disproportionate payment obtained by a Lender of any Class as a result of the extension by Lenders of the maturity date or expiration date of some but not all Loans or Revolving Commitments of that Class or any increase in the Applicable Rate in respect of Loans of Lenders that have consented to any such extension. The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(d) Unless the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the First Lien Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the First Lien Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption and in its sole discretion, distribute to the Lenders or Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the First Lien Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the First Lien Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(e) or Section 2.05(f), Section 2.06(a) or Section 2.06(b), Section 2.18(d) or Section 9.03(c), then the First Lien Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and in the order determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the First Lien Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and to be applied to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section.

SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or any event gives rise to the operation of Section 2.23, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or its participation in any Letter of Credit affected by such event, or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment and delegation (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17 or mitigate the applicability of Section 2.23, as the case may be, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense reasonably deemed by such Lender to be material and would not be inconsistent with the internal policies of, or otherwise be disadvantageous in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect to, such Lender.

(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 or gives notice under Section 2.23, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or (iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment and delegation); provided that (A) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent to the extent such consent would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned and delegated, each Issuing Bank), which consents, in each case, shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and unreimbursed participations in LC Disbursements, accrued but unpaid interest thereon, accrued but unpaid fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (C) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid (unless waived) to the First Lien Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b)(ii) and (D) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15, or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17 or a notice given under Section 2.23, such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender under paragraph (a) above), the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto.

 

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SECTION 2.20 Incremental Credit Extensions .

(a) The Borrower may at any time or from time to time on one or more occasions after the Delayed Draw Term Commitment Expiration Date, by written notice delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent request (i) one or more additional Classes of term loans (each, a “ First Lien Incremental Term Facility ”) and/or additional term loans of the same Class of any existing Class of term loans (each, a “ First Lien Incremental Term Increase ”) and/or (ii) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Commitments of any Class (each such increase, a “ First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase ”, together with the First Lien Incremental Term Loans, the “ First Lien Incremental Facilities ”); provided that, both at the time of any such request and after giving effect to the effectiveness of any First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment referred to below and at the time that any such First Lien Incremental Term Loan or First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase is made or effected, (x) subject to Section 1.06 in the case of any Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (except, in the case of the incurrence or provision of any First Lien Incremental Facility in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of funding of such First Lien Incremental Facility), (y) the Borrower is in Pro Forma Compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant (for the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the determination of such ratio is subject to the Limited Condition Transaction provisions) and (z) the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio of the Borrower, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of the First Lien Incremental Facilities and any acquisition or Investment consummated in connection therewith and all other appropriate pro forma adjustments (for the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the determination of such ratio is subject to the Limited Condition Transaction provisions), shall not exceed 1.75:1.00 for the most recently ended Test Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the aggregate principal amount of the First Lien Incremental Facilities that can be incurred at any time shall not exceed $50,000,000. Each First Lien Incremental Term Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof (unless the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent otherwise agree); provided that such amount may be less than $2,000,000 if such amount represents all the remaining availability of the aggregate principal amount of First Lien Incremental Term Loans set forth above. Each First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $250,000 in excess thereof (unless the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent otherwise agree); provided that such amount may be less than $1,000,000 if such amount represents all the remaining availability of the aggregate principal amount under the First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases set forth above.

(b) The First Lien Incremental Facilities (i) shall rank equal or junior in right of payment with the Initial Term Loans, shall be secured only by the Collateral securing the First Lien Loan Document Obligations and shall only be guaranteed by the Loan Parties, (ii) in the case of any First Lien Incremental Term Loans, shall not mature earlier than the Term Maturity Date and shall not have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the remaining Initial Term Loans, (iii) [reserved], (iv) shall have a maturity date and an amortization schedule (subject to clause (ii) above), and interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and prepayment terms and premiums for the Incremental Term Loans as determined by the Borrower and the First Lien Additional Term Lenders thereunder; provided that, in the event that the Effective Yield for any First Lien Incremental Term Facility that is equal in right of payment with the Initial Term Loans and secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans is greater than the Effective Yield for the Initial Term Loans, by more than 0.50% per annum, then the Effective Yield for the Initial Term Loans shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the Effective Yield for the Initial Term Loans are equal to the Effective Yield for the First Lien Incremental Term Facility minus 0.50% per annum (provided that the “LIBOR floor” applicable to the outstanding Initial Term Loans shall be increased to an amount not to exceed the “LIBOR floor” applicable to such First Lien Incremental Term Facility prior

 

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to any increase in the Applicable Rate applicable to such Initial Term Loans then outstanding) and (v) shall have other terms and conditions as agreed between the Borrower and the lenders providing any such First Lien Incremental Facilities; provided that in no event shall it be a condition to the effectiveness of, or borrowing under, any such First Lien Incremental Term Loans that any representation or warranty of any Loan Party set forth herein be true and correct, except and solely to the extent required by the First Lien Additional Term Lenders providing such First Lien Incremental Term Loans. Any First Lien Incremental Term Increase shall be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the Term Loans (excluding upfront fees and customary arranger fees). Any First Lien Incremental Term Facility shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation as determined by the Borrowers and the First Lien Additional Term Lenders providing such First Lien Incremental Term Facility, subject to the restrictions and exceptions set forth above.

(c) The First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase shall be treated the same as the Class of Revolving Commitments being increased (including with respect to maturity date thereof) and shall be considered to be part of the Class of Revolving Loans being increased (it being understood that, if required to consummate a First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase, the pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors and undrawn commitment fees on the Class of Revolving Commitments being increased may be increased and additional upfront or similar fees may be payable to the lenders providing the First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase (without any requirement to pay such fees to any existing Revolving Lenders)). Any First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase shall be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the Revolving Loans (excluding upfront fees and customary arranger fees).

(d) Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall set forth the requested amount of the relevant First Lien Incremental Term Loans or First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases.

(e) Commitments in respect of First Lien Incremental Term Increases, First Lien Incremental Term Facility and First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases shall become Commitments (or in the case of a First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase to be provided by an existing Lender with a Revolving Commitment, an increase in such Lender’s applicable Revolving Commitment) under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “ First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment ”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other First Lien Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Lender agreeing to provide such Commitment, if any, each First Lien Additional Lender, if any, and the First Lien Administrative Agent. A First Lien Incremental Facility may be provided, subject to the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld), by any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender shall have the right to participate in any First Lien Incremental Loans or, unless it agrees, be obligated to provide any First Lien Incremental Loans) or by any First Lien Additional Lender. First Lien Incremental Term Increases and loans under First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases shall be a “Loan” for all purposes of this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents. The First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment may, subject to Section 2.20(b), without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents as may be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20 (including, in connection with a First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increase, to reallocate Revolving Exposure on a pro rata basis among the relevant Revolving Lenders). The effectiveness of any First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment and the occurrence of any credit event (including the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan and the issuance, increase in the amount, or extension of a Letter of Credit thereunder) pursuant to such First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction of such conditions as the parties thereto shall agree and as required by this Section 2.20. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the First Lien Incremental Term Loans and First Lien Incremental Revolving Commitment Increases for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.20 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.21 First Lien Refinancing Amendments.

(a) At any time after the Effective Date, the Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any First Lien Additional Lender, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of (i) all or any portion of the Term Loans then outstanding under this Agreement (which for purposes of this clause (i) will be deemed to include any then outstanding Other First Lien Term Loans) or (ii) all or any portion of the Revolving Loans (or unused Revolving Commitments) under this Agreement (which for purposes of this clause (ii) will be deemed to include any then outstanding Other First Lien Revolving Loans and Other First Lien Revolving Commitments), in the form of (x) Other First Lien Term Loans or Other First Lien Term Commitments or (y) Other First Lien Revolving Loans or Other First Lien Revolving Commitments, as the case may be, in each case pursuant to a First Lien Refinancing Amendment; provided that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (i) will be unsecured or will rank pari passu or junior in right of payment and of security with the other Loans and Commitments hereunder, (ii) will have other terms and conditions as agreed between the Borrower and the lenders providing any such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, and (iii) the Net Proceeds of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied, substantially concurrently with the incurrence thereof, to the prepayment of outstanding Term Loans or reduction of Revolving Commitments being so refinanced, as the case may be. The effectiveness of any First Lien Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 and, to the extent reasonably requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent, receipt by the First Lien Administrative Agent of legal opinions, board resolutions, officers’ certificates and/or reaffirmation agreements consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date under Section 4.01 (other than changes to such legal opinions resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent). Each Class of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred under this Section 2.21 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (x) not less than $5,000,000 in the case of Other First Lien Term Loans or $5,000,000 in the case of Other First Lien Revolving Loans and (y) an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (in each case unless the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent otherwise agree). Any First Lien Refinancing Amendment may provide for the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower pursuant to any Other First Lien Revolving Commitments established thereby, in each case on terms substantially equivalent to the terms applicable to Letters of Credit under the Revolving Commitments; provided that no Issuing Bank shall be required to act as “issuing bank” under any such First Lien Refinancing Amendment without its written consent. The First Lien Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each First Lien Refinancing Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any First Lien Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Loans and Commitments subject thereto as Other First Lien Term Loans, Other First Lien Revolving Loans, Other First Lien Revolving Commitments and/or Other First Lien Term Commitments). Any First Lien Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section. In addition, if so provided in the relevant First Lien Refinancing Amendment and with the consent of each Issuing Bank, participations in Letters of Credit expiring on or after the Revolving Maturity Date shall be reallocated from Lenders holding Revolving Commitments to Lenders holding extended revolving commitments in

 

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accordance with the terms of such First Lien Refinancing Amendment; provided , however , that such participation interests shall, upon receipt thereof by the relevant Lenders holding Revolving Commitments, be deemed to be participation interests in respect of such Revolving Commitments and the terms of such participation interests (including, without limitation, the commission applicable thereto) shall be adjusted accordingly.

(b) This Section 2.21 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.22 Defaulting Lenders .

(a) Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 9.02.

(ii) Reallocation of Payments . Subject to the last sentence of Section 2.11(f), any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the First Lien Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the First Lien Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder; second , in the case of a Revolving Lender, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to each Issuing Bank; third , 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 that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent; fourth , in the case of a Revolving Lender, if so determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; fifth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or such Issuing Bank against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; sixth , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Loan Party as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Loan Party against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and seventh , to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements and such Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clause (a) of the definition thereof, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the relevant Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, the relevant non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied pursuant to Section 2.05(j) or this Section 2.22(a)(ii). 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 Section 2.05(j) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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(iii) Certain Fees . That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive or accrue any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.12(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.12(b).

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure . During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.05 and the payments of participation fees pursuant to Section 2.12(b), the “Applicable Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Revolving Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided that the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans of that non-Defaulting Lender.

(v) Cash Collateral . If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(j).

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the First Lien Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any cash Collateral), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the First Lien Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv) or the proviso to the definition thereof), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; 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 2.23 Illegality .

If any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the First Lien Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans denominated in dollars or to convert ABR Loans denominated in dollars to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining ABR Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, the interest rate on such ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the First Lien Administrative Agent and the

 

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Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon three Business Days’ notice from such Lender (with a copy to the First Lien Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Loans denominated in dollars of such Lender to ABR Loans (the interest rate on which ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans, and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Alternate Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component thereof until the First Lien Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate. Each Lender agrees to notify the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing promptly upon becoming aware that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

SECTION 2.24 First Lien Loan Modification Offers .

(a) At any time after the Effective Date, the Borrower may on one or more occasions, by written notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent, make one or more offers (each, a “ First Lien Loan Modification Offer ”) to all the Lenders of one or more Classes (each Class subject to such a First Lien Loan Modification Offer, an “ Affected Class ”) to effect one or more Permitted Amendments relating to such Affected Class pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the First Lien Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower (including mechanics to permit cashless rollovers and exchanges by Lenders). Such notice shall set forth (i) the terms and conditions of the requested Permitted Amendment and (ii) the date on which such Permitted Amendment is requested to become effective. Permitted Amendments shall become effective only with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Lenders of the Affected Class that accept the applicable First Lien Loan Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “ First Lien Accepting Lenders ”) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lender’s Loans and Commitments of such Affected Class as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made.

(b) A Permitted Amendment shall be effected pursuant to a First Lien Loan Modification Agreement executed and delivered by Holdings, the Borrower, each applicable Accepting Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent; provided that no Permitted Amendment shall become effective unless Holdings and the Borrower shall have delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent such legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s certificates, officer’s certificates and other documents as shall be reasonably requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent in connection therewith. The First Lien Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each First Lien Loan Modification Agreement. Each First Lien Loan Modification Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the applicable First Lien Accepting Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the First Lien Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.24, including any amendments necessary to treat the applicable Loans and/or Commitments of the First Lien Accepting Lenders as a new “Class” of loans and/or commitments hereunder.

(c) If, in connection with any proposed First Lien Loan Modification Offer, any Lender declines to consent to such First Lien Loan Modification Offer on the terms and by the deadline set forth in such First Lien Loan Modification Offer (each such Lender, a “ Non-Accepting Lender ”) then the Borrower may, on notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Non-Accepting Lender, (i) replace

 

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such Non-Accepting Lender in whole or in part by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04) all or any part of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of the Loans and Commitments of the Affected Class to one or more Eligible Assignees (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that neither the First Lien Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender; provided , further , that (a) the applicable assignee shall have agreed to provide Loans and/or Commitments on the terms set forth in the applicable Permitted Amendment, (b) such Non-Accepting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of the Loans of the Affected Class assigned by it pursuant to this Section 2.24(c), accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts (including any amounts under Section 2.11(a)(i)) payable to it hereunder from the Eligible Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) and (c) unless waived, the Borrower or such Eligible Assignee shall have paid to the First Lien Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b).

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 2.24 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each of Holdings and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that as of the Effective Date:

SECTION 3.01 Organization; Powers .

Each of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is (a) duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdictions) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each First Lien Loan Document to which it is a party and (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except in each case where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.02 Authorization; Enforceability .

This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of Holdings and the Borrower and constitutes, and each other First Lien Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, the Borrower or such Loan Party, as the case may be, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

SECTION 3.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts .

Except as set forth in Schedule 3.03, the execution, delivery, performance by, or enforcement against any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document (a) does not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental

 

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Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except filings necessary to perfect Liens created under the First Lien Loan Documents, (b) will not violate (i) the Organizational Documents of, or (ii) any Requirements of Law applicable to, Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture or other agreement or instrument binding upon Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or their respective assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment, repurchase or redemption to be made by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation thereunder and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except Liens created under the First Lien Loan Documents or permitted by Section  6.02 , except (in the case of each of clauses (a), (b)(ii) and (c)) to the extent that the failure to obtain or make such consent, approval, registration, filing or action, or such violation, default or right, or imposition of Lien, as the case may be, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect .

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

(b) The Unaudited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lead Arranger the pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of and for the twelve-month period ending on April 30, 2018 (such pro forma balance sheet and statement of income, the “ Pro Forma Financial Statements ”), which have been prepared giving effect to the Transactions (excluding the impact of purchase accounting effects required by GAAP) as if such Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income). The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith, based on assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof, and present fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis and in accordance with GAAP the estimated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at April 30, 2018, and their estimated results of operations for the periods covered thereby, assuming that the Transactions had actually occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).

(d) Since the Effective Date, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.05 Properties .

(a) With respect to its real property other than Oil and Gas Properties, each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, if any (including all of the Mortgaged Properties), (i) free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and (ii) except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes, in each case, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report (except for those Oil and Gas Properties that have been disposed of since the date of such Reserve Report in accordance with this Agreement or leases which have expired in accordance with their terms) and good title to all its personal property relating to the operation of such Oil and Gas Properties, in each case, free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 6.02. After giving full effect to the Permitted Encumbrances, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary specified as the owner owns the net interests in production attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report (except for those Oil and Gas Properties that have been disposed of since the date of such Reserve Report in accordance with this Agreement or leases which have expired in accordance with their terms), and the ownership of such Oil and Gas Properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such Oil and Gas Property in an amount in excess of the working interest of each Oil and Gas Property set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report that is not offset by a corresponding proportionate increase in the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s net revenue interest in such Oil and Gas Property.

SECTION 3.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters .

(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06, there are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06, and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, become subject to any Environmental Liability, or (iii) has received written notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability.

SECTION 3.07 Compliance with Laws .

Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.08 Investment Company Status .

None of the Loan Parties is required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

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SECTION 3.09 Taxes .

Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Holdings, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) have timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and (b) have paid or caused to be paid all Taxes levied or imposed on their properties, income or assets (whether or not shown on a Tax return) including in their capacity as tax withholding agents, except any Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed Tax assessment, deficiency or other claim against Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10 ERISA .

(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state laws.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred during the six year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made or is reasonably expected to occur, and (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service; (ii) to the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status; and (iii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any such plan.

SECTION 3.11 Disclosure .

As of the Effective Date, any reports, financial statements, certificates or other written factual information (other than projections and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of any First Lien Loan Document or delivered thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, Holdings and the Borrower represent only that such information, when taken as a whole, was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by them to be reasonable at the time delivered, it being understood that (i) any such projected financial information is merely a prediction as to future events and its not to be viewed as fact, (ii) such projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries and (iii) no assurance can be given that any particular projections will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material.

 

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SECTION 3.12 Subsidiaries .

As of the Effective Date, Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name of, and the ownership interest of Holdings and each of its subsidiaries in, each subsidiary of Holdings.

SECTION 3.13 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of Holdings and the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries owns, licenses or possesses the right to use all Intellectual Property that is reasonably necessary for the operation of its business substantially as currently conducted. To the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, no Intellectual Property used by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the operation of its business as currently conducted infringes upon the Intellectual Property of any Person except for such infringements that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the Intellectual Property is pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, threatened against Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.14 Solvency .

Immediately after the consummation of each of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, after taking into account all applicable rights of indemnity and contribution, (a) the sum of the debt (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value of the present assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (b) the capital of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business as contemplated on the date hereof, (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not incurred and do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts including current obligations, beyond their ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise) and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are “solvent” within the meaning given to that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this Section 3.14, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 5).

SECTION 3.15 Security Interest .

The First Lien Security Documents create in favor of the First Lien Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid, binding and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein as security for the Obligations to the extent that a legal, valid, binding and enforceable Lien or security interest in such Collateral may be created under any applicable Law, which Lien or security interest, upon the filing of financing statements, recordation of the Mortgages or the obtaining of possession or “control,” in each case, as applicable, with respect to the relevant Collateral as required under the applicable UCC or applicable local law, will constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Borrower and each other Loan Party thereunder in such Collateral, in each case prior and superior (except as otherwise provided for in the relevant First Lien Security Document) in right to any other Person (other than Liens permitted hereunder), in each case to the extent that a security interest may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the applicable UCC, recordation of the Mortgages under applicable local law or by obtaining possession or “control.”

 

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SECTION 3.16 Federal Reserve Regulations .

None of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or for any other purpose that entails a violation (including on the part of any Lender) of the provisions of Regulations U or X of the Board of Governors.

SECTION 3.17 Use of Proceeds .

The Borrower will use the proceeds of the (a) Term Loans and Revolving Loans made, and Letters of Credit issued, on the Effective Date to directly or indirectly finance the Transactions, acquire mineral interests in the United States and otherwise for general corporate purposes, (b) the Revolving Loans made, and Letters of Credit issued, after the Effective Date for general corporate purposes and (c) the Delayed Draw Term Loans made after the Effective Date for general corporate purposes.

SECTION 3.18 Swap Agreements .

Schedule 3.18 , as of the Effective Date, and thereafter either disclosed in writing to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders or included in the most recently delivered report required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section  5.16(b) , as of the date thereof, sets forth a true and complete list of all commodity price Swap Agreements of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiaries, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date, notional amounts or volumes and swap or strike prices, as the case may be), all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied), and the counterparty to each such agreement.

SECTION 3.19 Maintenance of Properties .

Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties (and personal property unitized therewith) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all requirements of Governmental Authorities and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. Specifically in connection with the foregoing, except for those as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) no Oil and Gas Property of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) and (b) none of the wells comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or personal property unitized therewith) of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries are deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by requirements of Governmental Authorities, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, the Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary. All pipelines, wells, gas processing plants, platforms and other material improvements, fixtures and equipment owned in whole or in part by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are necessary to conduct normal operations are being maintained

 

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in a state adequate to conduct normal operations, and with respect to such of the foregoing which are operated by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in a manner consistent with the Borrower’s or the Restricted Subsidiaries’ past practices (other than those the failure of which to maintain in accordance with this Section  3.19 could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

SECTION 3.20 Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering; Anti-Corruption .

(a) The Borrower will not directly, or knowingly indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, in each case, in a manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries of Holdings are in compliance with (i) Sanctions, (ii) Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act, and (iii) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery of Foreign Public Officials.

(c) None of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of Holdings or any director or officer thereof, is a Sanctioned Person.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS

SECTION 4.01 Effective Date .

The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and the obligations of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder on the Effective Date shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions (or waiver thereof in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or other electronic transmission of a signed counterpart of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit T or Letter of Credit Request substantially in the form of Exhibit U, as applicable, relating to the Borrowings or issuances, as applicable, on the Effective Date and which shall be delivered in accordance with Section  2.03 ;

(c) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion (addressed to the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks and dated the Effective Date) from Kirkland & Ellis LLP as counsel to the Loan Parties. Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.

(d) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Effective Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit H with appropriate insertions, or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, executed by any Responsible Officer of such Loan Party, and including or attaching the documents referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 4.01.

 

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(e) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of (i) each Organizational Document of each Loan Party certified, to the extent applicable, as of a recent date by the applicable Governmental Authority, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing the First Lien Loan Documents to which it is a party, (iii) copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Loan Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of First Lien Loan Documents to which it is a party, certified as of the Effective Date by its secretary, an assistant secretary or a Responsible Officer as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (iv) a good standing certificate (to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation.

(f) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts previously agreed in writing by the Lead Arranger and the Borrower to be due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party under any First Lien Loan Document.

(g) The Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (other than in accordance with Section 5.14) shall have been satisfied and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

(h) Since December 31, 2017, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

(i) The Lead Arranger shall have received the Audited Financial Statements, the Unaudited Financial Statements and the Pro Forma Financial Statements.

(j) [Reserved].

(k) [Reserved].

(l) [Reserved].

(m) The Refinancing shall have been consummated, or substantially concurrently with the initial funding of Loans on the Effective Date, shall be consummated.

(n) The First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall have received, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information about the Loan Parties as shall have been reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date by the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Lead Arranger that they shall have reasonably determined is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act and regulations pertaining to beneficial ownership of legal entity customers.

(o) The Lead Arranger shall have received a solvency certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit S executed by the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower certifying as to the solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions.

 

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For purposes of determining whether the conditions set forth in this Section 4.01 have been satisfied, by releasing its signature page hereto, the First Lien Administrative Agent and each Lender party hereto shall be deemed to have consented to, approved, accepted or be satisfied with each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by, or acceptable or satisfactory to, the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be.

SECTION 4.02 Each Credit Event .

On and after the Effective Date, the obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit (other than (i) any Borrowing under any First Lien Incremental Facility, (ii) any Borrowing the proceeds of which are used to finance a Limited Condition Transaction and (iii) any Borrowing under the Delayed Draw Term Facility), is subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) In the case of any Borrowing, the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the First Lien Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be; provided that, in each case, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that, in each case, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on the date of such credit extension or on such earlier date, as the case may be.

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing ( provided that a conversion or a continuation of a Borrowing shall not constitute a “Borrowing” for purposes of this Section 4.02), other than a Borrowing under any First Lien Incremental Facility or a Borrowing the proceeds of which are used to finance a Limited Condition Transaction, and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by Holdings and the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.02.

SECTION 4.03 Delayed Draw Term Facility .

After the Effective Date, the obligation of each Delayed Draw Term Lender to make a Delayed Draw Term Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing under the Delayed Draw Term Facility is subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) Each draw of Delayed Draw Term Loans shall be in a principal amount of no less than $5,000,000;

(b) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a management summary of the Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment being funded with the proceeds of such Delayed Draw Term Loans, in form reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent; provided that (x) such summary shall only be required to the extent actually created by management in the ordinary course of business and (y) no such summary shall be required if the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans drawn to fund such Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment are less than $15,000,000;

 

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(c) no Event of Default shall have occurred at the time of and after giving effect to the making of such Delayed Draw Term Loans (except in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, no Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to the making of such Delayed Draw Term Loans);

(d) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the First Lien Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of the funding of such Delayed Draw Term Loans; provided that, in each case, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that, in each case, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on the date of such credit extension or on such earlier date, as the case may be;

(e) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio of the Borrower, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of the Delayed Draw Term Loans and any acquisition or Investment consummated in connection therewith and all other appropriate pro forma adjustments (for the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the determination of such ratio is subject to the Limited Condition Transaction provisions), shall not exceed the ratio set forth in Section 6.11 opposite such date for the most recently ended Test Period;

(f) the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio of the Borrower, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of the Delayed Draw Term Loans and any acquisition or Investment consummated in connection therewith and all other appropriate pro forma adjustments (for the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the determination of such ratio is subject to the Limited Condition Transaction provisions), shall not be less 1.75:1.00 for the most recently ended Test Period; and

(g) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 and 2.03.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

From and after the Effective Date and until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable (other than (i) contingent amounts not yet due, (ii) Secured Cash Management Obligations and (iii) Secured Swap Obligations) under any First Lien Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or been terminated (unless such Letters of Credit have been cash collateralized or backstopped in amounts, by institutions and otherwise pursuant to arrangements, in each case reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) and all LC Disbursements shall have been fully reimbursed, each of Holdings and the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

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SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements and Other Information .

Holdings or the Borrower will furnish to the First Lien Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender:

(a) on or before the date that is one hundred and twenty-five (125) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, audited consolidated balance sheet and audited consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, and related notes thereto, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or another independent public accountant of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than any exception or explanatory paragraph but not a qualification that is expressly solely with respect to, or resulting from, (A) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or (B) any actual failure to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant or any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant on a future date or in a future period)) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition as of the end of and for such year and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and such Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

(b) on or before the date that is sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, unaudited consolidated balance sheet and unaudited consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year and the budget for such fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and such portion of the fiscal year and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, the related unaudited consolidating financial information reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements;

(d) not later than five (5) days after any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) or (b) above, (A) a certificate of a Financial Officer (i) certifying as to whether a Default then exists and, if a Default does then exist, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations (x) demonstrating compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant and (y) in the case of financial statements delivered under paragraph (a) above, beginning with the financial statements for the fiscal year of the Borrower ending December 31, 2019, of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and (iii) in the case of financial statements delivered under paragraph (a) above, setting forth a reasonably detailed calculation of the Net Proceeds received during the applicable period by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any event described in clause (a) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event” and the portion of such Net Proceeds that has been invested or are intended to be reinvested in accordance with the proviso in Section 2.11(c), (B) a report on acquisitions of Oil and Gas Properties with attributable Proved Reserves

 

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made during such period, (C) an updated production history of the Proved Reserves of the Loan Parties as of the end of such period, (D) the lease operating expenses attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Loan Parties for the prior 12-month period and (E) a schedule of the Oil and Gas Properties with attributable Proved Reserves that are Mortgaged Oil and Gas Properties and otherwise demonstrating that the Borrower is in compliance with Section 5.11(d);

(e) within 5 Business Days of the delivery of the financial statements required under Section 5.01(a), a detailed consolidated budget for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the succeeding fiscal year (including, without limitation, (i) a breakdown on a quarterly basis of such annual budget for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) a projected consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of projected operations and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal year and setting forth the material assumptions used for purposes of preparing such budget); provided that the obligations of this paragraph shall be suspended upon and following the filing for an IPO;

(f) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and registration statements (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) filed by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with the SEC or with any national securities exchange; and

(g) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any First Lien Loan Document, as the First Lien Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender may reasonably request in writing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the Form 10-K or 10-Q (or the equivalent), as applicable, of the Borrower (or a parent company thereof) filed with the SEC within the applicable time periods required by applicable law and regulations (including any extended deadlines available thereunder in connection with an IPO or (B) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any Intermediate Parent or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings)); provided that (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information, which may be unaudited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of KPMG LLP or an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than any exception or explanatory paragraph but not a qualification, that is expressly solely with respect to, or expressly resulting solely from, (i) an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or (ii) any actual failure to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant or any potential inability to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant on a future date or in a future period).

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b) or (f) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 9.01 (or otherwise notified pursuant to Section 9.01(d)); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the First Lien Administrative Agent); provided , that, (A) the Borrower shall, at the request of the First Lien Administrative Agent, continue to deliver copies (which delivery may be hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission) of such documents to the First Lien Administrative Agent and (B) the Borrower shall notify the First Lien Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents on any website described in this paragraph that is not sponsored or controlled by the First Lien Administrative Agent. The First Lien Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents and maintaining its copies of such documents.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall be required to deliver, disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making of copies of or excerpts from, or any discussion of, any document, information, or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the First Lien Administrative Agent (or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors)) is prohibited by applicable law, (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (iv) with respect to which any Loan Party owes confidentiality obligations (to the extent not created in contemplation of such Loan Party’s obligations under this Section 5.01) to any third party.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the First Lien Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive Material Non-Public Information and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to the Borrower’s or its Affiliates’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any Material Non-Public Information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) ( provided , however , that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 9.12); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information”; provided that the Borrower’s failure to comply with this sentence shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under this Agreement or the First Lien Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials as “PUBLIC”. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that, unless the Borrower notifies the First Lien Administrative Agent in advance, all financial statements and certificates furnished pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), (b), (c) and (d) above are hereby deemed to be suitable for distribution, and to be made available, to all Lenders and may be treated by the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders as not containing any material non-public information; provided that the Borrower’s failure to comply with this sentence shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Notices of Material Events .

Promptly after any Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof, Holdings or the Borrower will furnish to the First Lien Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Lender through the First Lien Administrative Agent) written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) to the extent permissible by Requirements of Law, the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of a Financial Officer or another executive officer of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, affecting Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the receipt of a written notice of an Environmental Liability, in each case that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 5.02 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.03 Information Regarding Collateral .

(a) Holdings or the Borrower will furnish to the First Lien Administrative Agent prompt (and in any event within thirty (30) days or such longer period as reasonably agreed to by the First Lien Administrative Agent) written notice of any change (i) in any Loan Party’s legal name (as set forth in its certificate of organization or like document), (ii) in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of any Loan Party or in the form of its organization or (iii) in any Loan Party’s organizational identification number to the extent that such Loan Party is organized or owns Mortgaged Property in a jurisdiction where an organizational identification number is required to be included in a UCC financing statement for such jurisdiction.

(b) Not later than five (5) days after delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a), Holdings or the Borrower shall deliver to the First Lien Administrative Agent a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Borrower (i) setting forth the information required pursuant to Paragraphs 1, 2(a), 5, 6 and 8 of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the date of the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Effective Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 5.03, (ii) identifying any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that has become, or ceased to be, a Material Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary during the most recently ended fiscal quarter and (iii) certifying that all notices required to be given prior to the date of such certificate by Section 5.03 have been given.

SECTION 5.04 Existence; Conduct of Business .

Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, Intellectual Property and Governmental Approvals material to the conduct of its business, except to the extent (other than with respect to the preservation of the existence of Holdings and the Borrower) that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 or any Disposition permitted by Section 6.05.

 

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SECTION 5.05 Payment of Taxes, etc.

Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay all Taxes (whether or not shown on a Tax return) imposed upon it or its income or properties or in respect of its property or assets, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the same are being contested in good faith by an appropriate proceeding diligently conducted by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or (b) the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Properties .

Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all tangible property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition (subject to casualty, condemnation and ordinary wear and tear), except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07 Insurance .

(a) Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, with insurance companies that Holdings believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of Holdings) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance which Holdings believes (in the good faith judgment of management of Holdings) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business) and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as Holdings believes (in the good faith judgment or the management of Holdings) are reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business, and will furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the First Lien Collateral Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried. Each such general liability policy of insurance (other than directors and officers policies, workers compensation policies and business interruption insurance) shall (i) name the First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or mortgagee endorsement that names the First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Lenders as the loss payee or mortgagee thereunder.

(b) If any portion of any Mortgaged Property is at any time located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as now or hereafter in effect or successor act thereto), then the Borrower shall, or shall cause each Loan Party to (i) maintain, or cause to be maintained, with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, flood insurance in an amount and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the First Lien Collateral Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the flood insurance so carried.

 

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SECTION 5.08 Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights .

Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP (or applicable local standards) consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of Holdings, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be. Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the First Lien Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise visitation and inspection rights of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 5.08 and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided, further that (a) when an Event of Default exists, the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice and (b) the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give Holdings and the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with Holdings’ or the Borrower’s independent public accountants.

SECTION 5.09 Compliance with Laws .

Each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with its Organizational Documents and all Requirements of Law (including Environmental Laws, and the USA PATRIOT Act) with respect to it, its property and operations, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.10 Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit .

The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loans or Revolving Loans funded on the Effective Date, together with cash on hand of the Borrower and the, to directly or indirectly finance the Transactions, directly or indirectly pay all or a portion of the Transaction Costs and for other general corporate purposes. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans drawn after the Effective Date will be used only for general corporate purposes, and the Letters of Credit will be used only for general corporate purposes, in each case, including capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, Restricted Payments, refinancing of Indebtedness and any other transactions not prohibited by this Agreement. The proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans will be used only for Permitted Acquisitions, other Investments permitted hereunder and refinancing of Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder.

SECTION 5.11 Additional Subsidiaries ; Collateral Matters .

(a) If (i) any additional Restricted Subsidiary or Intermediate Parent is formed or acquired after the Effective Date, (ii) if any Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary (other than a wholly owned Guarantor that ceases to be wholly owned) or (iii) if the Borrower, at its option, elects to cause a Domestic Subsidiary, or to the extent reasonably acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent, a Foreign Subsidiary (including any consolidated Affiliate in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries own no Equity Interest) to become a Subsidiary Loan Party, then, Holdings or the Borrower will, within thirty (30) days (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the First Lien Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) after such newly formed or acquired Restricted Subsidiary or Intermediate Parent is formed or acquired or such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary or the Borrower has made such election, notify the First Lien Administrative Agent thereof, and will cause such Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Restricted Subsidiary is an Excluded

 

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Subsidiary) or Intermediate Parent to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary or Intermediate Parent and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary or Intermediate Parent owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party within thirty (30) days after such notice (or such longer period as the First Lien Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree) and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate (or supplement thereof) with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary or Intermediate Parent signed by a Responsible Officer, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

(b) Within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as the First Lien Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after Holdings or the Borrower identifies any new Material Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.03(b), all actions (if any) required to be taken with respect to such Subsidiary in order to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken with respect to such Subsidiary, to the extent not already satisfied pursuant to Section 5.11(a).

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any real property (other than any Oil and Gas Property) would be required to be mortgaged pursuant to this Section 5.11, Holdings or the Borrower shall be required to comply with the “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” as it relates to such real property (other than any Oil and Gas Property) within ninety (90) days, following the formation or acquisition of such real property or such Restricted Subsidiary or the identification of such new Material Subsidiary, or such longer time period as agreed by the First Lien Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

(d) Subject to the mortgage delivery requirements in Section 5.12(d), at all times from and after the date that is ninety (90) days following the Effective Date, Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party, to cause Oil and Gas Properties to be subject to Mortgages sufficient to cause the Asset Coverage Ratio to be not less than 1.75 to 1.00. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the earlier of (x) the date that the Borrower has knowledge that it is not in compliance with the Asset Coverage Ratio or (y) the date upon which the Borrower receives notice from the First Lien Administrative Agent indicating that the Borrower has failed to maintain compliance with the Asset Coverage Ratio, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties shall have a period of sixty (60) days to execute and file Mortgages on additional Oil and Gas Properties in favor of the First Lien Administrative Agent sufficient to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the Asset Coverage Ratio before such non-compliance is deemed to result in a Default.

SECTION 5.12 Further Assurances ; After Acquired Property .

(a) Solely with respect to the Effective Date, each of Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each Loan Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), that may be required under any applicable law and that the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

(b) If, after the Effective Date, any material assets (other than Excluded Assets or Oil and Gas Properties with associated Proved Reserves), including any owned (but not leased or ground leased) Material Real Property or improvements thereto or any interest therein are acquired by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or are held by any Subsidiary on or after the time it becomes a Loan Party pursuant to Section 5.11 (other than assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien created by such Security Document upon acquisition thereof or constituting Excluded Assets), the Borrower will notify the First Lien Administrative Agent thereof, and, if requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take and cause the other Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary and

 

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reasonably requested by the First Lien Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (a) of this Section and as required pursuant to the “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” all at the expense of the Loan Parties and subject to the last paragraph of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

(c) If, after the Effective Date, any Oil and Gas Properties having Proved Reserves, are acquired by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or are held by any Subsidiary on or after the time it becomes a Loan Party pursuant to Section 5.11, or through the development of any of the Borrower’s or any other Loan Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties, such Oil and Gas Properties become classified as Proved Reserves, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations solely to the extent required to maintain an Asset Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.75 to 1.00 in accordance with Section 5.11(d).

SECTION 5.13 Designation of Subsidiaries .

The Borrower may at any time on or after the Effective Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i)  immediately after such designation on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis with the Financial Performance Covenant for the Test Period then last ended and (iii) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or continue as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of any other Material Indebtedness of Holdings or the Borrower . The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence at the time of designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and (ii) a return on any Investment by the Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary. The Borrower designates each Subsidiary set forth on Schedule 5.13 as Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the Effective Date.

SECTION 5.14 Certain Post-Closing Obligations .

As promptly as practicable, and in any event within the time periods after the Effective Date specified in Schedule 5.14 or such later date as the First Lien Administrative Agent agrees to in writing, including to reasonably accommodate circumstances unforeseen on the Effective Date, Holdings, the Borrower and each other Loan Party shall deliver the documents or take the actions specified on Schedule 5.14 that would have been required to be delivered or taken on the Effective Date, in each case except to the extent otherwise agreed by the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to its authority as set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

SECTION 5.15 Line of Business.

(a) The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from the business conducted by them on the Effective Date and other business activities which are extensions thereof or otherwise incidental, reasonably related or ancillary to any of the foregoing.

 

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SECTION 5.16 Reserve Reports.

(a) On or before March 1st and September 1st of each year, commencing on September 1, 2018, the Borrower shall furnish to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report evaluating the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the immediately preceding January 1st and July 1st. The Reserve Report as of January 1 of each year shall be prepared by one or more Approved Reserve Engineers, and the July 1 Reserve Report of each year shall be prepared by or under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report to be true and accurate and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding January 1 Reserve Report.

(b) Each Reserve Report (other than the Initial Reserve Report) shall be delivered with (i) an accompanying report on Oil and Gas Property sales, Oil and Gas Property purchases and changes in categories concerning the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Loan Parties which have attributable to them Proved Reserves, in each case, since the date of the last Reserve Report previously delivered hereunder, and containing information and analysis with respect to the Proved Reserves of the Loan Parties as of the date of such report and the Present Value; (ii) an updated production history of the Proved Reserves of the Loan Parties as of such date, (iii) the lease operating expenses attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Loan Parties for the prior 12-month period and (iv) a true and complete list of all commodity price Swap Agreements of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiaries, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date, notional amounts or volumes and swap or strike prices, as the case may be), any new credit support agreements relating thereto not listed on Schedule 3.18 (including any margin required or supplied), and the counterparty to each such agreement, and which certificate shall certify that the hedged volumes for each of natural gas and crude oil comply with Section  5.18 and Section  6.13 , respectively.

(c) With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders a certificate from a Responsible Officer certifying that in all material respects the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries own good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Properties are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section  6.02 .

SECTION 5.17 Title Matters.

(a) On or before the delivery to the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders of each Reserve Report required by Section  5.16 , the Borrower will deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received together with title information previously delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent, satisfactory title information on at least 50% of the Present Value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report.

(b) Within sixty (60) days after a request by the First Lien Administrative Agent to cure any title defects or exceptions which are not Permitted Encumbrances or a notice by the First Lien Administrative Agent that Borrower has failed to comply with this Section, (i) cure such title defects or exceptions which are not Permitted Encumbrances, (ii) substitute acceptable Mortgaged Oil and Gas Properties with no title defects or exceptions except for Permitted Liens having an equivalent value. Within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date (or such later date as the First Lien Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), and thereafter within sixty (60) days after any request by the First Lien Administrative Agent, deliver to the First Lien Administrative Agent title evidence (including supplemental or new title

 

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opinions meeting the foregoing requirements) in form and substance acceptable to First Lien Administrative Agent so that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received, together with title evidence previously delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent, satisfactory title information on at least 50% of the Present Value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report or such lesser amount as the First Lien Administrative Agent may reasonably agree.

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

From and after the Effective Date and until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable (other than (i) contingent amounts not yet due, (ii) Secured Cash Management Obligations and (iii) Secured Swap Obligations) under any First Lien Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or been terminated (unless such Letters of Credit have been cash collateralized or backstopped in amounts, by institutions and otherwise pursuant to arrangements, in each case reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or deemed reissued under another agreement reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) and all LC Disbursements shall have been fully reimbursed, each of Holdings (with respect to Sections 6.03(b) and (c) only) and the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities .

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(i) Indebtedness of the Borrower and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries under the First Lien Loan Documents (including any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 2.20 or 2.21);

(ii) Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date listed on Schedule 6.01, including intercompany indebtedness ( provided that any Indebtedness or other obligations up to an aggregate amount of $2,500,000 do not need to be set forth on Schedule 6.01 to be permitted Indebtedness under this clause (ii)) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(iii) Guarantees by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) such Guarantee is otherwise permitted by Section 6.04, (B) no Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of any Junior Financing shall be permitted unless such Restricted Subsidiary shall have also provided a Guarantee of the First Lien Loan Document Obligations pursuant to the First Lien Guarantee Agreement, and (C) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the First Lien Loan Document Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;

(iv) Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to any Restricted Subsidiary or of any Restricted Subsidiary owing to any other Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, to the extent permitted by Section 6.04; provided that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations (to the extent any such Indebtedness is outstanding at any time after the date that is thirty (30) days after the Effective Date or such later date as the First Lien Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) (but only to the extent permitted by applicable law and not giving rise to adverse tax consequences) on terms (i) at least as favorable to the Lenders as those set forth in the form of intercompany note attached as Exhibit I or (ii) otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent;

 

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(v) (A) Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness) incurred, issued or assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to finance the acquisition, purchase, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital property, equipment or other assets; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within 270 days after the applicable acquisition, purchase, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement, and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness set forth in the immediately preceding clause (A) (or successive Permitted Refinancings thereof); provided , further that, at the time of any such incurrence of Indebtedness and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is outstanding in reliance on this clause (v) (excluding any Capital Lease Obligations incurred pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under Section 6.06) shall not exceed the greater of (A) $12,000,000 and (B) 30% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time;

(vi) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.13;

(vii) [Reserved];

(viii) [Reserved];

(ix) Settlement Indebtedness;

(x) Indebtedness in respect of Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automated clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements, in each case, in connection with deposit accounts or from the honoring of a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;

(xi) Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation (including indemnification obligations, obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments, earn-outs, incentive non-competes and other contingent obligations), any Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment or any Disposition, in each case, permitted under this Agreement;

(xii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that at the time of the incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in reliance on this clause (xii) shall not exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 37.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time;

(xiii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) in an unlimited amount, either (a) incurred or issued and/or (b) assumed, in each case after the Effective Date in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment not

 

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prohibited by Section 6.04, so long as such assumed Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment; provided that, (I) (x) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any acquisition or investment consummated in connection therewith on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of such time is less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00, (y) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a junior or subordinated basis to the Secured Obligations, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any acquisition or investment consummated in connection therewith on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of such time is less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00 and (z) if such Indebtedness is unsecured or secured by assets that are not Collateral, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any acquisition or investment consummated in connection therewith on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of such time is less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00 and (II) such Indebtedness complies with the Required Additional Debt Terms and (B) any Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the foregoing subclause (A); provided further that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of which the primary obligor or a guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party outstanding in reliance on this clause (xiii) shall not exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the greater of $7,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of such time; provided further , that if such Indebtedness is a term loan that is not subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations and that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks pari passu in right of security with the Initial Term Loans, the Initial Term Loans shall be subject to the “most favored nation” pricing adjustment (if applicable) set forth in the proviso to Section 2.20(b) as if such Indebtedness were a First Lien Incremental Term Loan incurred hereunder;

(xiv) [Reserved];

(xv) Indebtedness consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(xvi) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such Letter of Credit;

(xvii) [Reserved];

(xviii) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(xix) Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt and Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;

(xx) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party issued in lieu of First Lien Incremental Facilities consisting of one or more series of (i) secured or unsecured bonds, notes or debentures (which bonds, notes or debentures, if secured, may be secured either by Liens pari passu with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations (but without regard to control of remedies) or by Liens having a junior priority relative to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations), or (ii) secured or unsecured loans (which loans, if secured, must be secured either by Liens pari passu with the Liens on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations or by Liens having a junior priority relative to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Secured Obligations) (and any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor) (the “ First Lien Incremental Equivalent Debt ”); provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of all such

 

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Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause shall not exceed $50,000,000 and (ii) such Indebtedness complies with the Required Additional Debt Terms; provided that if such First Lien Incremental Equivalent Debt is a term loan that is not subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations and that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks pari passu in right of security with the Initial Term Loans, the Initial Term Loans shall be subject to the “most favored nation” pricing adjustment (if applicable) set forth in the proviso to Section 2.20(b)(iv) as if such First Lien Incremental Equivalent Debt were a First lien Incremental Term Loan incurred hereunder;

(xxi) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of which the primary obligor or a guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party outstanding in reliance of this clause (xxi) shall not exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, the greater of $3,500,000 and 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

(xxii) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts, bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;

(xxiii) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(xxiv) (x) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or stock-based compensation owed to employees, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and (y) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or its Restricted Subsidiaries or other similar arrangements incurred by such Persons in connection with the Transactions and Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment permitted by this Agreement;

(xxv) Indebtedness consisting of unsecured promissory notes issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to future, current or former officers, directors, employees, managers and consultants or their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) to the extent permitted by Section 6.07(a);

(xxvi) [Reserved];

(xxvii) Capital Lease Obligations arising under any sale leaseback transaction permitted hereunder in reliance upon Section 6.05(f); and

 

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(xxviii) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (i) through (xxvii) above.

(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue any preferred Equity Interests or any Disqualified Equity Interests, except (A) in the case of the Borrower, preferred Equity Interests that are Qualified Equity Interests and (B)(x) preferred Equity Interests issued to and held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (y) preferred Equity Interests issued to and held by joint venture partners after the Effective Date; provided that in the case of this clause (y) any such issuance of preferred Equity Interests shall be deemed to be incurred Indebtedness and subject to the provisions set forth in Section 6.01(a).

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency will be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided, however, that if such Indebtedness is a Permitted Refinancing incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable U.S. dollar denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the maximum amount of Indebtedness any Group Member may incur pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall not be deemed exceeded by fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Indebtedness.

SECTION 6.02 Liens .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned (but not leased) or hereafter acquired (but not leased) by it, except:

(i) Liens created under the First Lien Loan Documents;

(ii) Permitted Encumbrances;

(iii) Liens existing on the Effective Date listed on Schedule 6.02 (provided that Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations up to an aggregate amount of $2,500,000 do not need to be set forth on Schedule 6.02 to be permitted Liens under this clause (iii)) and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (A) such modified, replacement, renewal or extension Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (1) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (2) proceeds and products thereof, and (B) the obligations secured or benefited by such modified, replacement, renewal or extension Lien are permitted by Section 6.01;

 

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(iv) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(v); provided that (A) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 270 days after the acquisition, repair, replacement, construction or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (B) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness except for replacements, additions, accessions and improvements to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof, and any lease of such property (including accessions thereto) and the proceeds and products thereof and (C) with respect to Capital Lease Obligations, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for replacements, additions, accessions and improvements to or proceeds of such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capital Lease Obligations; provided further that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(v) (i) easements, leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others (including licenses and sublicenses of Intellectual Property) that do not (A) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) secure any Indebtedness and (ii) any interest or title of a lessor or licensee under any lease or license entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased or licensed;

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

(vii) Liens (A) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection; (B) attaching to pooling, commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business; or (C) in favor of a banking or other financial institution or entity, or electronic payment service provider, arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking or finance industry;

(viii) Liens (A) on cash advances or escrow deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or otherwise in connection with any escrow arrangements with respect to any such Investment or any Disposition permitted under Section 6.05 (including any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to such Investment or Disposition), or (B) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 6.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(ix) Liens on property or other assets of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, which Liens secure Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary or another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, in each case permitted under Section 6.01(a);

(x) Liens granted by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of any Restricted Subsidiary and Liens granted by a Loan Party in favor of any other Loan Party;

(xi) Liens existing on property or other assets at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property or other assets of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Effective Date and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (A) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (B) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subject to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior

 

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to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require or include, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition);

(xii) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under leases or subleases (other than leases constituting Capital Lease Obligations) entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale or purchase of goods by any of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xiv) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under clause (e) of the definition of the term “Permitted Investments”;

(xv) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(xvi) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (A) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, (B) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (C) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xvii) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries are located, including the ground leases described in Section 6.05(n);

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

(xix) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(xix) or Section 6.01(a)(xx);

(xx) Liens on real property other than the Mortgaged Properties;

(xxi) Settlement Liens;

(xxii) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(xii) and Section 6.01(a)(xiii);

(xxiii) [Reserved];

(xxiv) Liens on cash and Permitted Investments used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided such satisfaction or discharge is permitted hereunder;

(xxv) Receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof;

 

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(xxvi) Liens on Equity Interests of any joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary (a) securing obligations of such joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary or (b) pursuant to the relevant joint venture agreement or arrangement;

(xxvii) Liens on cash or Permitted Investments securing Swap Agreements in the ordinary course of business submitted for clearing in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law;

(xxviii) other Liens; provided that at the time of the granting thereof and after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such Lien and the obligations secured thereby (including the use of proceeds thereof), the amount equal to the lesser of (x) the aggregate outstanding face amount of obligations secured by Liens existing in reliance on this clause (xxviii) and (y) the fair market value of the assets securing such obligations shall not exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 37.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the Test Period then last ended;

(xxix) [Reserved]; and

(xxx) Liens in connection with sale-leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06 hereto.

SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes; Holdings Covenant.

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not restrict any Restricted Subsidiary from changing its organizational form; provided , that no Restricted Subsidiary shall effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within any statutory period, under the UCC or otherwise that are required in order for the First Lien Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties), except that:

(i) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with (A) the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (B) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Subsidiary Loan Party is merging or consolidating with another Restricted Subsidiary (1) the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Subsidiary Loan Party or (2) if the continuing or surviving Person is not a Subsidiary Loan Party, the acquisition of such Subsidiary Loan Party by such surviving Restricted Subsidiary is otherwise permitted under Section 6.04;

(ii) (A) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(iii) any Restricted Subsidiary may make a Disposition of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then (A) the transferee must be a Loan Party, (B) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 6.04 or (C) to the extent constituting a Disposition to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Disposition is for fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and any promissory note or other non-cash consideration received in respect thereof is a permitted Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 6.04;

 

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(iv) the Borrower may merge or consolidate with (or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to) any other Person; provided that (A) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Borrower or is a Person into which the Borrower has been liquidated (or, in connection with a Disposition of all or substantially all of the Borrower’s assets, if the transferee of such assets) (any such Person, the “ Successor Borrower ”), (1) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (2) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, (3) each Loan Party other than the Borrower, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have reaffirmed, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Administrative Agent, that its Guarantee of and grant of any Liens as security for the Secured Obligations shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and (4) the Borrower shall have delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation complies with this Agreement; provided further that (y) if such Person is not a Loan Party, no Event of Default (or, to the extent related to a Permitted Acquisition or any Investment not prohibited by Section 6.04, no Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i)) shall exist after giving effect to such merger or consolidation and (z) if the foregoing requirements are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents; provided further that the Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide any documentation and other information about the Successor Borrower as shall have been reasonably requested in writing by any Lender or Issuing Bank through the First Lien Administrative Agent that such Lender or Issuing Bank shall have reasonably determined is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act;

(v) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, which together with each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Sections 5.11 and 5.12;

(vi) any Restricted Subsidiary may effect a merger, dissolution, liquidation consolidation or amalgamation to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(vii) [Reserved].

(b) Holdings will not, and will not permit any Intermediate Parent to, conduct, transact or otherwise engage in any business or operations other than (i) the ownership and/or acquisition of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, any Intermediate Parent and any other Subsidiary of Holdings listed on Schedule 3.12 on the Effective Date, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence, including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance, (iii) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of Holdings and the Borrower, (iv) the performance of its obligations under and in connection with the First Lien Loan Documents, any documentation governing any Indebtedness or Guarantee and the other agreements contemplated hereby

 

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and thereby, (v) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or registration of its Equity Interests for sale or resale not prohibited by this Agreement, including the costs, fees and expenses related thereto, (vi) making any dividend or distribution or other transaction similar to a Restricted Payment and not otherwise prohibited by Section 6.08, or any Investment in the Borrower or the Intermediate Parent, (vii) the incurrence of any Indebtedness, (viii) incurring fees, costs and expenses relating to overhead and general operating including professional fees for legal, tax and accounting issues and paying taxes, (ix) providing indemnification to officers and members of the Board of Directors, (x) activities incidental to the consummation of the Transactions and (xi) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (i) to (ix) of this paragraph.

(c) Holdings will not, and will not permit any Intermediate Parent to, own or acquire any material assets (other than Equity Interests as referred to in paragraph (b)(i) above, cash and Permitted Investments, intercompany Investments in any Intermediate Parent or Borrower permitted hereunder) or incur any liabilities (other than liabilities as referred to in paragraph (b) above, liabilities imposed by law, including tax liabilities, and other liabilities incidental to its existence and business and activities permitted by this Agreement).

SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or hold any Investment, except:

(a) Permitted Investments at the time such Permitted Investment is made and purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(b) loans or advances to officers, members of the Board of Directors and employees of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) ( provided that the amount of such loans and advances made in cash to such Person shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash as common equity or Qualified Equity Interests) and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in an aggregate principal amount for this clause (iii) outstanding at any time not to exceed $7,000,000;

(c) Investments by the Borrower in any Restricted Subsidiary and Investments by any Restricted Subsidiary in any of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of any Investment by a Loan Party in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom at the time such Investment is made and (ii) all such Investments by Loan Parties in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, together with all Permitted Acquisitions made pursuant to Section 6.04(h) of targets that do not become Guarantors, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $7,000,000 or (y) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA, at any time outstanding, as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period;

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of trade credit and accommodation guarantees in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04(e) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof and (ii) Investments existing on the Effective Date by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any modification, renewal or extension thereof; provided that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment to the extent as set forth on Schedule 6.04(e) or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04;

 

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(f) Investments in Swap Agreements incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(g) promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 6.05;

(h) Permitted Acquisitions; provided that the aggregate consideration (except to the extent funded with the proceeds of Qualified Equity Interests) paid for Permitted Acquisitions of targets that do not become Guarantors, together with all Investments made pursuant to Section 6.04(c) above by Loan Parties in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, shall not exceed the greater, at any time outstanding, of $7,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period after giving Pro Forma Effect to the making of such Permitted Acquisition;

(i) the Transactions;

(j) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(l) loans and advances to Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Intermediate Parent in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to Holdings (or such parent) or such Intermediate Parent in accordance with Section 6.07(a);

(m) additional Investments and other acquisitions; provided that at the time any such Investment or other acquisition is made, the aggregate outstanding amount of such Investment or acquisition made in reliance on this clause (m), together with the aggregate amount of all consideration paid in connection with all other Investments and acquisitions made in reliance on this clause (m) (including the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness assumed in connection with any such other Investment or acquisition previously made under this clause (m)), shall not exceed the sum, at any time outstanding, of (A) the greater of $15,000,000 and 37.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period after giving Pro Forma Effect to the making of such Investment or other acquisition, plus (B) so long as immediately after giving effect to any such Investment no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Investment, plus (C) the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Investment;

(n) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(o) Investments and other acquisitions to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Qualified Equity Interests (or any direct or indirect parent thereof or the IPO Entity);

(p) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Effective Date or of a Person merged or consolidated with any Subsidiary in accordance with this Section 6.04 and Section 6.03 after the Effective Date or that otherwise becomes a Subsidiary ( provided that if such Investment is made under Section 6.04(h), existing Investments in subsidiaries of such Subsidiary or Person shall comply with the requirements of Section 6.04(h)) 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;

(q) receivables owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Investments (A) for utilities, security deposits, leases and similar prepaid expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and (B) trade accounts created, or prepaid expenses accrued, in the ordinary course of business;

(s) non-cash Investments in connection with tax planning and reorganization activities; provided that after giving effect to any such activities, the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired;

(t) additional Investments so long as at the time of any such Investment and after giving effect thereto, (A) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than 2.00 to 1.00, at any time outstanding, and (B) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom;

(u) Investments consisting of Indebtedness, Liens, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments permitted (other than by reference to this Section 6.04(u)) under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05 and 6.07, respectively;

(v) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees, directors, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Borrower;

(w) to the extent that they constitute Investments, purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials or equipment or purchases, acquisitions, licenses or leases of other assets, Intellectual Property, or other rights, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(x) any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(y) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(z) [Reserved];

(aa) Investments in the ordinary course of business in connection with Settlements; and

 

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(bb) Investments arising as a result of sale-leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06 hereto.

SECTION 6.05 Asset Sales .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, (i) sell, transfer, farm-out, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it or (ii) permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary (other than issuing directors’ qualifying shares, nominal shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law and other than issuing Equity Interests to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04(c)) (each, a “ Disposition ” and the term “ Dispose ” as a verb has the corresponding meaning), except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete, damaged, used, surplus or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including allowing any registration or application for registration of any Intellectual Property that is no longer used or useful, or economically practicable to maintain, to lapse, go abandoned, or be invalidated);

(b) Dispositions of inventory and other assets (including Settlement Assets) in the ordinary course of business and immaterial assets (considered in the aggregate) in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Dispositions of property (other than any Oil and Gas Property) to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) an amount equal to Net Proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(d) Dispositions of property to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then either (i) the transferee must be a Loan Party, (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 6.04 or (iii) to the extent constituting a Disposition to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such Disposition is for fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and any promissory note or other non-cash consideration received in respect thereof is a permitted investment in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 6.04;

(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.03, Investments permitted by Section 6.04, Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.07 and Liens permitted by Section 6.02;

(f) Dispositions of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06 hereto;

(g) Dispositions of Permitted Investments;

(h) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof (including sales to factors or other third parties);

 

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(i) leases, subleases, service agreements, product sales, licenses or sublicenses (including licenses and sublicenses of Intellectual Property), in each case that do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(j) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events;

(k) Dispositions of property to Persons other than Restricted Subsidiaries (including the sale or issuance of Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary) for fair market value (as determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower in good faith) not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.05 as long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Event of Default existed or would have resulted from such Disposition); provided that with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (k) for a purchase price in excess of $10,000,000, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall receive not less than 75% of such consideration in the form of cash or Permitted Investments; provided , however , that solely for the purposes of this clause (k), (A) any liabilities (as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which the Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing, shall be deemed to be cash, (B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Permitted Investments (to the extent of the cash or Permitted Investments received) within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the closing of the applicable Disposition, shall be deemed to be cash, (C) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Disposition (other than intercompany debt owed to the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries), to the extent that the Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent previously liable thereunder) are released from any guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Disposition, shall be deemed to be cash and (D) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value (as determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower in good faith), taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (k) that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of $11,500,000 at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash;

(l) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between, the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(m) Dispositions or forgiveness of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

(n) Dispositions of any assets (including Equity Interests) (A) acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited hereunder, which assets are not used or useful to the core or principal business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) made to obtain the approval of any applicable antitrust authority in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;

 

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(o) [Reserved];

(p) transfers of condemned property as a result of the exercise of “eminent domain” or other similar powers to the respective Governmental Authority or agency that has condemned the same (whether by deed in lieu of condemnation or otherwise), and transfers of property arising from foreclosure or similar action or that have been subject to a casualty to the respective insurer of such real property as part of an insurance settlement; and

(q) any Disposition of the Equity Interests of any Immaterial Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.06 Sale and Leaseback Transactions .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it shall sell or transfer any tangible property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 270 days after the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset.

SECTION 6.07 Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness .

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(i) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that in the case of any such Restricted Payment by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, such Restricted Payment is made to the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests;

(ii) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Equity Interests of such Person;

(iii) Restricted Payments made to consummate the Transactions, to satisfy indemnity or other similar obligations or any other earnouts, purchase price adjustments and working capital adjustments;

(iv) repurchases of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings), any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price or withholding taxes payable in connection with the exercise of such options or warrants or other incentive interests;

 

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(v) Restricted Payments to Holdings or any Intermediate Parent, which Holdings or such Intermediate Parent may use to redeem, acquire, retire, repurchase or settle its Equity Interests (or any options, warrants, restricted stock or stock appreciation rights or similar securities issued with respect to any such Equity Interests) or to service Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Intermediate Parent to finance the redemption, acquisition, retirement, repurchase or settlement of such Equity Interest (or make Restricted Payments to allow any of Holdings’ direct or indirect parent companies to so redeem, retire, acquire or repurchase their Equity Interests or to service Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or an Intermediate Parent to finance the redemption, acquisition, retirement, repurchase or settlement of such Equity Interests or to service Indebtedness incurred to finance the redemption, retirement, acquisition or repurchase of such Equity Interests), held directly or indirectly by current or former officers, managers, consultants, members of the Board of Directors, employees or independent contractors (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee stock ownership or incentive plan, stock subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement in an aggregate amount after the Effective Date together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances to Holdings or an Intermediate Parent made pursuant to Section 6.04(l) in lieu of Restricted Payments permitted by this clause (v) not to exceed $3,000,000 in any calendar year with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $6,000,000 in any calendar year (without giving effect to the following proviso); provided that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by (1) an amount not to exceed the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower (or by Holdings or an Intermediate Parent and contributed to the Borrower) or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Effective Date, or (2) the amount of any bona fide cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of the Board of Directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of Holdings, an Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests, the fair market value of which is equal to or less than the amount of such cash bonuses, which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent fiscal year; provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of the Board of Directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent or the Borrower will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 6.07 or any other provisions of this Agreement.

(vi) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in cash to Holdings and any Intermediate Parent:

(A) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or any Intermediate Parent to pay distributions pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Resources, LLC, as in effect on the date hereof; provided, that any payments attributable to the income of Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted only to the extent that cash payments were made for such purpose by the Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries (collectively, “ Tax Distributions ”);

(B) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or any Intermediate Parent to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) (1) its operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting

 

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and similar expenses payable to third parties) that are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, (2) any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by members of the Board of Directors or officers, employees, directors, managers, consultants or independent contractors of Holdings (or any parent thereof) or any Intermediate Parent attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (3) fees and expenses (x) due and payable by any of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (y) otherwise permitted to be paid by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under this Agreement, (4) to the extent no Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing at the time such Restricted Payment is made, amounts due and payable pursuant to any investor management agreement entered into with the Sponsor after the Effective Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed 2.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a); provided , however , that any amounts payable pursuant to such management agreement that are not paid as a result of the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in this clause (4) may be deferred and paid at a time when the conditions set forth in this clause (4) have been satisfied, or (b) and (5) amounts that would otherwise be permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 6.08(iii) or (xi);

(C) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings or any Intermediate Parent to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) franchise and similar Taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain its corporate or other legal existence;

(D) to finance any Investment made by Holdings or any Intermediate Parent that, if made by the Borrower, would be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 6.04; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) Holdings or any Intermediate Parent shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests but not including any loans or advances made pursuant to Section 6.04(b)) to be contributed to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the Person formed or acquired to merge into or consolidate with the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such merger or consolidation is permitted in Section 6.03) in order to consummate such Investment, in each case in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5.11 and 5.12;

(E) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow Holdings or any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) fees and expenses related to any equity or debt offering not prohibited by this Agreement;

(F) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(G) the proceeds of which shall be used to make payments permitted by clause (b)(iv) and (b)(v) of Section 6.07;

 

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(vii) in addition to the foregoing Restricted Payments and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments, in an aggregate amount, when taken together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances previously made pursuant to Section 6.04(l) in lieu of Restricted Payments permitted by this clause (vii), not to exceed the sum of (A) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Restricted Payment, so long as at the time of any Restricted Payment made pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Available Amount” and after giving effect thereto, on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than 2.25 to 1.00, plus (B) the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such Restricted Payment;

(viii) redemptions in whole or in part of any of its Equity Interests for another class of its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests; provided that such new Equity Interests contain terms and provisions at least as advantageous to the Lenders in all respects material to their interests as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby;

(ix) payments made or expected to be made in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units;

(x) Holdings or any Intermediate Parent may (a) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition (or other similar Investment) and (b) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(xi) payments made or expected to be made by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise of Equity Interests by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective controlled Affiliates or permitted transferees) and any repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or required withholding or similar taxes;

(xii) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Equity Interests of, or Indebtedness owed to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are Permitted Investments);

(xiii) the declaration and payment of Restricted Payment on Holdings’ or the Borrower’s common stock (or the payment of Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings to fund a payment of dividends on such company’s common stock), following consummation of an IPO, of up to 6.0% per annum of the net cash proceeds of such IPO received by or contributed to the Borrower, other than public offerings with respect to the IPO Entity’s common stock registered on Form S-8; ;

(xiv) [Reserved]; and

 

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(xv) additional Restricted Payments; provided that after giving effect to such Restricted Payment (A) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 1.75 to 1.00 and (B) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom; and

(xvi) additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, together with payments made pursuant to clause (x) of clause (b) below, the greater of (x) $4,000,000 or (y) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA, at any time outstanding, as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period; provided that no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom.

(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Junior Financing, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Junior Financing, or any other payment (including any payment under any Swap Agreement) that has a substantially similar effect to any of the foregoing, except:

(i) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments, mandatory offers to repay, repurchase or redeem, mandatory prepayments of principal premium and interest, and payment of fees, expenses and indemnification obligations, with respect to such Junior Financing, other than payments in respect of any Junior Financing prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;

(ii) refinancings of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01;

(iii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any Intermediate Parent, and any payment that is intended to prevent any Junior Financing from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code;

(iv) [reserved];

(v) payments made in connection with the Transactions;

(vi) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financing prior to their scheduled maturity; provided that after giving effect to such prepayment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other payment, (A) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 and (B) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom;

(vii) prepayment of Junior Financing owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or the prepayment of Permitted Refinancing of such Indebtedness with the proceeds of any other Junior Financing;

(viii) [reserved]; and

(ix) in addition to the foregoing payments and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make additional payments of Junior Financing, not to exceed the sum of (A) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such payment, so long as at the time of any such payment and after giving effect thereto, on a Pro Forma Basis, with respect to

 

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payments of Junior Financing made pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Available Amount” the Total Net Leverage Ratio is no greater than 2.50 to 1.00, plus (B) the Available Equity Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied as in effect immediately prior to the time of making of such payment of Junior Financing.

(x) additional payments of Junior Financing in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, together with payments made pursuant to clause (xvi) of clause (a) above, the greater of (x) $5,250,000 or (y) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA, at any time outstanding, as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period.

(c) Upon and subsequent to an IPO, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may (i) make Restricted Payments and (ii) pay or make, directly or indirectly, payments or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Junior Financing, or pay or make other distributions (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Junior Financing, or any other payment (including any payment under any Swap Agreement) if (A) Section 6.11(a)(ii) is satisfied on a Pro Forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Restricted Payment or payment in respect of Junior Financing, (B) Liquidity is an amount equal to at least $25,000,000 on a Pro Forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Restricted Payment or payment in respect of Junior Financing and (C) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

SECTION 6.08 Transactions with Affiliates .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (i) (A) transactions between or among the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction and (B) transactions involving aggregate payment or consideration of less than $5,000,000, (ii) on terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by such Person at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (iii) the payment of fees and expenses related to the Transactions, (iv) the payment of management, consulting, advisory and monitoring fees to the Investors (or management companies of the Investors) in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the amount permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 6.07(a)(vi)(B)(4), (v) issuances of Equity Interests of the Borrower to the extent otherwise permitted by this Agreement, (vi) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business or otherwise in connection with the Transactions (including loans and advances pursuant to Sections 6.04(b) and 6.04(n), (vii) payments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among Holdings (and any such parent thereof), any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such payments are permitted by Section 6.07, (viii) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, members of the Board of Directors, officers and employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Borrower, any Intermediate Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ix) transactions pursuant to permitted agreements in existence or contemplated on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.08 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect, (x) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.07 and loans and advances in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 6.04(l), (xi) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation,

 

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any cash management activities related thereto), (xii) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which are fair to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Borrower, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party, (xiii) grants of licenses or sublicenses of Intellectual Property made in the ordinary course of business, (xiv) [Reserved], (xv) [Reserved] and (xvi) customary payments by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, consulting, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions, divestitures or financings), which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower in good faith.

SECTION 6.09 Restrictive Agreements .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease that prohibits or limits the ability of any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of their respective properties or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to the Secured Obligations or under the First Lien Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to:

(a) restrictions and conditions imposed by (1) Requirements of Law, (2) any First Lien Loan Document, (3) any documentation governing First Lien Incremental Equivalent Debt, (4) any documentation governing Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, (5) any documentation governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii), (xvii), (xxi) or (xxvi), and (6) any documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing incurred to refinance any such Indebtedness referenced in clauses (1) through (6) above;

(b) customary restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date and any extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement thereof, except to the extent any such amendment, modification or replacement expands the scope of any such restriction or condition;

(c) restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or any assets pending such sale; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or assets that is or are to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder;

(d) customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof;

(e) restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent such restriction applies only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(f) any restrictions or conditions set forth in any agreement in effect at any time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (but not any modification or amendment expanding the scope of any such restriction or condition); provided that such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and the restriction or condition set forth in such agreement does not apply to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(g) restrictions or conditions in any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 that is incurred or assumed by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to the extent such restrictions or conditions are no more restrictive in any material respect than the restrictions and conditions in the First Lien Loan Documents or, in the case of Junior Financing, are market terms at the time of issuance and are imposed solely on such Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(h) restrictions on cash (or Permitted Investments) or other deposits imposed by agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business (or other restrictions on cash or deposits constituting Permitted Encumbrances);

(i) restrictions set forth on Schedule 6.09 and any extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement thereof, except to the extent any such amendment, modification or replacement expands the scope of any such restriction or condition;

(j) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted by Section 6.04;

(k) customary restrictions contained in leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto;

(l) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(m) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by Subsidiaries, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations.

SECTION 6.10 Amendment of Junior Financing .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend or modify the documentation governing any Junior Financing, in each case if the effect of such amendment or modification is materially adverse to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks; provided that such modification will not be deemed to be materially adverse if (a) such Junior Financing could be otherwise incurred under this Agreement and (b) such modification would not violate the applicable Intercreditor Agreement(s).

SECTION 6.11 Financial Performance Covenant s .

(a) (i) Prior to an IPO, the Borrower will not permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending on any date set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth below opposite such date:

 

Test Period Ended On

   Ratio Level  

September 30, 2018

     5.50:1.00  

December 31, 2018

     5.00:1.00  

March 31, 2019

     4.75:1.00  

June 30, 2019

     4.50:1.00  

September 30, 2019

     4.25:1.00  

December 31, 2019 and for each Test Period ending thereafter

     4.00:1.00  

 

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(ii) After an IPO, the Borrower will not permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending on any date to exceed 4.00:1.00.

(b) Prior to an IPO, the Borrower will not permit the Debt to Capitalization Ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2018 to be greater than 0.40 to 1.00. For the avoidance of doubt, the restriction set forth in this Section 6.11(b) shall cease to apply after an IPO.

SECTION 6.12 Changes in Fiscal Periods .

The Borrower will not make any change in fiscal year; provided , however , that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the First Lien Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

SECTION 6.13 Swap Agreements .

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreements with any Person other than Swap Agreements in respect of commodities with an Approved Counterparty, the notional volumes for which (when aggregated with other commodity Swap Agreements then in effect other than basis differential swaps on volumes already hedged pursuant to other Swap Agreements) do not exceed, as of the date such Swap Agreement is executed, 85% of the reasonably anticipated projected production from the Loan Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Reserves as of the date such Swap Agreement is entered into for each month during which such Swap Agreement is in place for each of crude oil and natural gas, calculated separately and determined by reference to the most recently delivered Reserve Report and for a tenor of no more than 66 months after such Swap Agreement is entered into (the “ Ongoing Hedges ”). In addition to the Ongoing Hedges, in connection with a proposed acquisition permitted hereunder (a “ Proposed Acquisition ”), the Credit Parties may also enter into Swap Agreements in respect of commodities with Approved Counterparties, the notional volumes for which do not exceed for each month during the period during which such Swap Agreement is in effect, 15% of the reasonably anticipated projected production from the Loan Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Reserves prior to the consummation of the Proposed Acquisition, as forecasted based upon the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section  5.16 for a period not exceeding 36 months from the date such Swap Agreement was entered into (the “ Acquisition Swap ”), during the period between (i) the date on which the Borrower or any other Loan Party signs a definitive acquisition agreement in connection with a Proposed Acquisition and (ii) the earliest of (A) the date such Proposed Acquisition is consummated, (B) the date such Proposed Acquisition is terminated and (C) 90 days after such definitive acquisition agreement was executed (or such longer period as to which the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion); provided , however , all such Acquisition Swaps entered into with respect to a Proposed Acquisition must be terminated or unwound within ninety (90) days following the date such Proposed Acquisition is terminated to the extent such Acquisition Swaps, when combined with the then existing Swap Obligations, do not otherwise comply with this Section 6.13. No Swap Agreements shall be entered into for speculative purposes.

 

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ARTICLE VII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 7.01 Events of Default .

If any of the following events (any such event, an “ Event of Default ”) shall occur:

(a) any Loan Party shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b) any Loan Party shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 7.01) payable under any First Lien Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days;

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any First Lien Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any First Lien Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made, and such incorrect representation or warranty (if curable) shall remain incorrect for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the First Lien Administrative Agent to the Borrower;

(d) (i) Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Sections 5.02, 5.04 (with respect to the existence of Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiaries), 5.10, 5.14 or in Article VI (other than Section 6.08, Section 6.12 or the Financial Performance Covenant); or

(ii) the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to observe or perform the Financial Performance Covenant; provided that any Event of Default under Section 6.11 is subject to cure as provided in Section 7.02 and an Event of Default with respect to such Section shall not occur until the expiration of the tenth (10 th ) day subsequent to the date on which the financial statements with respect to the applicable fiscal quarter (or the fiscal year ended on the last day of such fiscal quarter) are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable;

(e) Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any First Lien Loan Document (other than those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of this Section 7.01), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from the First Lien Administrative Agent to the Borrower, provided that any Default or Event of Default which may occur as a result of the failure to timely meet any delivery requirements under the First Lien Loan Documents shall cease to exist upon any delivery otherwise in compliance with such requirements;

(f) Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period);

 

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(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity, provided that this paragraph (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited under this Agreement) or (ii) termination events or similar events occurring under any Swap Agreement that constitutes Material Indebtedness (it being understood that paragraph (f) of this Section 7.01 will apply to any failure to make any payment required as a result of any such termination or similar event);

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, court protection, reorganization or other relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a material part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, examiner, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a material part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed or unstayed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, court protection, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in paragraph (h) of this Section 7.01, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, examiner, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a material part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding or (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(j) one or more enforceable judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against Holdings, the Borrower and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any judgment creditor shall legally attach or levy upon assets of such Loan Party that are material to the businesses and operations of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to enforce any such judgment;

(k) an ERISA Event occurs that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) any Lien purported to be created under any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any material portion of the Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable First Lien Security Documents, except (i) as a result of the sale or other disposition of the applicable Collateral to a Person that is not a Loan Party in a transaction permitted under the First Lien Loan Documents, (ii) as a result of the First Lien Administrative Agent’s failure to (A) maintain possession of any stock certificates, promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under the First Lien Security Documents or

 

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(B) file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements, (iii) as to Collateral consisting of real property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied coverage or (iv) as a result of acts or omissions of the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender;

(m) any material provision of any First Lien Loan Document or any Guarantee of the First Lien Loan Document Obligations shall for any reason be asserted in writing by any Loan Party not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any Loan Party thereto other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder;

(n) any Guarantees of the First Lien Loan Document Obligations by any Loan Party pursuant to the First Lien Guarantee Agreement shall cease to be in full force and effect (in each case, other than in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Loan Documents); or

(o) a Change of Control shall occur.

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Holdings or the Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Section 7.01), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the First Lien Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to Holdings or the Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Section 7.01, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower and (iii) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all other rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the First Lien Loan Documents, whether in law or equity.

SECTION 7.02 Right to Cure .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.01, in the event that the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries fail to comply with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenant as of the last day of any applicable fiscal quarter of the Borrower, at any time after the end of such fiscal quarter until the expiration of the tenth (10 th ) Business Day subsequent to the date on which the financial statements with respect to such fiscal quarter (or the fiscal year ended on the last day of such fiscal quarter) are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable, Holdings shall have the right to issue Qualified Equity Interests for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of Holdings as cash common equity or other Qualified Equity Interests (which Holdings shall contribute through its subsidiaries as cash common equity or other Qualified Equity Interests) (collectively, the “ Cure Right ”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of the Net Proceeds of such issuance (the “ Cure Amount ”) pursuant to the exercise by Holdings of such Cure Right the Financial Performance Covenant shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustment:

(i) Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased with respect to such applicable fiscal quarter and any four fiscal quarter period that contains such fiscal quarter, solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Performance Covenant and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

 

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(ii) to the extent such Cure Right is being exercised in connection with the covenant contained in Section 6.11(b), Total Invested Capital shall be increased with respect to such applicable fiscal quarter and any four fiscal quarter period that contains such fiscal quarter, solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Performance Covenant contained in Section 6.11(b) and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

(iii) if, after giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustment (without giving effect to any repayment of any Indebtedness with any portion of the Cure Amount or any portion of the Cure Amount on the balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, with respect to such fiscal quarter only), the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenant, as applicable, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenant as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the Financial Performance Covenant that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement;

provided that the Borrower shall have notified the First Lien Administrative Agent of the exercise of such Cure Right within five (5) Business Days of the issuance of the relevant Qualified Equity Interests for cash or the receipt of the cash contributions by Holdings.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four consecutive fiscal quarter period of the Borrower there shall be at least one (1) fiscal quarter in which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) during the term of this Agreement, the Cure Right shall not be exercised more than five (5) times and (iii) for purposes of this Section 7.02, the Cure Amount with respect to the Financial Performance Covenant being cured shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with such Financial Performance Covenant and any amounts in excess thereof shall not be deemed to be a Cure Amount; provided that if more than one Financial Performance Covenant is being cured then the Cure Amount shall be the amount necessary to cure such amount. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Cure Amount received pursuant to any exercise of the Cure Right shall be disregarded for purposes of determining any available basket under Article VI of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, no Cure Amounts shall be applied to reduce the Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Pro Forma Basis for purposes of determining compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant for the fiscal quarter in which such Cure Right was made and there shall not have been a breach of any covenant under Article VI of this Agreement by reason of having no longer included such Cure Amount in any basket during the relevant period; provided that to the extent the Cure Amount is applied to reduce Indebtedness, such reduction shall be applied to reduce the Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Pro Forma Basis for purposes of determining compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant for the fiscal quarters following the fiscal quarter in which the Cure Right is exercised.

SECTION 7.03 Application of Proceeds .

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 7.01, any amounts received on account of the Secured Obligations (including proceeds of any non-Collateral) shall be applied by the First Lien Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 4.02 of the First Lien Collateral Agreement and/or the similar provisions in the other First Lien Security Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Subsidiary Loan Party shall not be paid with amounts received from such Subsidiary Loan Party or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Secured Obligations otherwise set forth in Section 4.02 of the First Lien Collateral Agreement and/or the similar provisions in the other First Lien Security Documents.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

FIRST LIEN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

SECTION 8.01 Appointment and Authority .

(a) Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints Owl Rock to act on its behalf as the First Lien Administrative Agent and First Lien Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents and authorizes the First Lien Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the First Lien Administrative Agent and First Lien Collateral Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the First Lien Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

(b) The First Lien Administrative Agent shall also act as the “First Lien Collateral Agent” under the First Lien Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the First Lien Collateral Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and the Issuing Bank for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the First Lien Collateral Agent and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the First Lien Administrative Agent and First Lien Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 8.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the First Lien Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the First Lien Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article VIII and Article IX (including Section 9.03 as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the First Lien Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 8.02 Rights as a Lender .

The Person serving as the First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the First Lien Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, own securities of, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION 8.03 Exculpatory Provisions .

The First Lien Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other First Lien Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the First Lien Administrative Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other First Lien Loan Documents that the First Lien Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other First Lien Loan Documents); provided that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the First Lien Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any First Lien Loan Document or applicable law;

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other First Lien 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 the Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the First Lien Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity;

(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the First Lien Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02 and in the last paragraph of Section 7.01) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment; provided that the First Lien Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice describing such Default is given to the First Lien Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the Issuing Bank; and

(e) shall not 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 First Lien Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, 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, any other First Lien Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the First Lien Security Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent.

SECTION 8.04 Reliance by First Lien Administrative Agent .

The First Lien Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The First Lien Administrative Agent 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 of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, the First Lien Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Bank unless the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from

 

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such Lender or the Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The First Lien Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

SECTION 8.05 Delegation of Duties .

The First Lien Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other First Lien Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the First Lien Administrative Agent. The First Lien Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the First Lien Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as First Lien Administrative Agent.

SECTION 8.06 Resignation of First Lien Administrative Agent .

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor First Lien Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the First Lien Administrative Agent may resign upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring First Lien Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring First Lien Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor First Lien Administrative Agent, which shall be an Approved Bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such Approved Bank (the date upon which the retiring First Lien Administrative Agent is replaced, the “ Resignation Effective Date ”); provided that if the First Lien Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice.

If the Person serving as First Lien Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Required Lenders and Holdings may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to such Person remove such Person as First Lien Administrative Agent and, with the consent of the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days (the “ Removal Effective Date ”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents (except (i) that in the case of any collateral security held by the First Lien Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the First Lien Loan Documents, the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor First Lien Administrative Agent is appointed and (ii) with respect to any outstanding payment obligations) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the First Lien Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders

 

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appoint a successor First Lien Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) First Lien Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents as set forth in this Section. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor First Lien Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed First Lien Administrative Agent was acting as First Lien Administrative Agent.

SECTION 8.07 Non-Reliance on First Lien Administrative Agent and Other Lenders .

Each Lender and the Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the First Lien Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the First Lien Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties 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 First Lien Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement and funding its Loans on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to a First Lien Assignment and Assumption, First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment or First Lien Refinancing Amendment pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each First Lien Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

No Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Secured Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the First Lien Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the First Lien Administrative Agent and First Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof. In the event of a foreclosure by the First Lien Administrative Agent or First Lien Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the First Lien Administrative Agent, the First Lien Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition, and the First Lien Administrative Agent or First Lien Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the First Lien Administrative Agent or First Lien Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders at such sale or other disposition. Each Lender, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Secured Obligations, to have agreed to the foregoing provisions.

 

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SECTION 8.08 No Other Duties, Etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Lead Arranger nor any person named on the cover page hereof as a Lead Arranger or Bookrunner shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other First Lien Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the First Lien Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder.

SECTION 8.09 First Lien Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the First Lien Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or outstanding Letter of Credit shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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, Letters of Credit outstanding and all other Secured 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 Issuing Bank and the First Lien Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the First Lien Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the First Lien Administrative Agent under Sections 2.12 and 9.03) 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 the Issuing Bank to make such payments to the First Lien Administrative Agent and, if the First Lien Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the First Lien Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the First Lien Administrative Agent under Sections 2.12 and 9.03.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the First Lien Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Secured Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to authorize the First Lien Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the Issuing Bank or in any such proceeding.

SECTION 8.10 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement .

No failure by any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the First Lien Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other First Lien Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other First Lien Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other First Lien Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the First Lien Administrative Agent in accordance with Article VII for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Banks; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the First Lien Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as First Lien Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents, (b) the Issuing Banks from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Issuing Bank) hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.18), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided further that if at any time there is no Person acting as First Lien Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the First Lien Administrative Agent pursuant to Article VII and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.18, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

SECTION 8.11 Withholding Taxes .

To the extent required by any applicable Requirements of Law (as determined in good faith by the First Lien Administrative Agent), the First Lien Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the First Lien Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered or not property executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the First Lien Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the First Lien Administrative Agent (to the extent that the First Lien Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 2.17 and without limiting any obligation of the Loan Parties to do so pursuant to such Section) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the First Lien Administrative Agent as Taxes or otherwise, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the First Lien Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the First Lien Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document against any amount due to the First Lien Administrative Agent under this Section 8.11. The agreements in this Section 8.11 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the First Lien Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations under any First Lien Loan Document. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” in this Section 8.11 shall include any Issuing Bank.

 

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ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01 Notices .

(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax or other electronic transmission, as follows:

(i) if to Holdings, the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, to the address, fax number, e-mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 9.01; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or fax number, telephone number or e-mail address) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain Material Non-Public Information relating to the Borrower).

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures reasonably approved by the First Lien Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the First Lien Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.

Unless the First Lien Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) The Platform . THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS

 

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FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. 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 ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the First Lien Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to Holdings, the Borrower, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the First Lien Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided , however , that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to Holdings, the Borrower, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc . Each of Holdings, the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank may change its address, electronic mail address, fax or telephone number for notices and other communications or website hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, fax or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the First Lien Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the First Lien Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, fax number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

(e) Reliance by First Lien Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders . The First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, each Lender and the Related Parties from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the First Lien Administrative Agent may be recorded by the First Lien Administrative Agent and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments .

(a) No failure or delay by the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power under this Agreement or any First Lien Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other First Lien Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any First Lien Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or

 

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the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on the Borrower or Holdings in any case shall entitle the Borrower or Holdings to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Except as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to any First Lien Incremental Facility Amendment, Section 2.21 with respect to any First Lien Refinancing Amendment or Section 2.24 with respect to any Permitted Amendment, neither this Agreement, any First Lien Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent (to the extent that such waiver, amendment or modification does not affect the rights, duties, privileges or obligations of the First Lien Administrative Agent under this Agreement, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall execute such waiver, amendment or other modification to the extent approved by the Required Lenders) and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other First Lien Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or 4.03 or the waiver of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender), (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time (it being understood that a waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness of principal) or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that any change to the definition of Consolidated Senior Secured First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction of interest or fees), provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay default interest pursuant to Section 2.13(c), (iii) postpone the maturity of any Loan (it being understood that a waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension of any maturity date), or the date of any scheduled amortization payment of the principal amount of any Term Loan under Section 2.10 or the applicable First Lien Refinancing Amendment, or the reimbursement date with respect to any LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest or fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, (iv) change any of the provisions of this Section without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided that any such change which is in favor of a Class of Lenders holding Loans maturing after the maturity of other Classes of Lenders (and only takes effect after the maturity of such other Classes of Loans or Commitments) will require the written consent of the Required Lenders with respect to each Class directly and adversely affected thereby, (v) change the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders”, “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision of any First Lien Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of such Class, as the case may be), (vi) release all or substantially all the value of the Guarantees under the First Lien Guarantee Agreement (except as expressly provided in the First Lien Loan Documents) without the written consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender), (vii) release all or substantially all the Collateral from the Liens of the First Lien Security Documents, without the written consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender), except as expressly provided in the First Lien Loan Documents, (viii) change the pro rata sharing provisions contained in Section 2.11(e), Section 2.18(c),

 

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Section 7.03 or Section 4.02 of the First Lien Collateral Agreement and/or the similar provisions in the First Lien Security Documents in a manner that adversely and disproportionately affects the rights in respect of payments due to any class of Lenders without the written consent of each of the Lenders in such Class (other than a Defaulting Lender) directly and adversely affected thereby or (ix) permit same-day borrowings of Revolving Loans unless each Revolving Lender that will have an obligation to make such same-day Revolving Loans has the capability to do so; provided further that (A) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, (B) any provision of this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by Holdings, the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency and (C) any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders stating that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the First Lien Administrative Agent, Holdings and the Borrower (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Lenders prior to such inclusion and (b) guarantees, First Lien Security Documents and related documents in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents, amended and waived with the consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects, (iii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents or (iv) to integrate any First Lien Incremental Facility or Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in a manner consistent with this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents, including the relevant Intercreditor Agreement(s). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to effect any requisite changes to the definition of “LIBO Rate” as set forth therein and such other related changes as may be applicable thereto, in each case, with only the consent of the Persons set forth in such definition of “LIBO Rate”.

(c) In connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination (a “ Proposed Change ”) requiring the consent of all Lenders or all directly and adversely affected Lenders, if the consent of the Required Lenders (and, to the extent any Proposed Change requires the consent of Lenders holding Loans of any Class pursuant to clause (iv) or (ix) of paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, the consent of a Majority in Interest of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of such Class) to such Proposed Change is obtained, but the consent to such Proposed Change of other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02 being referred to as a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”), then, so long as the Lender that is acting as First Lien Administrative Agent is not a Non-Consenting Lender, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Non-Consenting Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent, (i) if no Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) exists, permanently prepay all of the Loans of any Class owing by it to, and terminating any Commitments of, such Non-Consenting Lender or (ii) require such Non-Consenting Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to

 

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the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that (a) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent to the extent such consent would be required under Section 9.04(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable (and, if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (b) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding par principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i)) from the Eligible Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (c) unless waived, the Borrower or such Eligible Assignee shall have paid to the First Lien Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b).

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other First Lien Loan Documents to the contrary, the Revolving Commitments, Term Loans and Revolving Exposure of any Lender that is at the time a Defaulting Lender shall not have any voting or approval rights under the First Lien Loan Documents and shall be excluded in determining whether all Lenders (or all Lenders of a Class), all affected Lenders (or all affected Lenders of a Class), a Majority in Interest of Lenders of any Class or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to this Section 9.02); provided that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other First Lien Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender (other than an Affiliated Debt Fund) hereby agrees that, for purposes of any plan of reorganization, such Affiliated Lender will be deemed to have voted in the same proportion as non-Affiliated Lenders voting on such matter; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent (a) any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Secured Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a manner that is less favorable in any material respect to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Secured Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, (b) that would deprive such Affiliated Lender of its pro rata share of any payments to which it is entitled or (c) if such plan of reorganization does not require the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender.

SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

(a) The Borrower shall pay, if the Effective Date occurs and the Transactions have been consummated, (i) all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Lead Arranger, First Lien Administrative Agent and their Affiliates (without duplication) (limited, in the case of (x) legal fees and expenses, to, the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of Latham & Watkins LLP and to the extent reasonably determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent to be necessary, one local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and, in the case of an actual conflict of interest where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict notifies the Borrower of the existence of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, one additional conflicts counsel for the affected Indemnitees similarly situated and such other counsel retained with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), in each case for the First Lien Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, and the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of the First Lien Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the

 

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provisions thereof and (y) the fees and expenses of any other advisor or consultant, to the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, disbursements and other charges of such advisor or consultant, but solely to the extent the Borrower has consented to the retention of such person (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (ii) all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by each Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lead Arranger, the First Lien Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lead Arranger, the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, in connection with the enforcement or protection of any rights or remedies (A) in connection with the First Lien Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws), including its rights under this Section 9.03 or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit; provided that such counsel shall be limited to one lead counsel and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (exclusive of any reasonably necessary special counsel) (and, in the case of a conflict of interest, where the First Lien Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank or any Lender affected by such conflict notifies Holdings of the existence of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, one additional counsel) and such other counsel as may be retained with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the First Lien Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, the Lead Arranger, each Joint Bookrunner and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (limited, in the case of (x) legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel for all Indemnitees and to the extent reasonably determined by the First Lien Administrative Agent to be necessary, one local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction (and in the case of an actual conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict retains its own counsel, one additional conflicts counsel) for the affected Indemnitees (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower, Holdings or any Subsidiary arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any First Lien Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties to the First Lien Loan Documents of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated thereby, the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) to the extent in any way arising from or relating to any of the foregoing, any actual or alleged presence or Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, to or from any Mortgaged Property or any other property currently or formerly owned or operated by Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any other Environmental Liability related in any way to Holdings, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, Holdings or any Subsidiary or their Affiliates and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto and (y) the fees and expenses of any other advisor or consultant, to the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, disbursements and other charges of such advisor or consultant, but solely to the extent the Borrower has consented to the retention of such person (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) of any such Indemnitee arising out of or relating to any claim or any litigation or other proceeding (regardless of whether such Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether

 

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or not such proceedings are brought by the Borrower, its equity holders, its affiliates, creditors or any other third person) that relates to the Transactions including the Facilities contemplated hereby; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or related expenses (w) resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Parties (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment), (x) resulted from a material breach of the First Lien Loan Documents by such Indemnitee or its Related Parties (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment) or (y) arise from disputes between or among Indemnitees (other than disputes involving claims against the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner or any Issuing Bank, in each case, in their respective capacities) that do not involve an act or omission by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (z) any settlement effected without the Borrower’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with the Borrower’s written consent in any such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses by reason of such settlement in accordance with this paragraph; provided further that (1) the Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless (a) such settlement includes a full and unconditional release of such Indemnitee in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding and (b) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability, or a failure to act by or on behalf of such Indemnitee and (2) to the extent of any amounts paid to an Indemnitee in respect of this Section 9.03, such Indemnitee, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, agrees to refund and return any and all amounts paid by the Borrower to it if, pursuant to the operation of any of the foregoing clauses (w) through (z), such Indemnitee was not entitled to receipt of such amount).

(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9.03, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the First Lien Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the First Lien Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank in its capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the aggregate Revolving Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at such time. The obligations of the Lenders under this paragraph (c) are subject to the last sentence of Section 2.02(a) (which shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Lenders’ obligations under this paragraph (c)).

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither Holdings nor the Borrower shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any direct or actual damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet) in connection with this Agreement or the other First Lien Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such direct or actual damages are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final, non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or a material breach of the First Lien Loan Documents by, such Indemnitee or its Related Parties or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, incidental, exemplary or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (including without limitation, any losses of profits, business or anticipated savings) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement,

 

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any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the First Lien Financing Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing in this sentence shall limit any of the obligations set forth to the extent set forth in Section 9.03(a) or Section 9.03(b) in respect of any third party claims alleging such special, indirect, consequential, incidental, exemplary or punitive damages in connection with which such Indemnitee is entitled to payment or indemnification under Section 9.03(a) and Section 9.03(b).

(e) All amounts due under this Section 9.03 shall be payable after written demand therefor; provided , however , that any Indemnitee shall promptly refund an indemnification payment received hereunder to the extent that there is a final judicial determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such payment pursuant to this Section 9.03.

SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns .

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and the acknowledgement of the First Lien Administrative Agent (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void), (ii) no assignment shall be made to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Persons who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (ii) and (iii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 9.04. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 9.04), the Indemnitees and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(ii) and (f) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent (except with respect to assignments to competitors of the Borrower) not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of (A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment (w) by Owl Rock or any Affiliate of Owl Rock to Owl Rock or any Affiliate of Owl Rock, (x) by a Term Lender to any Lender or an Affiliate of any Lender, (y) by a Term Lender to an Approved Fund or (z) to any Eligible Assignee if an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing; provided further that no assignee contemplated by the immediately preceding proviso shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or Section 2.17 than the applicable assignor would have been entitled to receive with respect to the assignment made to such assignee (in the case of withholding taxes, with respect to any withholding tax imposed or reasonably foreseeable as of the date of such assignment), unless the assignment to such assignee is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent; provided further that the Borrower shall have the right to withhold its consent to any assignment if in order for such assignment to comply with applicable law, the Borrower would be required to obtain the consent of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority, (B) the First Lien Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the First Lien Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of a Term Loan to (x) a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (y) subject to Section 9.04(f) and (g), an Affiliated Lender, Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries and (C) solely in the case of Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments, each Issuing Bank (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that, for the

 

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avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Issuing Bank shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan or Term Commitment. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.04 to the contrary, if the Borrower has not given the First Lien Administrative Agent written notice of its objection to an assignment of Term Loans within ten (10) Business Days after written notice of such assignment, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to such assignment.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions: (A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the trade date specified in the First Lien Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment or, if no trade date is so specified, as of the date the First Lien Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the First Lien Administrative Agent) shall, in the case of Revolving Loans, not be less than $1,000,000 (and integral multiples thereof) or, in the case of a Term Loan, $1,000,000 (and integral multiples thereof), unless the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent otherwise consent (in each case, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing, (B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause (B) shall not be construed to prohibit assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans, (C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the First Lien Administrative Agent a First Lien Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent or, if previously agreed with the First Lien Administrative Agent, manually execute and deliver to the First Lien Administrative Agent a First Lien Assignment and Assumption, and, in each case, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that the First Lien Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may elect to waive or reduce such processing and recordation fee; provided further that any such First Lien Assignment and Assumption shall include a representation by the assignee that the assignee is not a Disqualified Lender or an Affiliate of a Disqualified Lender; provided further that assignments made pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or Section 9.02(c) shall not require the signature of the assigning Lender to become effective, (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the First Lien Administrative Agent any tax forms required by Section 2.17(e), all KYC documentation and an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain Material Non-Public Information about the Borrower, the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws and (E) unless the Borrower otherwise consents, no assignment of all or any portion of the Revolving Commitment of a Lender that is also an Issuing Bank may be made unless (1) the assignee shall be or becomes an Issuing Bank, as applicable, and assume a ratable portion of the rights and obligations of such assignor in its capacity as Issuing Bank, or (2) the assignor agrees, in its discretion, to retain all of its rights with respect to and obligations to issue Letters of Credit, as applicable, hereunder in which case the Applicable Fronting Exposure of such assignor may exceed such assignor’s Revolving Commitment for purposes of Section 2.05(b) by an amount not to exceed the difference between the assignor’s Revolving Commitment prior to such assignment and the assignor’s Revolving Commitment following such assignment; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of this Section 9.04, from and after the effective date specified in each First Lien Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such First Lien Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the

 

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assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such First Lien Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of a First Lien Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of (and subject to the obligations and limitations of) Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and to any fees payable hereunder that have accrued for such Lender’s account but have not yet been paid). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c)(i) of this Section 9.04.

(iv) The First Lien Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each First Lien Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal and interest amounts of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the First Lien Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender, nor shall the First Lien Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of the Loans or First Lien Incremental Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and Holdings, the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Banks and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed First Lien Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire, all KYC documentation and any tax forms required by Section 2.17(e) (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.04 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.04, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall accept such First Lien Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(vi) The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature” and words of like import in any First Lien Assignment and Assumption 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.

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to one or more banks or other Persons (other than to a Person that is not an Eligible Assignee) (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) Holdings, the Borrower, the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights

 

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and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and any other First Lien Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and any other First Lien Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the obligations and limitations thereof and Section 2.19, it being understood that any tax forms required by Section 2.17(e) shall be provided solely to the participating Lender) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 9.04. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.

(ii) 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 related interest amounts) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “ Participant Register ”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the parties hereto 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. No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of its Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or other obligations under the First Lien Loan Documents) except to the extent that the relevant parties, acting reasonably and in good faith, determine that such disclosure is necessary in connection with a Tax audit or other proceeding to establish that any Loan or other obligation under the First Lien Loan Documents is in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(iii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the First Lien Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other “central” bank, and this Section 9.04 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest, provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e) 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 First Lien 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 First Lien 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 First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as

 

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appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. 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.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Affiliated Lender subject to the following limitations:

(i) Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender and will not be permitted to attend or participate in meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the First Lien Administrative Agent, other than the right to receives notices of Borrowings, notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II;

(ii) for purposes of any amendment, waiver or modification of any First Lien Loan Document (including such modifications pursuant to Section 9.02), or, subject to Section 9.02(e), any plan of reorganization pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, that in either case does not require the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender or does not adversely affect such Affiliated Lender in any material respect as compared to other Lenders, or that would deprive such Affiliated Lender of its pro rata share of any payments to which it is entitled, Affiliated Lenders will be deemed to have voted in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders voting on such matter; and each Affiliated Lender hereby acknowledges, agrees and consents that if, for any reason, its vote to accept or reject any plan pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code is not deemed to have been so voted, then such vote will be (x) deemed not to be in good faith and (y) “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code such that the vote is not counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; provided that Affiliated Debt Funds will not be subject to such voting limitations and will be entitled to vote as any other Lender; provided further that Affiliated Debt Funds may not account for more than 49.9% of the “Required Lenders” in any Required Lender vote under the Loans;

(iii) Affiliated Lenders may not purchase Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans, including pursuant to this Section 9.04;

(iv) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans purchased by assignment pursuant to this Section 9.04 and held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) may not exceed 25.0% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans outstanding at the time of such purchase, after giving effect to any substantially simultaneous cancellations thereof;

(v) Affiliated Lenders shall clearly identify themselves as an Affiliated Lender in the loan assignment documentation. In no event shall the First Lien Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any lender is an Affiliated Lender or Affiliated Debt Fund nor shall the First Lien Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the number of Affiliated Lenders or Affiliated Debt Funds or the aggregate amount of Term Loans or First Lien Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders or Affiliated Debt Funds;

 

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(vi) Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) will not be permitted to vote on matters requiring a Required Lender vote, and the Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) shall be disregarded in determining (x) other Lenders’ commitment percentages and (y) matters submitted to Lenders for consideration that do not require the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender or do not adversely affect such Affiliated Lender in any material respect as compared to other Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders; provided that the commitments of any Affiliated Lender shall not be increased, the Interest Payment Dates and the dates of any scheduled amortization payments (including at maturity) owed to any Affiliated Lender hereunder will not be extended and the amounts owning to any Affiliated Lender hereunder will not be reduced without the consent of such Affiliated Lender; and

(vii) each Lender making such assignment to such Affiliated Lender acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such assignment, (1) such Affiliated Lender then may have, and later may come into possession of Material Non-Public Information, (2) such Lender has independently and, without reliance on Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent or any of their respective Affiliates, made its own analysis and determination to enter into such assignment notwithstanding such Lender’s lack of knowledge of the Material Non-Public Information and (3) none of Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent, or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such Lender, and such Lender hereby waives and releases, to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law, any claims such Lender may have against Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent, and their respective Affiliates, under applicable laws or otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Material Non-Public Information. Each Lender entering into such an assignment further acknowledges that the Material Non-Public Information may not be available to the First Lien Administrative Agent or the other Lenders.

(g) Any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its Term Loans (but not Revolving Loans) to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, through (x) Dutch auctions or other offers to purchase open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.11(a)(ii) or other customary procedures acceptable to the First Lien Administrative Agent and/or (y) open market purchases on a non-pro rata basis, provided that (i) the Borrower shall not make any Borrowing of Revolving Loans to fund such assignment, (ii) any Term Loans that are so assigned will be automatically and irrevocably cancelled and the aggregate principal amount of the tranches and installments of the relevant Term Loans then outstanding shall be reduced by an amount equal to the principal amount of such Term Loans, (iii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iv) each Lender making such assignment to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such assignment, (1) Holdings or its Subsidiaries then may have, and later may come into possession of Material Non-Public Information, (2) such Lender has independently and, without reliance on Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent or any of their respective Affiliates, made its own analysis and determination to enter into such assignment notwithstanding such Lender’s lack of knowledge of the Material Non-Public Information and (3) none of Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent, or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such Lender, and such Lender hereby waives and releases, to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law, any claims such Lender may have against Holdings, its Subsidiaries, the First Lien Administrative Agent, and their respective Affiliates, under applicable laws or otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Material Non-Public Information. Each Lender entering into such an assignment further acknowledges that the Material Non-Public Information may not be available to the First Lien Administrative Agent or the other Lenders.

 

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(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignment may be made or participation sold to a Disqualified Lender without the prior written consent of the Borrower; provided that, upon inquiry by any Lender to the First Lien Administrative Agent as to whether a specified potential assignee or prospective participant is on the list of Disqualified Lenders, the First Lien Administrative Agent shall be permitted to disclose to such Lender whether such specific potential assignee or prospective participant is on the list of Disqualified Lenders; provided further that inclusion on the list of Disqualified Lenders shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation in the Loan if such person was not included on the list of Disqualified Lenders at the time of such assignment or participation. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document to the contrary, if any Lender was a Disqualified Lender at the time of the assignment of any Loans or Commitments to such Lender, following written notice from the Borrower to such Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent: (1) such Lender shall promptly assign all Loans and Commitments held by such Lender to an Eligible Assignee; provided that (A) the First Lien Administrative Agent shall not have any obligation to the Borrower, such Lender or any other Person to find such a replacement Lender, (B) the Borrower shall not have any obligation to such Disqualified Lender or any other Person to find such a replacement Lender or accept or consent to any such assignment to itself or any other Person subject to the Borrower’s consent in accordance with Section 9.04(b)(i) and (C) the assignment of such Loans and/or Commitments, as the case may be, shall be at par plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees; (2) such Lender shall not have any voting or approval rights under the First Lien Loan Documents and shall be excluded in determining whether all Lenders (or all Lenders of any Class), all affected Lenders (or all affected Lenders of any Class), a Majority in Interest of Lenders of any Class or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to this Section 9.02); provided that (x) the Commitment of any Disqualified Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that affects any Disqualified Lender adversely and in a manner that is disproportionate to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Disqualified Lender; and (3) no Disqualified Lender is entitled to receive information provided solely to Lenders by the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender or will be permitted to attend or participate in meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the First Lien Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices or Borrowings, notices or prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II.

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Affiliated Lender shall be permitted, at its option, to contribute any Term Loans so assigned to such Affiliated Lender pursuant to this Section 9.04 to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of cancellation, which contribution may be made (including, with the Borrower’s consent, to the Borrower, whether through Holdings or any Intermediate Parent or otherwise), in exchange for Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings, any Intermediate Parent or the Borrower or Indebtedness of the Borrower to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01 at such time.

SECTION 9.05 Survival .

All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the First Lien Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to any First Lien Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the First Lien Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive

 

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and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in the event that, in connection with the refinancing or repayment in full of the credit facilities provided for herein, an Issuing Bank shall have provided to the First Lien Administrative Agent a written consent to the release of the Revolving Lenders from their obligations hereunder with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (whether as a result of the obligations of the Borrower (and any other account party) in respect of such Letter of Credit having been collateralized in full by a deposit of cash with such Issuing Bank or being supported by a letter of credit that names such Issuing Bank as the beneficiary thereunder, or otherwise), then from and after such time such Letter of Credit shall cease to be a “Letter of Credit” outstanding hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents, and the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have no participations in such Letter of Credit, and no obligations with respect thereto, under Section 2.05(e) or (f).

SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other First Lien Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the First Lien Administrative Agent or the syndication of the Loans and Commitments constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the First Lien Administrative Agent and when the First Lien Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.07 Severability .

Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.07, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the First Lien Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff .

If an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Settlement Assets except to effect Settlement

 

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Payments such Lender is obligated to make to a third party in respect of such Settlement Assets or as otherwise agreed in writing between the Borrower and such Lender) against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower then due and owing under this Agreement held by such Lender or Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or Issuing Bank different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the First Lien Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.22 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the First Lien Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the First Lien Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The applicable Lender and applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower and the First Lien Administrative Agent of such setoff and application; provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff and application under this Section. The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank may have. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amount set off from any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party (other than the Borrower).

SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process .

(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive 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 any First Lien Loan Document, 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 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 any First Lien Loan Document shall affect any right that the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to any First Lien Loan Document against Holdings or the Borrower or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any First Lien Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.09. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in any First Lien Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

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SECTION 9.10 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 ANY FIRST LIEN LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.10.

SECTION 9.11 Headings .

Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.12 Confidentiality .

Each of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, trustees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other agents and advisors and any numbering, administration or settlement service providers (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and any failure of such Persons acting on behalf of the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the relevant Lender to comply with this Section 9.12 shall constitute a breach of this Section 9.12 by the First Lien Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the relevant Lender, as applicable), (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or self-regulatory authority, required by applicable law or by any subpoena or similar legal process or in connection with the exercise of remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder; provided that (x) solely to the extent permitted by law and other than in connection with routine audits and reviews by regulatory and self-regulatory authorities, each Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower as promptly as practicable of any such requested or required disclosure in connection with any legal or regulatory proceeding and (y) in the case of clause (ii) only, each Lender and the First Lien Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that such Information is kept confidential in connection with the exercise of such remedies, and provided further that in no event shall any Lender or the First Lien Administrative Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Holdings, (iii) to any other party to this Agreement, (iv) subject to a written agreement containing confidentiality undertakings substantially similar to those of this Section 9.12, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Swap Agreement or derivative transaction relating to any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries and its obligations under the First Lien Loan Documents or (C) any pledgee referred to in Section 9.04(d), (v) if required by any rating agency; provided that prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall have agreed in writing to maintain the confidentiality of such Information, (vi) to service providers providing administrative and ministerial services solely in connection with the syndication and administration of the First Lien Loan Documents and the facilities (e.g., identities of parties, maturity dates, interest rates, etc.) on a confidential

 

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basis, or (vii) (x) to a Person that is an investor or prospective investor in a securitization or other financing, separate account or commingled fund so long such investor or prospective investor agrees that its access to information regarding the Loan Parties and the Loans and Commitments is solely for purposes of evaluating an investment in such securitization or other financing, separate account or commingled fund and who agrees to treat such information as confidential or (y) to a Person that is a trustee, collateral agent, collateral manager, servicer, noteholder, equityholder or secured party in a securitization in connection with the administration, servicing and evaluation of, and reporting on, the assets serving as collateral for such securitization, or (viii) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.12 or (y) becomes available to the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, which source is not known by the recipient of such information to be subject to a confidentiality obligation. For the purposes hereof, “Information” means all information received from or on behalf of Holdings or the Borrower relating to Holdings, the Borrower, any other Subsidiary or their business, other than any such information that is available to the First Lien Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Effective Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 9.12 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such information shall be disclosed to a Disqualified Lender that constitutes a Disqualified Lender at the time of such disclosure without the Borrower’s prior written consent.

(a) EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12(a)) FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

(b) ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE FIRST LIEN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT, WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE FIRST LIEN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

SECTION 9.13 USA PATRIOT Act .

Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the First Lien Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the First Lien Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

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SECTION 9.14 Release of Liens and Guarantees .

(a) A Subsidiary Loan Party shall automatically be released from its obligations under the First Lien Loan Documents, and all security interests created by the First Lien Security Documents in Collateral owned by such Subsidiary Loan Party shall be automatically released, (1) upon the consummation of any transaction or designation permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary (including pursuant to a permitted merger with a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or a designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary or (2) upon the request of the Borrower, in connection with a transaction permitted under this Agreement, as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise. Upon any sale or other transfer by any Loan Party (other than to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party) of any Collateral in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest created under any Security Document in any Collateral, the security interests in such Collateral created by the First Lien Security Documents shall be automatically released. Upon the release of Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party from its Guarantee in compliance with this Agreement, the security interest in any Collateral owned by Holdings or such Subsidiary created by the First Lien Security Documents shall be automatically released. Upon the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Agreement, the security interest created by the First Lien Security Documents in the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary shall automatically be released. Upon termination of the aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (including as a result of obtaining the consent of the applicable Issuing Bank as described in Section 9.05 of this Agreement), all obligations under the First Lien Loan Documents and all security interests created by the First Lien Security Documents shall be automatically released. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 9.14, the First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release so long as the Borrower or applicable Loan Party shall have provided the First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, such certifications or documents as the First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall reasonably request in order to demonstrate compliance with this Agreement.

(b) The First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to subordinate its Lien on any property granted to or held by the First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under any First Lien Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(iv).

(c) Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank irrevocably authorizes the First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to provide any release or evidence of release, termination or subordination contemplated by this Section 9.14. Upon request by the First Lien Administrative Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent, as the case may be, at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the First Lien Administrative Agent’s authority or the First Lien Collateral Agent’s authority, as the case may be, to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under any First Lien Loan Document, in each case in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Loan Documents and this Section 9.14.

 

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SECTION 9.15 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other First Lien Loan Document), each of the Borrower and Holdings acknowledges and agrees that (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and Holdings has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Borrower and Holdings is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other First Lien Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, Holdings, any of their respective Affiliates or any other Person and (B) none of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other First Lien Loan Documents; and (iii) the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, and none of the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and Holdings hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the First Lien Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Bookrunner, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

SECTION 9.16 Interest Rate Limitation .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any First Lien Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the First Lien Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If the First Lien Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged or received by the First Lien Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the obligations hereunder.

SECTION 9.17 Intercreditor Agreement . Each Secured Party hereby agrees that the First Lien Administrative Agent and/or First Lien Collateral Agent may enter into any Intercreditor Agreement and/or subordination agreement pursuant to, or contemplated by, the terms of this Agreement (including with respect to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section  6.01 and defined terms referenced therein) on its behalf and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof and, in each case, consents and agrees to the appointment of Owl Rock (or its affiliated designee, representative or agent) on its behalf as collateral agent, respectively, thereunder.

 

-176-


[R EMAINDER OF P AGE I NTENTIONALLY L EFT B LANK ]

 

-177-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC, as Holdings
By:  

/s/ Robert Roosa

Name: Robert Roosa
Title:   President
BRIGHAM MINERALS, LLC, as Borrower
By:  

/s/ Blake Williams

Name: Blake Williams
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signate Page to First Lien Credit Agreement]


OWL ROCK CAPITAL CORPORATION, as First Lien Administrative Agent and First Lien Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Alan Kirshenbaum

Name: Alan Kirshenbaum
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signate Page to First Lien Credit Agreement]


OWL ROCK CAPITAL CORPORATION, as a Lender and Issuing Bank
By:  

/s/ Alan Kirshenbaum

Name: Alan Kirshenbaum
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signate Page to First Lien Credit Agreement]

Exhibit 10.5

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

This Contribution Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered as of July 16, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”) by and among:

(i) Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Super Splitter ”);

(ii) Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Super Blocker ”);

(iii) Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Brigham Private Equity ”);

(iv) Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WP XI Professionals Brigham Blocker ”);

(v) Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham) LLC, a Delaware limited liability partners (the “ WPE Main Brigham Blocker ”);

(vi) WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WPE FAF Brigham Blocker ”); and

(vii) Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WPE Professionals Brigham Blocker ” and together with Brigham Private Equity, the WP XI Professionals Brigham Blocker, the WPE Main Brigham Blocker and the WPE FAF Brigham Blocker, the “ Brigham Blockers ”). For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Brigham Blockers are parties hereto solely with respect to its consent of to the withdrawal of the Super Splitter as member and the admission of the Super Blocker as member.

The Super Splitter, the Super Blocker and the Brigham Blockers are sometimes hereinafter referred to each as a “ Party ” and are collectively referred to as the “ Parties .” Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable LLC Agreements (as defined below).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, following the WP XI Non-Professionals Funds Super Splitter Contribution and the WP XI Professionals Fund Super Splitter Contribution (each as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of WP Brigham Holdings II, L.P.) and the WPE Non-Professionals Funds Super Splitter Contribution and the WPE Professionals Fund Super Splitter Contribution (each as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of WP Energy Brigham Holdings II, L.P.), the Super Splitter is the sole member of each of the Brigham Blockers, and as such, is a party to the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreements of each of the Brigham Blockers (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together, the “ LLC Agreements ”);


WHEREAS, as the sole member of each of the Brigham Blockers, the Super Splitter holds, as of the date hereof, all of the membership interests in the Brigham Blockers (the “ Membership Interests ”);

WHEREAS, the Super Splitter desires to contribute all of the Membership Interests to the Super Blocker in exchange for all of the shares of common stock in the Super Blocker (such contribution, the “ Contribution ”) and the Super Blocker desires to accept all of the Membership Interests being contributed upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, concurrent with the Contribution, the Super Blocker will be admitted as a member of each of the Brigham Blockers in respect of the Membership Interests being contributed hereunder; and

WHEREAS, immediately following such admission, Super Splitter will withdraw from each of the Brigham Blockers as a member and will become the sole shareholder of the Super Blocker.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1.

Contribution .

 

  (a)

The Super Splitter hereby contributes, assigns, transfers, conveys and delivers to the Super Blocker, Super Splitter’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Membership Interests (such Membership Interests being transferred to the Super Blocker, the “ Transferred Membership Interests ”), free and clear of all Liens, other than (x) generally applicable restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by state or federal securities laws or (y) any transfer restrictions contained in the applicable LLC Agreements, which, in the case of this clause (y), do not prevent or inhibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Super Blocker hereby accepts the contribution of the Transferred Membership Interests from the Super Splitter and agrees to be subject to all of the rights and obligations of the Super Splitter as a member of the Brigham Blockers for all purposes under the applicable LLC Agreements with respect to the Transferred Membership Interests in the Brigham Blockers and any other related agreements to which the Super Splitter was a party with respect to and to the extent of the Transferred Membership Interests.

 

  (c)

In consideration of, and concurrently with, the contribution contemplated herein, (i) each Brigham Blocker will admit the Super Blocker as a member and permit the withdrawal of the Super Splitter and (ii) the Super Blocker will issue to the Super Splitter 1,000 shares of its common stock representing all of its issued and outstanding shares and the Super Splitter will hold all such shares and will become the sole shareholder of the Super Blocker.

 

2


2.

Tax Treatment . The Parties intend that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the contribution of the Transferred Membership Interests to the Super Blocker be treated as a contribution to a corporation described in Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), pursuant to which neither the Super Splitter nor its direct or indirect owners are required to recognize gain (including pursuant to Section 897 of the Code). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Parties shall (i) file all Tax returns consistent with the preceding sentence, and (ii) not take any position for U.S. federal income tax purposes inconsistent with the preceding sentence.

 

3.

Representations and Warranties .

 

  (a)

The Super Splitter hereby represents and warrants to the Super Blocker as of the Effective Date as follows:

(i) (A) the Super Splitter is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (B) the Super Splitter has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and the execution, delivery, and performance by the Super Splitter of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action, (C) this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Super Splitter and constitutes the binding obligation of the Super Splitter enforceable against the Super Splitter in accordance with its terms, (D) the execution, delivery, and performance by the Super Splitter of this instrument will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, (x) violate any provision of law to which the Super Splitter is subject, (y) violate any order, judgment, or decree applicable to the Super Splitter, or (z) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of its organizational documents, and (E) there are no consents or other restrictions on assignment that would be applicable in connection with the transfer of the Transferred Membership Interests or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Super Splitter that have not been obtained or waived;

(ii) the Transferred Membership Interests are being contributed, transferred, assigned and conveyed to the Super Blocker free and clear of all Liens (other than (x) any generally applicable restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by state or federal securities laws and (y) any transfer restrictions contained in the applicable LLC Agreements, which, in the case of this clause (y), do not prevent or inhibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement); and

(iii) each of the Brigham Blockers (A) is, and as of the IPO Date will be, the holder of membership interests of Brigham Resources, LLC (“ Brigham LLC ” and such membership interests, “ Brigham LLC Units ”) and such Brigham Blocker does not have any assets other than such Brigham LLC Units and cash, (B) has, and as of the IPO Date will have, no material liabilities or obligations of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, other than liabilities for Taxes related to its investment in and ownership of Brigham LLC Units which have not yet become due and payable, and (C) has not, since its formation, engaged, and as of the IPO Date will not have engaged, in any activity other than the direct or indirect investment in and beneficial ownership of Brigham LLC Units and related assets and activities.

 

3


  (b)

The Super Blocker hereby represents and warrants to the Super Splitter and the Brigham Blockers that: (i) the Super Blocker is duly formed under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (ii) the Super Blocker has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and the execution, delivery, and performance by the Super Blocker of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action, (iii) this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Super Blocker and constitutes the binding obligation of the Super Blocker enforceable against the Super Blocker accordance with its terms, (iv) the execution, delivery, and performance by the Super Blocker of this Agreement will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, (x) violate any provision of law to which the Super Blocker is subject, (y) violate any order, judgment, or decree applicable to the Super Blocker, or (z) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of its organizational documents, (v) there are no consents or other restrictions on assignment that would be applicable in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Super Blocker that have not been obtained or waived, and (vi) the Super Blocker is acquiring the Transferred Membership Interests for its own account, for investment purposes, and not with a view to or in connection with the resale or other distribution of any portion of the Transferred Membership Interests.

 

4.

Certain Defined Terms .

 

  (a)

IPO Issuer ” has the meaning set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Resources, LLC, dated May 8, 2015.

 

  (b)

Lien ” means any lien, pledge, condemnation award, claim, restriction, charge, preferential purchase right, security interest, mortgage or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever, including as a statutory landlord lien.

 

  (c)

Qualified Public Offering ” has the meaning set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Resources, LLC, dated May 8, 2015.

 

  (d)

Taxes ” means (i) any taxes, assessments, and other governmental charges imposed by any taxing authority, including income, profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative or add on minimum, ad valorem, value added, turnover, sales, use, property, personal property (tangible and intangible), stamp, leasing, lease, user, excise, duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, registration, license, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, payroll, employment, social contributions, fuel, excess profits, occupational, premium, windfall profit, severance or estimated tax, assessment or charge, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto or with respect to the filing (or failure to file) any return with

 

4


  respect thereto, whether disputed or not; and (ii) any liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (i) as a result of being a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or similar group with respect to any Taxes.

 

  (e)

For the avoidance of doubt, terms defined in the singular have the corresponding meanings in the plural and vice versa.

 

5.

Indemnification and Covenants upon Certain Liquidity Events .

 

  (a)

If any Qualified Public Offering in which the Super Blocker is the IPO Issuer is consummated, then, following the consummation of such Qualified Public Offering, Super Splitter shall promptly indemnify, reimburse and defend in full and hold harmless the Super Blocker, the Brigham Blockers and Brigham LLC (collectively, the “ Brigham Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any and all Taxes of the Super Blocker or any Brigham Blocker for any period or portion of a period ending on or before the date of the consummation of such Qualified Public Offering (the “ IPO Date ”), except to the extent such Taxes arise from any action or inaction taken by the Super Blocker or its subsidiaries outside of the ordinary course of business after the Qualified Public Offering on the IPO Date. The Super Splitter shall promptly tender to the relevant Brigham Indemnified Party cash equal to the amount of any such Losses.

 

  (b)

For purposes of Section  5(a) , in the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to any Tax period beginning on or before and ending after the IPO Date (a “ Straddle Period ”), the portion of any such Taxes that is attributable to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the IPO Date shall be: (a) in the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis with respect to the assets or capital of the Super Blocker or any Brigham Blocker, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire Straddle Period (or, in the case of such Taxes determined on an arrears basis, the amount of such Taxes for the immediately preceding period), multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the portion of the period ending on and including the IPO Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire period; and (b) in the case of all other Taxes, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the relevant Straddle Period of the Super Blocker, each Brigham Blocker and their subsidiaries (and any partnership in which such person is a partner) ended on and included the IPO Date; provided that exemptions, allowances, or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis (including depreciation and amortization deductions) will be allocated between the portion of the Straddle Period ending on and including the IPO Date and the portion of the Straddle Period beginning after the IPO Date in proportion to the number of days in each period.

 

  (c)

The obligations pursuant to this Section  5 shall survive the Effective Date until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.

 

5


6.

General Provisions .

 

  (a)

Binding Effect . This Agreement will be binding upon, and will inure to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns and legal representatives.

 

  (b)

Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction .

 

  i.

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

 

  ii.

The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Courts located in Wilmington, Delaware, or, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court of the United States or other Delaware state court located in Wilmington, Delaware, and appropriate appellate courts therefrom, over any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (except as otherwise expressly provided in any other agreement), and each party hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such dispute may be heard and determined in such courts. The Parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby brought in such courts or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the Parties agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. This consent to jurisdiction is being given solely for purposes of this Agreement and is not intended to, and shall not, confer consent to jurisdiction with respect to any other dispute in which a Party may become involved.

 

  iii.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

 

  (c)

Amendment or Modification . This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except by an instrument in writing signed by all of the Parties.

 

  (d)

Further Assurances . From time to time after the date hereof, and without any further consideration, the Parties agree to, and to cause their affiliates to, execute and deliver such additional instruments and documents, and do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable laws, as may be reasonably necessary to give effect to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6


  (e)

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is for any reason and to any extent invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to the other persons or circumstances will not be affected thereby, but rather are to be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

 

  (f)

Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with the Partnership Agreement and the LLC Agreements, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, expressions of interest and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Parties or between any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

  (g)

Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery of this Agreement by exchange of facsimile or other electronically transmitted counterparts bearing the signature of a Party shall be equally as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart by such Party.

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first above written.

 

BRIGHAM PARENT HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI, LLC, its sole member
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ David Sreter
Name:   David Sreter
Title:   Authorized Signatory
BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.
By:   /s/ Blake Williams
Name:   Blake Williams
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

S IGNATURE PAGE TO C ONTRIBUTION A GREEMENT (S TEP 6)


BRIGHAM BLOCKERS:
Solely with respect to its consent of to the withdrawal of the Super Splitter as member and the admission of the Super Blocker as member:
WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XI (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:   Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI, LLC, its sole member
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ David Sreter
Name:   David Sreter

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

S IGNATURE PAGE TO C ONTRIBUTION A GREEMENT (S TEP 6)


WARBURG PINCUS XI (E&P) PARTNERS–B (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:   Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI, LLC, its sole member
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

By:

  Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ David Sreter
Name:   David Sreter

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P) (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:   Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI, LLC, its sole member
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

By:

  Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ David Sreter
Name:   David Sreter

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

S IGNATURE PAGE TO C ONTRIBUTION A GREEMENT (S TEP 6)


WP ENERGY PARTNERS (E&P) (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:   Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI, LLC, its sole member
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

By:

  Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ David Sreter
Name:   David Sreter

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P) PARTNERS-B (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:   Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., its managing member
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI, LLC, its sole member
By:   Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

By:

  Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ David Sreter
Name:   David Sreter

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

S IGNATURE PAGE TO C ONTRIBUTION A GREEMENT (S TEP 6)

Exhibit 21.1

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

List of Subsidiaries

 

Name

   Jurisdiction of Organization
Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC    Delaware
Brigham Resources, LLC    Delaware
Brigham Resources Management Holdings, Inc.    Delaware
Brigham Resources Management, LLC    Delaware
Brigham Minerals, LLC    Delaware
Rearden Minerals, LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC    Delaware

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Brigham Minerals, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports dated March 18, 2019 with respect to the balance sheets of Brigham Minerals, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

LOGO

Dallas, Texas

March 18, 2019

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Managers

Brigham Resources, LLC.:

We consent to the use of our reports dated March 18, 2019 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Brigham Resources, LLC as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, members’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements) included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

LOGO

Dallas, Texas

March 18, 2019

Exhibit 23.3

C AWLEY , G ILLESPIE  & A SSOCIATES , I NC .

P ETROLEUM C ONSULTANTS

 

13640 BRIARWICK DRIVE, SUITE 100   306 WEST SEVENTH STREET, SUITE 302   1000 LOUISIANA STREET, SUITE 1900
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78729-1107   FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-4987   HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5008
512-249-7000   817- 336-2461   713-651-9944
  www.cgaus.com  

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

We hereby consent to the references to our firm in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Brigham Minerals, Inc. (the “Registration Statement”) and to the use of information from, and the inclusion of, our report dated January 30, 2019 and February 16, 2018 of Brigham Minerals, LLC’s oil, natural gas and NGL reserves estimates and forecasts of economics as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We also consent to all references to us contained in such Registration Statement, including in the prospectus under the heading “Experts”.

 

CAWLEY, GILLESPIE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Texas Registered Engineering Firm
/s/ W. Todd Brooker, P.E.
W. Todd Brooker, P.E.
President

Houston, Texas

March 18, 2019

Exhibit 99.1

C AWLEY , G ILLESPIE  & A SSOCIATES , I NC .

PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

13640 BRIARWICK DRIVE, SUITE 100   306 WEST SEVENTH STREET, SUITE 302   1000 LOUISIANA STREET, SUITE 1900
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78729-1107   FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-4987   HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5008
512-249-7000   817- 336-2461   713-651-9944
  www.cgaus.com  

January 30, 2019

Mr. Hal Hogsett

Brigham Minerals, LLC

5914 W. Courtyard Dr., II Ste 200

Austin, Texas 78730

 

  Re:   Audit Summary
    Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests
    Various Oil & Gas Properties in CO, WY,
    OK, MT, ND, TX, NM and PA
    As of December 31, 2018
    Pursuant to the Guidelines of the
    Securities and Exchange Commission for
    Reporting Corporate Reserves and
    Future Net Revenue

Dear Mr. Hogsett:

As requested, this letter was prepared on January 30, 2019 for Brigham Minerals, LLC (“Brigham”) for the purpose of submitting our audit of your total proved, probable and possible reserves and forecasts of economics attributable to the above-captioned interests. We audited 100% of Brigham reserves, which are made up of certain Anadarko, Appalachian, Delaware, Denver-Julesburg (“DJ”), Midland and Williston Basin oil and gas properties located in the following states: Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Montana, North Dakota, Texas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. This audit, effective December 31, 2018 and completed January 30, 2019, was prepared for the purpose of public disclosure by Brigham Minerals, LLC in filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in accordance with the disclosure requirements set forth in SEC regulations. This evaluation was prepared using constant prices and costs, and conforms to Item 1202(a)(8) of Regulation S-K and other rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A composite summary of the values prepared by Brigham by reserve category is presented below:

 

            Proved
Developed
Producing
     Proved
Developed
Non-Prod
     Proved
Undeveloped
     Total
Proved
     Probable
Undeveloped
     Possible
Undeveloped
 

Net Reserves

                    

Oil

     - Mbbl        3,236.8        2,830.5        6,923.4        12,990.8        14,853.6        10,302.1  

Gas

     - MMcf        12,799.7        8,935.2        30,061.6        51,796.5        66,681.7        29,774.5  

NGL

     - Mbbl        905.6        991.9        3,219.9        5,117.5        7,560.3        3,544.7  

MBOE/6

     - Mbbl        6,275.7        5,311.6        15,153.6        26,741.1        33,527.5        18,809.2  

Future Revenue

                    

Oil

     - M$        197,990.8        173,698.3        424,785.5        796,474.7        915,438.3        623,850.8  

Gas

     - M$        31,273.7        21,894.4        76,779.1        129,947.1        171,576.5        70,407.2  

NGL

     - M$        21,583.7        23,875.4        77,260.3        122,719.4        182,788.2        86,228.2  

Severance Taxes

     - M$        15,202.8        12,666.1        33,144.3        61,013.2        71,132.5        41,589.7  

Ad Valorem Taxes

     - M$        2,295.2        1,984.6        4,955.1        9,235.0        11,961.5        7,781.3  

Operating Expenses

     - M$        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

Other Deductions

     - M$        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

Investments

     - M$        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

Future Net Cash Flow

     - M$        233,350.3        204,817.3        540,725.4        978,892.9        1,186,708.6        731,115.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Discounted @ 10% (Present Worth)

     - M$        132,230.9        124,696.0        262,566.0        519,492.7        350,763.8        126,168.5  


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

January 30, 2019

Page 2

 

Proved Developed (“PD”) reserves are the summation of the Proved Developed Producing (“PDP”) and Proved Developed Non-Producing (“PDNP”) reserve estimates. Proved Developed reserves were estimated at 6,067.3 Mbbl oil, 21,734.9 MMcf gas and 1,897.5 Mbbl NGLs (or 11,587.3 MBOE/6). Of the Proved Developed reserves, 6,275.7 MBOE/6 were attributed to producing zones in existing wells and 5,311.6 MBOE/6 were attributed to zones in existing wells not producing. Probable Undeveloped (“PROB”) and Possible Undeveloped (“POSS”) reserves and values are shown in the prior table and represent 100% of the Probable and Possible reserves reported herein, as no Probable Developed or Possible Developed reserves were audited in this report.

Future revenue was calculated prior to deducting state production taxes and ad valorem taxes; however, future net cash flow was calculated after deducting these taxes, future capital costs and operating expenses, but before federal income taxes. Future net cash flow has been discounted at an annual rate of ten (10) percent, in accordance with SEC guidelines, to determine its “present worth”. Present worth indicates the time value of money and should not be construed to represent an estimate of the fair market value of the properties.

The oil reserves include oil and condensate. Oil and NGL volumes are expressed in barrels (42 U.S. gallons). Gas volumes are expressed in thousands of standard cubic feet (Mcf) at contract temperature and pressure base. BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) is expressed as oil and NGL volumes in barrels plus gas volumes in Mcf divided by six (6) to convert to barrels.

Hydrocarbon Pricing

The base SEC oil and gas prices calculated for December 31, 2018 were $65.66 per bbl and $3.12 per MMBtu respectively. As specified by the SEC, a company must use a 12-month average price, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of each first-day-of-the-month price within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period. The base oil price is based upon WTI-Cushing spot prices (EIA) during 2018 and the base gas price is based upon Henry Hub spot prices (EIA) during 2018.

Adjustments to oil and gas prices were applied based upon calculations derived from regional averages or provided by Brigham. Oil price differentials may include adjustments for basis differential, transportation and/or crude quality corrections. Gas price differentials include adjustments for basis differential and the BTU heating value of the gas. Gas shrinkage includes compression and processing losses, flaring and contract allocations.

After these pricing adjustments, the net realized prices over the life of the proved properties was estimated to be $61.311 per bbl for oil, $2.509 per MCF for gas and $23.980 per bbl for NGLs. All economic factors were held constant in accordance with SEC guidelines.

Expenses, Taxes and Investments

Expenses: Routine lease operating expenses (“LOE”) were applied to all wells, and were derived from regional averages and operator assumptions. Although LOE is not paid by the mineral owner, it was applied in this evaluation to assist in proper economic limit determinations. Different LOE averages were applied to vertical and horizontal wells, although the vertical wells were not evaluated for this report. Expenses were not escalated in this report, as per SEC guidelines.

Taxes: Oil and gas severance taxes were applied based on the respective state guidelines. No oil or gas severance

taxes were applied in Pennsylvania. No ad valorem taxes are assessed by Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana or Pennsylvania.

Investments: Drilling and completion costs (“capital”) were estimated by lateral length, based on the drilling

unit acreage for each basin. Capital is not paid by the mineral owner and therefore not included in this evaluation. However, capital was used to assist in proper commerciality determinations of each new drill. Wells that did not meet minimum economic requirements were dropped from the analysis. Investments were not escalated in this report as per SEC guidelines.


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

January 30, 2019

Page 3

 

Reserve Estimation Methods

The methods employed in estimating reserves are industry standards and appropriate for this analysis. Reserves for proved developed producing wells were estimated using production performance methods for the vast majority of properties. Certain new producing properties with very little production history were forecast using a combination of production performance and analogy to similar production, both of which are considered to provide a relatively high degree of accuracy. Monthly production data from the various state commission web sites and other public data outlets were used in this evaluation, with data typically updated through October 2018.

Non-producing reserve estimates, for both developed and undeveloped properties, were forecast using either volumetric or analogy methods, or a combination of both. These methods provide a relatively high degree of accuracy for predicting proved developed non-producing and undeveloped reserves for Brigham’s properties, due to the mature nature of their properties targeted for development and an abundance of subsurface control data. The assumptions, data, methods and procedures used herein are appropriate for the purpose served by this report.

New drills on the Brigham acreage include planned (AFE’d) drills, wells currently drilling, permitted wells and/or wells expected to be drilled based on operator information or regional activity. For each new drill, a reserve category of PDNP, PUD, PROB, or POSS was assigned based upon the proximity to production and geologic control. Reserves for each location were assigned based on offset analogy to production, with preference given to modern completions.

The drill schedules for each basin were determined based on spud and completion rates, proximity to drilling rig activity, well status, well reserve category, and gross estimated reserves within each basin. First, known spud locations were developed in order of decreasing gross estimated reserves beginning October 1, 2018. The development schedule for spud locations begins before the effective date of this report in order to more appropriately estimate the turn-in-line rate of these locations. Second, undeveloped wells were scheduled in order of decreasing gross estimated reserves, with PUD properties scheduled first, followed by PROB and then POSS properties. The drill schedules applied for each basin were found to be reasonable and appropriate for the purposes of this report.

SEC Conformance and Regulations

The reserve classifications and the economic considerations used herein conform to the criteria of the SEC. The reserves and economics are predicated on regulatory agency classifications, rules, policies, laws, taxes and royalties currently in effect except as noted herein. The possible effects of changes in legislation or other Federal or State restrictive actions which could affect the reserves and economics have not been considered. However, we do not anticipate nor are we aware of any legislative changes or restrictive regulatory actions that may impact the recovery of reserves.

This audit includes 2,323 commercial proved undeveloped locations. Each of these drilling locations proposed as part of Brigham’s development plans conforms to the proved undeveloped standards as set forth by the SEC. In our opinion, the operators of these drills have indicated they have reasonably certain intent to complete this development plan within the next five (5) years. Furthermore, Brigham and the other operators have demonstrated through their actions that they have the proper company staffing, financial backing and prior development success to ensure this development plan will be fully executed.

General Discussion

The estimates and forecasts were based upon interpretations of data furnished by your office and available from our files. To some extent information from public records has been used to check and/or supplement these data. The basic engineering and geological data were subject to third party reservations and qualifications. Nothing has come to our attention, however, that would cause us to believe that we are not justified in relying on such data. All


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

January 30, 2019

Page 4

 

estimates represent our best judgment based on the data available at the time of preparation. Due to inherent uncertainties in future production rates, commodity prices and geologic conditions, it should be realized that the reserve estimates, the reserves actually recovered, the revenue derived therefrom and the actual cost incurred could be more or less than the estimated amounts.

An on-site field inspection of the properties has not been performed. The mechanical operation or condition of the wells and their related facilities have not been examined nor have the wells been tested by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. Possible environmental liability related to the properties has not been investigated nor considered. The cost of plugging and the salvage value of equipment at abandonment have not been included in this evaluation.

Conclusion

It should be understood that our audit and the development of our reserves forecasts do not constitute a complete reserve study of the oil and gas properties of Brigham. Furthermore, if in the course of our examination something came to our attention which brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any of such information or data, we did not rely on such information or data until we had satisfactorily resolved our questions relating thereto or independently verified such information or data.

Please be advised that, based upon the foregoing, in our opinion the above-described estimates of Brigham’s Total Proved, Probable and Possible reserves and discounted cash flows are, in the aggregate and independently, reasonable within (+ or -) 5%, which supersedes the established audit tolerance guidelines of (+ or -) 10%. Also, these estimates have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserve Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and as mandated by the SEC.

Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm (F-693), made up of independent registered professional engineers and geologists that have provided petroleum consulting services to the oil and gas industry for over 50 years. This evaluation was supervised by W. Todd Brooker, President at Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. and a State of Texas Licensed Professional Engineer (License #83462). We do not own an interest in the properties or Brigham Minerals, LLC and are not employed on a contingent basis. We have used all methods and procedures that we consider necessary under the circumstances to prepare this report. Our workpapers and related data utilized in the preparation of these estimates are available in our office.

 

Yours very truly,
CAWLEY, GILLESPIE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
T EXAS  R EGISTERED  E NGINEERING  F IRM  F-693

LOGO

W. Todd Brooker, P. E.

President

  LOGO
 

Exhibit 99.2

C AWLEY , G ILLESPIE  & A SSOCIATES , I NC .

PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

13640 BRIARWICK DRIVE, SUITE 100    306 WEST SEVENTH STREET, SUITE 302    1000 LOUISIANA STREET, SUITE 1900
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78729-1107    FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-4987    HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5008
512-249-7000    817- 336-2461    713-651-9944
   www.cgaus.com   

February 16, 2018

Mr. Hal Hogsett

Brigham Minerals, LLC

5914 W. Courtyard Dr., II Ste 200

Austin, Texas 78730

 

  

Re:  Evaluation Summary

Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

Various Oil & Gas Properties in CO, WY,

OK, MT, ND, TX, NM and PA

As of December 31, 2017

 

Pursuant to the Guidelines of the

Securities and Exchange Commission for

Reporting Corporate Reserves and

Future Net Revenue

Dear Mr. Hogsett:

As requested, this report was prepared on February 16, 2018 for Brigham Minerals, LLC (“Brigham”) for the purpose of submitting our estimates of total proved, probable and possible reserves and forecasts of economics attributable to the above-captioned interests. We evaluated 100% of Brigham reserves, which are made up of certain Anadarko, Appalachian, Delaware, Denver-Julesburg (“DJ”), Midland and Williston Basin oil and gas properties located in the following states: Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Montana, North Dakota, Texas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. This evaluation, effective December 31, 2017, was prepared for the purpose of public disclosure by Brigham Minerals, LLC in filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in accordance with the disclosure requirements set forth in SEC regulations. This evaluation was prepared using constant prices and costs, and conforms to Item 1202(a)(8) of Regulation S-K and other rules of the SEC. A composite summary of the values by reserve category is presented below:

 

            Proved      Proved                              
            Developed      Developed      Proved      Total      Probable      Possible  
            Producing      Non-Prod      Undeveloped      Proved      Undeveloped      Undeveloped  

Net Reserves

                    

Oil

     - Mbbl        1,840.3        963.8        5,919.7        8,723.8        11,882.0        7,425.6  

Gas

     - MMcf        9,139.0        3,889.5        25,373.4        38,401.8        47,658.6        21,846.5  

NGL

     - Mbbl        687.4        497.6        2,795.0        3,980.0        5,653.9        2,738.4  

Future Revenue

                    

Oil

     - M$        87,435.7        45,310.3        284,216.2        416,962.1        570,829.4        356,124.3  

Gas

     - M$        24,743.2        10,692.7        69,620.0        105,055.9        133,494.1        60,195.7  

NGL

     - M$        12,446.9        9,689.7        51,718.9        73,855.4        107,654.0        51,215.8  

Severance Taxes

     - M$        7,085.0        3,610.4        20,462.8        31,158.2        39,463.5        23,976.4  

Ad Valorem Taxes

     - M$        1,913.6        1,694.3        5,458.4        9,066.3        14,292.5        10,544.3  

Operating Expenses

     - M$        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

Other Deductions

     - M$        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

Investments

     - M$        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

Future Net Cash Flow

     - M$        115,627.3        60,387.9        379,633.9        555,649.0        758,221.8        433,015.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Discounted @ 10% (Present Worth)

     - M$        67,818.3        40,321.4        208,992.8        317,132.8        249,443.3        157,358.5  


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

February 16, 2018

Page 2

 

Proved Developed (“PD”) reserves are the summation of the Proved Developed Producing and Proved Developed Non-Producing reserve estimates. Proved Developed reserves were estimated at 2,804.1 Mbbl oil, 13,028.5 MMcf gas and 1,185.0 Mbbl NGLs (or 6,160.5 MBOE). Of the Proved Developed reserves, 4,050.9 MBOE were attributed to producing zones in existing wells and 2,109.6 MBOE were attributed to zones in existing wells not producing. Probable Undeveloped and Possible Undeveloped reserves and values are shown in the prior table and represent 100% of the Probable and Possible reserves reported herein, as no Probable Developed or Possible Developed reserves were evaluated in this report.

Future revenue was calculated prior to deducting state production taxes and ad valorem taxes; however, future net cash flow was calculated after deducting these taxes, future capital costs and operating expenses, but before federal income taxes. Future net cash flow has been discounted at an annual rate of ten (10) percent, in accordance with SEC guidelines, to determine its “present worth”. Present worth indicates the time value of money and should not be construed to represent an estimate of the fair market value of the properties.

The oil reserves include oil and condensate. Oil and NGL volumes are expressed in barrels (42 U.S. gallons). Gas volumes are expressed in thousands of standard cubic feet (Mcf) at contract temperature and pressure base. BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) is expressed as oil and NGL volumes in barrels plus gas volumes in Mcf divided by six (6) to convert to barrels.

Hydrocarbon Pricing

The base SEC oil and gas prices calculated for December 31, 2017 were $51.34 per bbl and $2.99 per MMBtu respectively. As specified by the SEC, a company must use a 12-month average price, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of each first-day-of-the-month price within the 12-month period prior to the end of the reporting period. The oil price is based upon WTI-Cushing spot prices (EIA) and the gas price was based on Henry Hub spot prices (EIA) starting January 1, 2017 and ending December 1, 2017.

Adjustments to oil and gas prices were applied based upon calculations derived from regional averages or provided by Brigham. Oil price differentials may include adjustments for basis differential, transportation and/or crude quality corrections. Gas price differentials include adjustments for basis differential and the BTU heating value of the gas. Gas shrinkage was estimated based on regional averages and includes compression and processing losses, flaring and contract allocations.

Anadarko Basin: Oil price differentials were applied as a deduct of $2.46 per bbl for all properties. Gas price differentials for residue gas sales were applied as a deduct of $0.06 per Mcf of Henry Hub for all properties. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 11%, with an NGL yield of 107 bbl/MMcf for all properties. The NGL price for this basin was applied at 37% of the base oil price. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 0% for properties with wet gas sales.

Appalachian Basin: No oil price differentials were applied for this basin. Gas price differentials were applied as a deduct of $0.91 per Mcf of Henry Hub for wet gas sales. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 24% for all properties. All gas revenues were based on wet gas sales, with no NGLs included in this valuation.

Delaware Basin: Oil price differentials were applied as a deduct of $2.83 per bbl for all properties in Texas and New Mexico. Gas price differentials were applied as a deduct of $0.54 per Mcf of Henry Hub for wet gas sales. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 36%, with an NGL yield of 108 bbl/MMcf for Texas and New Mexico properties. The NGL price for Texas and New Mexico was applied at 35% of the base oil price.


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

February 16, 2018

Page 3

 

DJ Basin: Oil price differentials were applied as a deduct of $5.65 per bbl for Colorado properties and $3.50 per barrel for Wyoming properties. Gas price differentials for residue gas sales were applied as an addition of $0.36 per Mcf of Henry Hub for Wyoming properties, and were not applied for Colorado properties. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 23%, with an NGL yield of 100 bbl/MMcf for Colorado properties. No shrinkage or NGL yield were applied for Wyoming properties. The NGL price for Colorado was applied at 42% of the base oil price.

Midland Basin: Oil price differentials were applied as a deduct of $2.83 per bbl for Texas. Gas price differentials were applied as a deduct of $0.54 per Mcf of Henry Hub for wet gas sales. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 36%, with an NGL yield of 108 bbl/MMcf for all properties. The NGL price for Texas was applied at 35% of the base oil price.

Williston Basin: Oil price differentials were applied as a deduct of $6.03 per bbl for all properties. Gas price differentials were applied as a deduct of $1.90 per Mcf of Henry Hub for residue gas sales. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 39%, with an NGL yield of 133 bbl/MMcf for all properties with residual gas sales. The NGL price was applied at 19% of the base oil price. Gas shrinkage was estimated at 0% for properties with wet gas sales.

After these pricing adjustments, the net realized prices over the life of the proved properties was estimated to be $47.80 per bbl for oil, $2.74 per MCF for gas and $18.56 per bbl for NGLs. All economic factors were held constant in accordance with SEC guidelines.

Expenses, Taxes and Investments

Expenses: Routine lease operating expenses (“LOE”) were applied to all wells, and were derived from regional averages and operator assumptions. Although LOE is not paid by the mineral owner, it was applied in this evaluation to assist in proper economic limit determinations. Different LOE averages were applied to vertical and horizontal wells, although the vertical wells were not evaluated for this report. Expenses were not escalated in this report, as per SEC guidelines.

Anadarko Basin: Horizontal wells were burdened with $9,000 per month fixed operating costs. In addition, variable fees of $0.50 per Mcf-gas, $1.25 per bbl-oil and $0.50 per bbl-NGL were applied.

Appalachian Basin: Horizontal wells were burdened with $2,300 per month fixed operating costs. In addition, variable fees of $0.12 per Mcf-gas were applied to the gas stream.

Delaware Basin: Horizontal wells were burdened with $12,000 per month fixed operating costs. In addition, variable fees of $2.00 per bbl-water was applied for produced water disposal.

DJ Basin: Horizontal wells were burdened with $7,500 per month fixed operating costs. In addition, variable fees of $2.00 per Mcf- gas, $3.00 per bbl-oil and $1.00 per bbl-NGLs were applied.

Midland Basin: Horizontal wells were burdened with $12,000 per month fixed operating costs. In addition, variable fees of $2.00 per bbl-water was applied for produced water disposal.

Williston Basin: Horizontal wells were burdened with $7,500 per month fixed operating costs. In addition, variable fees of $2.75 per Mcf-gas and $1.70 per bbl-oil were applied.

Taxes: Oil and gas severance taxes were applied based on the respective state guidelines as follows:

Colorado: Oil, gas and NGL severance tax rates are 5.0% of revenue. Ad valorem taxes are assessed for Broomfield and Weld Counties at 4.95% of revenue.


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

February 16, 2018

Page 4

 

Wyoming: Oil, gas and NGL severance tax rates are 6.04% of revenue. Ad valorem taxes are assessed by Laramie County at 6.39% of revenue.

Oklahoma: Oil, gas and NGL severance tax rates are 7.095% of revenue, with the exception of a new horizontal well incentive rate of 1.095% of revenue for the first 48 months of operation. No ad valorem taxes are assessed by Oklahoma.

North Dakota: Oil severance taxes are 10.0% of oil revenue. Gas severance tax is assessed at $0.0601 per Mcf of gas sales. The effective rate of severance tax of NGLs was $0.462 per barrel as a calculation of the gas severance tax rate and the yield applied. No ad valorem taxes are assessed by North Dakota.

Montana: Oil and gas severance tax rates are 9.26% of revenue, with the exception of a new horizontal well incentive rate of 0.76% of revenue for the first 18 months of operation. No ad valorem taxes are assessed by Montana.

Texas: The oil severance tax rate is 4.6% of oil revenue and the gas and NGL severance tax rate is 7.5% of gas/NGL revenue. Ad valorem taxes are assessed by Culbertson, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reeves, Upton, and Ward Counties at 2.0% of revenue.

New Mexico: The oil severance tax rate is 7.09% of revenue and the gas and NGL severance tax rate is 7.94% of gas/NGL revenue. Ad valorem taxes are assessed by Lea County at 1.81% of revenue.

Pennsylvania: No oil or gas severance taxes or ad valorem taxes were applied in Pennsylvania.

Investments: Drilling and completion costs (“capital”) were estimated by lateral length, based on the drilling unit acreage for each Basin. Capital is not paid by the mineral owner and therefore not included in this evaluation. However, capital was used to assist in proper commerciality determinations of each new drill. Wells that did not meet minimum economic requirements were dropped from the analysis. Investments were not escalated in this report as per SEC guidelines.

Anadarko Basin: Capital for wells were applied at a range of $5.000 MM to $9.000 MM per well.

Appalachian Basin: Capital for wells were applied at a range of $5.000 MM to $8.000 MM per well.

Delaware Basin: Capital for wells were applied at a range of $6.500 MM to $9.000 MM per well.

DJ Basin: Capital for wells were applied at a range of $3.500 MM to $7.500 MM per well.

Midland Basin: Capital for wells were applied at a range of $5.000 MM to $9.000 MM per well.

Williston Basin: Capital for wells were applied at a range of $3.400 MM to $9.500 MM per well.

Reserve Estimation Methods

The methods employed in estimating reserves are described in page two (2) of the Appendix. Reserves for proved developed producing wells were estimated using production performance methods for the vast majority of properties. Certain new producing properties with very little production history were forecast using a combination of production performance and analogy to similar production, both of which are considered to provide a relatively high degree of accuracy. Monthly production data from the various state commission web sites and other public data outlets were used in this evaluation, with data typically updated through November 2017.


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

February 16, 2018

Page 5

 

Non-producing reserve estimates, for both developed and undeveloped properties, were forecast using either volumetric or analogy methods, or a combination of both. These methods provide a relatively high degree of accuracy for predicting proved developed non-producing and undeveloped reserves for Brigham’s properties, due to the mature nature of their properties targeted for development and an abundance of subsurface control data. The assumptions, data, methods and procedures used herein are appropriate for the purpose served by this report.

New drills on the Brigham acreage include planned (AFE’d) drills, wells currently drilling, permitted wells and/or wells expected to be drilled based on operator information or regional activity. For each new drill, a reserve category of PDNP, PUD, PROB, or POSS was assigned based upon the proximity to production and geologic control. Reserves for each location were assigned based on offset analogy to production, with preference given to modern completions. The drill schedules for each basin were audited by CG&A and were found to be reasonable and appropriate for the purposes of this report.

SEC Conformance and Regulations

The reserve classifications and the economic considerations used herein for the SEC pricing scenario conform to the criteria of the SEC as defined in pages three (3) and four (4) of the Appendix. The reserves and economics are predicated on regulatory agency classifications, rules, policies, laws, taxes and royalties currently in effect except as noted herein. The possible effects of changes in legislation or other Federal or State restrictive actions which could affect the reserves and economics have not been considered. However, we do not anticipate nor are we aware of any legislative changes or restrictive regulatory actions that may impact the recovery of reserves.

This evaluation includes 2,203 commercial proved undeveloped locations. These proven drills are located in the Anadarko Basin (814 drills), Appalachian Basin (38 drills), Delaware Basin (347 drills), DJ Basin (249 drills), Midland Basin (74 drills), and Williston Basin (681 drills). Each of these drilling locations proposed as part of Brigham’s development plans conforms to the proved undeveloped standards as set forth by the SEC. In our opinion, the operators of these drills have indicated they have reasonably certain intent to complete this development plan within the next five (5) years. Furthermore, Brigham and the other operators have demonstrated through their actions that they have the proper company staffing, financial backing and prior development success to ensure this development plan will be fully executed.

General Discussion

The estimates and forecasts were based upon interpretations of data furnished by your office and available from our files. To some extent information from public records has been used to check and/or supplement these data. The basic engineering and geological data were subject to third party reservations and qualifications. Nothing has come to our attention, however, that would cause us to believe that we are not justified in relying on such data. All estimates represent our best judgment based on the data available at the time of preparation. Due to inherent uncertainties in future production rates, commodity prices and geologic conditions, it should be realized that the reserve estimates, the reserves actually recovered, the revenue derived therefrom and the actual cost incurred could be more or less than the estimated amounts.

An on-site field inspection of the properties has not been performed. The mechanical operation or condition of the wells and their related facilities have not been examined nor have the wells been tested by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. Possible environmental liability related to the properties has not been investigated nor considered. The cost of plugging and the salvage value of equipment at abandonment have not been included in this evaluation.


Brigham Minerals, LLC Interests

February 16, 2018

Page 6

 

Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm (F-693), made up of independent registered professional engineers and geologists that have provided petroleum consulting services to the oil and gas industry for over 50 years. This evaluation was supervised by W. Todd Brooker, President at Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. and a State of Texas Licensed Professional Engineer (License #83462). We do not own an interest in the properties or Brigham Minerals, LLC and are not employed on a contingent basis. We have used all methods and procedures that we consider necessary under the circumstances to prepare this report. Our work-papers and related data utilized in the preparation of these estimates are available in our office.

 

Yours very truly,
C AWLEY , G ILLESPIE  & A SSOCIATES , I NC .
T EXAS R EGISTERED E NGINEERING F IRM F-693
LOGO   LOGO
W. Todd Brooker, P. E.
President


APPENDIX

Methods Employed in the Estimation of Reserves

 

 

 

 

The four methods customarily employed in the estimation of reserves are (1)   production performance , (2)   material balance , (3)   volumetric and (4)   analogy . Most estimates, although based primarily on one method, utilize other methods depending on the nature and extent of the data available and the characteristics of the reservoirs.

Basic information includes production, pressure, geological and laboratory data. However, a large variation exists in the quality, quantity and types of information available on individual properties. Operators are generally required by regulatory authorities to file monthly production reports and may be required to measure and report periodically such data as well pressures, gas-oil ratios, well tests, etc. As a general rule, an operator has complete discretion in obtaining and/or making available geological and engineering data. The resulting lack of uniformity in data renders impossible the application of identical methods to all properties, and may result in significant differences in the accuracy and reliability of estimates.

A brief discussion of each method, its basis, data requirements, applicability and generalization as to its relative degree of accuracy follows:

Production performance . This method employs graphical analyses of production data on the premise that all factors which have controlled the performance to date will continue to control and that historical trends can be extrapolated to predict future performance. The only information required is production history. Capacity production can usually be analyzed from graphs of rates versus time or cumulative production. This procedure is referred to as “decline curve” analysis. Both capacity and restricted production can, in some cases, be analyzed from graphs of producing rate relationships of the various production components. Reserve estimates obtained by this method are generally considered to have a relatively high degree of accuracy with the degree of accuracy increasing as production history accumulates.

Material balance . This method employs the analysis of the relationship of production and pressure performance on the premise that the reservoir volume and its initial hydrocarbon content are fixed and that this initial hydrocarbon volume and recoveries therefrom can be estimated by analyzing changes in pressure with respect to production relationships. This method requires reliable pressure and temperature data, production data, fluid analyses and knowledge of the nature of the reservoir. The material balance method is applicable to all reservoirs, but the time and expense required for its use is dependent on the nature of the reservoir and its fluids. Reserves for depletion type reservoirs can be estimated from graphs of pressures corrected for compressibility versus cumulative production, requiring only data that are usually available. Estimates for other reservoir types require extensive data and involve complex calculations most suited to computer models which makes this method generally applicable only to reservoirs where there is economic justification for its use. Reserve estimates obtained by this method are generally considered to have a degree of accuracy that is directly related to the complexity of the reservoir and the quality and quantity of data available.

Volumetric . This method employs analyses of physical measurements of rock and fluid properties to calculate the volume of hydrocarbons in-place. The data required are well information sufficient to determine reservoir subsurface datum, thickness, storage volume, fluid content and location. The volumetric method is most applicable to reservoirs which are not susceptible to analysis by production performance or material balance methods. These are most commonly newly developed and/or no-pressure depleting reservoirs. The amount of hydrocarbons in-place that can be recovered is not an integral part of the volumetric calculations but is an estimate inferred by other methods and a knowledge of the nature of the reservoir. Reserve estimates obtained by this method are generally considered to have a low degree of accuracy; but the degree of accuracy can be relatively high where rock quality and subsurface control is good and the nature of the reservoir is uncomplicated.

Analogy . This method, which employs experience and judgment to estimate reserves, is based on observations of similar situations and includes consideration of theoretical performance. The analogy method is a common approach used for “resource plays,” where an abundance of wells with similar production profiles facilitates the reliable estimation of future reserves with a relatively high degree of accuracy. The analogy method may also be applicable where the data are insufficient or so inconclusive that reliable reserve estimates cannot be made by other methods. Reserve estimates obtained in this manner are generally considered to have a relatively low degree of accuracy.

Much of the information used in the estimation of reserves is itself arrived at by the use of estimates. These estimates are subject to continuing change as additional information becomes available. Reserve estimates which presently appear to be correct may be found to contain substantial errors as time passes and new information is obtained about well and reservoir performance.

 

 

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APPENDIX

Reserve Definitions and Classifications

 

 

 

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission, in SX Reg. 210.4-10 dated November 18, 1981, as amended on September 19, 1989 and January 1, 2010, requires adherence to the following definitions of oil and gas reserves:

“(22) Proved oil and gas reserves . Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations— prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.

“(i) The area of a reservoir considered as proved includes: (A) The area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (B) Adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

“(ii) In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons (LKH) as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty.

“(iii) Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil (HKO) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty.

“(iv) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when: (A) Successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based; and (B) The project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

“(v) Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.

“(6) Developed oil and gas reserves . Developed oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered:

“(i) Through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and

“(ii) Through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

“(31) Undeveloped oil and gas reserves . Undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

“(i) Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those directly offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.

“(ii) Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances, justify a longer time.

“(iii) Under no circumstances shall estimates for undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir, as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, or by other evidence using reliable technology establishing reasonable certainty.

 

 

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“(18) Probable reserves . Probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.

“(i) When deterministic methods are used, it is as likely as not that actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the sum of estimated proved plus probable reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50% probability that the actual quantities recovered will equal or exceed the proved plus probable reserves estimates.

“(ii) Probable reserves may be assigned to areas of a reservoir adjacent to proved reserves where data control or interpretations of available data are less certain, even if the interpreted reservoir continuity of structure or productivity does not meet the reasonable certainty criterion. Probable reserves may be assigned to areas that are structurally higher than the proved area if these areas are in communication with the proved reservoir.

“(iii) Probable reserves estimates also include potential incremental quantities associated with a greater percentage recovery of the hydrocarbons in place than assumed for proved reserves.

“(iv) See also guidelines in paragraphs (17)(iv) and (17)(vi) of this section (below).

“(17) Possible reserves . Possible reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves.

“(i) When deterministic methods are used, the total quantities ultimately recovered from a project have a low probability of exceeding proved plus probable plus possible reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 10% probability that the total quantities ultimately recovered will equal or exceed the proved plus probable plus possible reserves estimates.

“(ii) Possible reserves may be assigned to areas of a reservoir adjacent to probable reserves where data control and interpretations of available data are progressively less certain. Frequently, this will be in areas where geoscience and engineering data are unable to define clearly the area and vertical limits of commercial production from the reservoir by a defined project.

“(iii) Possible reserves also include incremental quantities associated with a greater percentage recovery of the hydrocarbons in place than the recovery quantities assumed for probable reserves.

“(iv) The proved plus probable and proved plus probable plus possible reserves estimates must be based on reasonable alternative technical and commercial interpretations within the reservoir or subject project that are clearly documented, including comparisons to results in successful similar projects.

“(v) Possible reserves may be assigned where geoscience and engineering data identify directly adjacent portions of a reservoir within the same accumulation that may be separated from proved areas by faults with displacement less than formation thickness or other geological discontinuities and that have not been penetrated by a wellbore, and the registrant believes that such adjacent portions are in communication with the known (proved) reservoir. Possible reserves may be assigned to areas that are structurally higher or lower than the proved area if these areas are in communication with the proved reservoir.

“(vi) Pursuant to paragraph (22)(iii) of this section (above), where direct observation has defined a highest known oil (HKO) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves should be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir above the HKO only if the higher contact can be established with reasonable certainty through reliable technology. Portions of the reservoir that do not meet this reasonable certainty criterion may be assigned as probable and possible oil or gas based on reservoir fluid properties and pressure gradient interpretations.”

Instruction 4 of Item 2(b) of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K was revised January 1, 2010 to state that “a registrant engaged in oil and gas producing activities shall provide the information required by Subpart 1200 of Regulation S–K.” This is relevant in that Instruction 2 to paragraph (a)(2) states: “The registrant is permitted, but not required, to disclose probable or possible reserves pursuant to paragraphs (a)(2)(iv) through (a)(2)(vii) of this Item.”

“(26) Reserves . Reserves are estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce or a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil and gas or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement the project.

“Note to paragraph (26) : Reserves should not be assigned to adjacent reservoirs isolated by major, potentially sealing, faults until those reservoirs are penetrated and evaluated as economically producible. Reserves should not be assigned to areas that are clearly separated from a known accumulation by a non-productive reservoir (i.e., absence of reservoir, structurally low reservoir, or negative test results). Such areas may contain prospective resources (i.e., potentially recoverable resources from undiscovered accumulations).”

 

 

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