UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 6, 2019 (May 5, 2019)

 

 

AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-35364   82-1326219
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission   (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization)   File Number)   Identification No.)

 

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, Texas

  77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 490-8900

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b):

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

None   None   None

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Merger Agreement

On May 5, 2019, Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Amplify”), Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Midstates”), and Midstates Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Midstates (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub, with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstates (the “Merger”).

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each outstanding share of capital stock of Amplify (other than shares held by Midstates and shares held by any holder who properly exercises and perfects appraisal rights in respect of such shares) will automatically be converted into the right to receive 0.933 shares of Midstates common stock (the “Exchange Ratio”). Following the closing of the Merger, current Amplify and Midstates stockholders will each own 50% of the outstanding stock of the combined company.

The Amplify board of directors has (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of Amplify and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, (iii) approved the execution and delivery by Amplify of the Merger Agreement, the performance by Amplify of its covenants and agreements contained therein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained therein, (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the holders of Amplify common stock at a stockholders’ meeting to approve its adoption and (v) resolved to recommend that the holders of Amplify common stock approve the adoption of the Merger Agreement.

Amplify and Midstates intend that, for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes, the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Merger Agreement is intended to constitute and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

Following completion of the Merger, the combined company will be renamed Amplify Energy Corp. and will be headquartered in Houston, Texas. It will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AMPY.”

Treatment of Amplify Equity Awards

The Merger Agreement provides that: (i) all outstanding Amplify stock options, whether vested or unvested, will automatically by converted into Midstates stock options, at an exercise price adjusted after taking into effect the Exchange Ratio, (ii) all outstanding Amplify time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) will become fully vested at the Effective Time and be converted into Midstates RSUs and (iii) all Amplify performance-vesting RSUs (“PSUs”) will become fully vested at the Effective Time with performance vesting conditions to be determined based on the closing price of Amplify common stock on the trading date prior to the closing of the Merger, with each award to be converted into awards on a number of shares of Midstates common stock calculated based on the Exchange Ratio. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Amplify has sought and received waivers from certain directors and members of Amplify senior management, waiving the acceleration of vesting of Amplify TSUs and PSUs in connection with the Merger and may seek additional waivers from all holders of Amplify TSUs and PSUs prior to the closing of the Merger. For more information, see “ Waiver of Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units ” under Item 5.02 below.

Treatment of Midstates Equity Awards

The Merger Agreement provides that the Merger will be deemed to constitute a change in control for the purposes of the Midstates equity-based incentive plans. Furthermore, the Merger Agreement provides that: (i) all outstanding Midstates restricted stock units held by Midstates directors will become fully vested at the Effective Time; and (ii) all outstanding Midstates restricted stock units and stock options held by Midstates employees would become fully vested upon a termination without “cause” as defined in the Midstates 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan and individual award agreements (with performance-vesting determined in accordance with the applicable award agreements).

Governance

Upon the closing of the Merger, the board of directors of the combined company will consist of the following eight members: David M. Dunn, Christopher W. Hamm, Scott L. Hoffman, Randal T. Klein, Evan S. Lederman, Kenneth Mariani (chief executive officer), David H. Proman and Todd R. Snyder.

 

1


Conditions to the Merger

The completion of the Merger is subject to various customary closing conditions, including, among other things, (i) the receipt of approval of the issuance of shares of Midstates common stock to Amplify stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast in person or represented by proxy at the Midstates stockholders’ meeting by the holders of Midstates common stock entitled to vote thereon, (ii) the receipt of approval of the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Amplify Common stock at the Amplify stockholders’ meeting, (iii) the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 that Midstates is obligated to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the issuance of shares of Midstates common stock in the Merger, (iv) the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended and (v) the authorization for listing of shares of Midstates common stock to be issued in the Merger on the New York Stock Exchange.

No Solicitation

The Merger Agreement provides that, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement until the Effective Time, each of Amplify and Midstates will be subject to certain restrictions on its ability to solicit alternative business combination proposals from third parties, to provide non-public information to third parties and to engage in discussions with third parties regarding alternative business combination proposals, subject to customary exceptions.

Termination Rights

The Merger Agreement provides each of Amplify and Midstates with certain termination rights including, among other things: (i) by Midstates or Amplify, if Amplify fails to obtain the requisite approval and adoption by its stockholders of the Merger Agreement or if Midstates fails to obtain the requisite approval of its stockholders for the issuance of shares of Midstates common stock to Amplify stockholders; (ii) by Amplify or Midstates, if the other party breaches or fails to perform any of its representations, warranties or covenants in the Merger Agreement and such breach cannot be or is not timely cured in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and such breach or failure to perform would cause the applicable closing condition not to be satisfied; (iii) by Amplify, in the event the Midstates board of directors effects a Parent Change in Recommendation (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or if Midstates is in violation of the covenant to not solicit alternative business combination proposals from third parties; (iv) by Midstates, in the event the Amplify board of directors effects a Company Change in Recommendation (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or if Amplify is in violation of the covenant to not solicit alternative business combination proposals from third parties; or (v) by Amplify, if any Parent Designated Stockholder (as defined in the Merger Agreement) fails to deliver its voting and support agreement within one day of the signing of the Merger Agreement or by Midstates, if any Company Designated Stockholder (as defined in the Merger Agreement) fails to deliver its voting and support agreement within one business day of the signing of the Merger Agreement.

In the event that a Company Alternative Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) is publicly announced or submitted to the Amplify board of directors, the Merger Agreement is terminated by Midstates in accordance with clause (i) or clause (ii) above, the Merger Agreement is terminated by either party as a result of the failure to close the Merger on or before November 5, 2019 (the “Outside Date”) or Amplify fails to obtain the requisite stockholder approval and Amplify enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, a Company Alternative Proposal within 12 months after the date the Merger Agreement is terminated, Amplify will be required to pay Midstates a termination fee of $4,500,000. In the event that a Parent Alternative Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) is publicly announced or submitted to the Midstates board of directors, the Merger Agreement is terminated by Amplify in accordance with clause (i) or clause (ii) above, the Merger Agreement is terminated by either party as a result of a failure to close the Merger on or before the Outside Date or Midstates fails to obtain the requisite stockholder approval and Midstates enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, a Parent Alternative Proposal within 12 months after the date the Merger Agreement is terminated, Midstates will be required to pay Amplify a termination fee of $4,500,000. If the Merger Agreement in terminated by either party in accordance with clause (i) or clause (ii) above and the termination fee is not otherwise payable in accordance with the preceding sentence, then the non-terminating party will be required to reimburse the terminating party’s expenses incurred. In addition, if the Merger Agreement is terminated by either party in accordance with clause (iii) or clause (iv) above, the non-terminating party will be required to pay the termination fee. In addition to the foregoing termination rights, either party may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger has not been consummated on or prior to the Outside Date or if a governmental entity issues a final, non-appealable order or decree permanently restraining, enjoining or prohibiting the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The parties may also mutually agree to terminate the Merger Agreement.

If Amplify’s board of directors effects a Company Change in Recommendation, Amplify will, unless Midstates terminates the Merger Agreement, be required to submit the adoption of the Merger Agreement to a vote of Amplify stockholders at the Amplify stockholders’ meeting notwithstanding the Company Change in Recommendation. Similarly, if Midstates’ board of directors effects a Parent Change in Recommendation, Midstates will, unless Amplify terminates the Merger Agreement, be required to submit the issuance of Midstates common stock in connection with the Merger to a vote of Midstates stockholders at the Midstates stockholders’ meeting notwithstanding the Parent Change in Recommendation. Neither party is able to terminate the Merger Agreement in order to accept an alternative business combination proposal.

 

2


Other Terms of the Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants for a transaction of this nature. The Merger Agreement also contains customary pre-closing covenants, including the obligations of Amplify and Midstates to conduct their respective businesses in the ordinary course of practice consistent with past practice and to refrain from taking certain specified actions without the consent of the other party.

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties that Midstates and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and Amplify, on the other hand, have made to one another as of specific dates. The representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement are qualified and subject to important limitations that were negotiated and agreed to by the parties to the Merger Agreement. Such representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of another party or parties to the Merger Agreement and may have been negotiated with the principal purpose of allocating risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement, rather than as statements of fact. In addition, the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement are qualified by information exchanged by the parties to the Merger Agreement in confidential disclosure schedules. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the material provisions of the Merger Agreement or the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement should not be relied on as statements of fact regarding the parties to the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with other information regarding the Company or Midstates that is or will be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Amplify and Midstates, as well as the Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other documents that the Company or Midstates files or furnishes with the SEC.

Voting Agreements

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Amplify entered into voting and support agreements (the “Voting Agreements”) with affiliates of Fir Tree Capital Management, LP (“Fir Tree”) and Avenue Energy Opportunities Partners, LLC (“Avenue”). Pursuant to the Voting Agreements, Fir Tree and Avenue have agreed to vote all of their shares of Midstates common stock in favor of the issuance of Midstates common stock in connection with the Merger and any other matter necessary or desirable for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger. The Voting Agreements will terminate upon the earliest of (a) the effective time of the Merger, (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (c) the occurrence of any material amendment to the Merger Agreement or any amendment to the Outside Date (as defined below) and (d) the mutual written agreement of the parties to the applicable Voting Agreement to terminate the applicable Voting Agreement. The foregoing summary of the Voting Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Voting Agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3.

First Amendment to Credit Agreement

On May 5, 2019, Amplify Energy Operating LLC (the “Borrower”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Amplify, entered into the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, among the Borrower, Amplify Acquisitionco Inc., Amplify, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (the “First Amendment”).

The First Amendment amends the parties’ existing Credit Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2018 (the “New Revolving Credit Facility”) to, among other things: (i) modify certain defined terms in connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger; (ii) allow certain structural changes for tax planning activities; and (iii) modify certain covenants in the New Revolving Credit Facility that restrict Amplify’s ability to take certain actions or engage in certain business such that, once the First Amendment is effective, the occurrence of such actions or business in connection with the Merger Agreement or completion of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, will not be so restricted.

Certain of the modifications to the New Revolving Credit Facility, including those permitting pre-Merger tax restrictions, became effective upon the signing of the First Amendment. The remaining modifications become effective concurrently with the consummation of the Merger, subject to certain closing conditions.

The First Amendment also contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Borrower and the guarantors. All other material terms and conditions of the New Revolving Credit Facility were unchanged by the First Amendment.

 

3


The foregoing description of the Merger, the Merger Agreement, the First Amendment and the Voting Agreements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Merger Agreement, the First Amendment and the Voting Agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1, 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, and are incorporated into this report by reference in their entirety.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers: Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Waiver of Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units

Under the Amplify Energy Corp. Management Incentive Plan (the “MIP”) and the Amplify Energy Corp. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan (the “DCP”), the consummation of the Merger may constitute a change of control that would accelerate the vesting of certain time-vesting and performance-vesting RSUs granted under the MIP and the DCP.

On May 5, 2019, Amplify entered into a Waiver of Accelerated Vesting of RSUs (the “Waivers”) with each of Kenneth Mariani, Martyn Willsher, Polly Schott, Richard P. Smiley, Eric M. Willis, David M. Dunn and Christopher W. Hamm, pursuant to which Messrs. Mariani, Willsher, Smiley, Willis, Dunn and Hamm and Ms. Schott waived the acceleration of vesting of their TSUs and PSUs. The Company may enter into Waivers with all other holders of Amplify TSUs and PSUs prior to the closing of the Merger.

The foregoing description of the Waivers does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Form of Waiver of Accelerated Vesting of RSUs, which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2019.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 6, 2019, Amplify and Midstates issued a joint press release (the “Press Release”) announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and the entry into the foregoing transactions. A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.

On May 6, 2019, Amplify and Midstates provided supplemental information regarding the Merger in connection with a presentation to investors. A copy of the investor presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.

On May 6, 2019, Amplify and Midstates hosted a conference call with Amplify’s and Midstates’ investors. The transcript of the call is included as Exhibit 99.3 hereto.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information set forth in this Item 7.01 and the attached Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

4


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibits hereto, include “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Current Report on Form 8-K that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “outlook,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s expectations of plans, goals, strategies (including measures to implement strategies), objectives and anticipated results with respect thereto. These statements address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including things such as projections of results of operations, plans for growth, goals, future capital expenditures, competitive strengths, references to future intentions and other such references. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. These include risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things: the Company’s results of evaluation and implementation of strategic alternatives; the Company’s efforts to reduce leverage; the Company’s level of indebtedness, including its ability to satisfy its debt obligations; the Company’s need to make accretive acquisitions or substantial capital expenditures to maintain its declining asset base, including the ability to make acquisitions on favorable terms or to integrate acquired properties; the Company’s ability to complete the Merger with Midstates; continued low or further declining commodity prices and demand for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; the Company’s ability to access funds on acceptable terms, if at all, because of the terms and conditions governing the Company’s indebtedness or otherwise; general political and economic conditions, globally and in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the impact of legislation and governmental regulations, including those related to climate change and hydraulic fracturing; and changes in commodity prices and hedge positions and the risk that the Company’s hedging strategy may be ineffective or may reduce its income. Please read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and if applicable, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at http://investor.amplifyenergy.com/ or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

Important Additional Information Regarding the Transaction Will Be Filed With the SEC

In connection with the proposed transaction, Midstates will file a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement/prospectus of Amplify and Midstates. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the stockholders of the Company and Midstates. Midstates and the Company may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE ADVISED TO CAREFULLY READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY REGISTRATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION, THE PARTIES TO THE TRANSACTION AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSACTION. A definitive joint proxy statement and any registration statement/prospectus, as applicable, will be sent to security holders of the Company. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement (when available), any registration statement/prospectus, and other relevant documents filed by the Company with the SEC from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the joint proxy statement, any registration statement/prospectus, and other relevant documents (when available) by (1) directing your written request to: 500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77002 or (2) contacting our Investor Relations department by telephone at (713) 588-8346. Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://www.amplifyenergy.com .

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of management may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its security holders with respect to the transaction. Information about these persons is set forth in the Company’s proxy statement relating to its 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the SEC on April 5, 2019 and subsequent statements of changes in beneficial ownership on file with the

 

5


SEC. Security holders and investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such persons, which may be different than those of the Company’s security holders generally, by reading the joint proxy statement, any registration statement and other relevant documents regarding the transaction, which will be filed with the SEC.

No Offer or Solicitation

This document is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer will not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 5, 2019, by and among Amplify Energy Corp., Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and Midstates Holdings, Inc.*
10.1    First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated May 5, 2019, by and among Amplify Energy Operating LLC, Amplify Acquisitionco Inc., Amplify Energy Corp., the guarantors party thereto, lenders party thereto and Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent
10.2    Voting and Support Agreement, dated May 5, 2019, by and among Amplify Energy Corp., FT SOF IV Holdings, LLC, FT SOF V Holdings, LLC and Fir Tree E&P Holdings III, LLC
10.3    Voting and Support Agreement, dated May 5, 2019, by and between Amplify Energy Corp. and Avenue Energy Opportunities Fund, L.P.
99.1    Press Release dated May 6, 2019
99.2    Investor Presentation, dated May 6, 2019
99.3    Transcript of Investor Call held on May 6, 2019

 

*

All schedules to the Merger Agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.

 

6


SIGNATURES

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

 

Dated: May 6, 2019   AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.
  By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 2.1

Execution Version

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.,

MIDSTATES HOLDINGS, INC.

AND

AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.

DATED AS OF MAY 5, 2019

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     2  

1.1

  Certain Definitions      2  

1.2

  Interpretation      21  

ARTICLE II THE MERGER; EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

     22  

2.1

  The Merger      22  

2.2

  Closing      22  

2.3

  Effect of the Merger      22  

2.4

  Organizational Documents      23  

2.5

  Directors and Officers of the Surviving Entity      23  

2.6

  Governance      23  

2.7

  Post-Closing Merger      23  

2.8

  Principal Offices; Name; Trading Symbol      24  

ARTICLE III MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

     24  

3.1

  Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock      24  

3.2

  Treatment of Equity Compensation Awards      25  

3.3

  Payment for Securities; Exchange      26  

3.4

  Appraisal Rights      30  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     30  

4.1

  Organization, General Authority and Standing      30  

4.2

  Capital Structure      31  

4.3

  Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      32  

4.4

  Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability      33  

4.5

  No Conflicts; Consents      33  

4.6

  SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities      34  

4.7

  Information Supplied      35  

4.8

  Absence of Certain Changes or Events      36  

4.9

  Taxes      36  

4.10

  Labor Relations      38  

4.11

  Employee Benefits      38  

4.12

  Title to Properties; Oil and Gas Properties      39  

4.13

  Reserve Report      40  

4.14

  Material Contracts      40  

4.15

  Litigation      42  

4.16

  Compliance with Laws      42  

4.17

  Environmental Matters      43  

4.18

  Indebtedness      44  

4.19

  Material Customers and Material Suppliers      44  

 

- i -


4.20

  Intellectual Property      44  

4.21

  Insurance      45  

4.22

  Regulatory Matters      45  

4.23

  Brokers and Other Advisors      45  

4.24

  Opinion of Financial Advisor      45  

4.25

  Related Party Transactions      45  

4.26

  Company Credit Agreement Amendment      46  

4.27

  No Other Representations or Warranties      46  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     46  

5.1

  Organization, General Authority and Standing      47  

5.2

  Capital Structure      47  

5.3

  Parent Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      48  

5.4

  Capitalization of Merger Sub; Business Conduct      49  

5.5

  Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability      49  

5.6

  No Conflicts; Consents      50  

5.7

  SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities      51  

5.8

  Information Supplied      52  

5.9

  Absence of Certain Changes or Events      52  

5.10

  Taxes      52  

5.11

  Labor Relations      54  

5.12

  Employee Benefits      54  

5.13

  Title to Properties; Oil and Gas Properties      56  

5.14

  Reserve Report      57  

5.15

  Material Contracts      57  

5.16

  Litigation      59  

5.17

  Compliance with Laws      59  

5.18

  Environmental Matters      59  

5.19

  Indebtedness      60  

5.20

  Material Customers and Material Suppliers      60  

5.21

  Intellectual Property      60  

5.22

  Insurance      61  

5.23

  Regulatory Matters      61  

5.24

  Brokers and Other Advisors      61  

5.25

  Opinion of Financial Advisor      61  

5.26

  Related Party Transactions      62  

5.27

  No Other Representations or Warranties      62  

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS

     62  

6.1

  Conduct of Business by the Company      63  

6.2

  Conduct of Business by Parent      65  

6.3

  Consummation of the Merger      68  

6.4

  No Solicitation by Company and Company Change in Recommendation      69  

6.5

  No Solicitation by Parent and Parent Change in Recommendation      74  

 

- ii -


6.6

  Access to Information: Confidentiality      78  

6.7

  Public Statements      79  

6.8

  Takeover Laws      80  

6.9

  Obligations of Merger Sub      80  

6.10

  Indebtedness      80  

6.11

  Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance      81  

6.12

  Section 16 Matters      83  

6.13

  Employee Matters      83  

6.14

  Transaction Litigation      86  

6.15

  Cessation of Quotation      86  

6.16

  Preparation of Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus      86  

6.17

  Company Stockholders Meeting; Parent Stockholders Meeting; Other Approvals      88  

6.18

  Intended Tax Treatment      90  

6.19

  Treatment of Company Warrants      91  

6.20

  Treatment of Company Registration Rights Agreement      91  

6.21

  Waiver of Company Change in Control Payments      92  

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

     92  

7.1

  Mutual Closing Conditions      92  

7.2

  Conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Obligations to Effect the Merger      92  

7.3

  Conditions to the Company’s Obligations to Effect the Merger      93  

7.4

  Frustration of Closing Conditions      95  

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION

     95  

8.1

  Termination of Agreement      95  

8.2

  Procedure Upon Termination      96  

8.3

  Effect of Termination      96  

8.4

  Fees and Expense Reimbursement      97  

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     99  

9.1

  Amendment or Supplement      99  

9.2

  Counterparts      99  

9.3

  Notices      99  

9.4

  Assignment      100  

9.5

  Entire Understanding: No Third-Party Beneficiaries      100  

9.6

  Severability      100  

9.7

  Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial      101  

9.8

  No Recourse      101  

9.9

  Affiliate Liability      101  

9.10

  Specific Performance      102  

9.11

  Transfer Taxes      102  

 

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of May 5, 2019 (this “ Agreement ), is entered into by and among Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), Midstates Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), and Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ” and collectively with Parent and Merger Sub, the “ Parties ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Parent owns (a) all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub and (b) all of the issued and outstanding membership interests and other equity interests, if any, of Alpha Mike Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ LLC Sub ”);

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to effect the acquisition of the Company by Parent through the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), with the Company being the surviving entity and a direct, wholly owned Parent Subsidiary (such merger, the “ Merger ”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, at the Effective Time each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Appraisal Shares, or Cancelled Shares) shall be automatically converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”), at a meeting duly called and held, has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (c) approved the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements contained herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, (d) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the holders of Company Common Stock at the Company Stockholders Meeting to approve its adoption, and (e) resolved to recommend that the holders of Company Common Stock approve the adoption of this Agreement (the “ Company Board Recommendation ”);

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent (the “ Parent Board ”), at a meeting duly called and held, has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the issuance of Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement (the “ Parent Stock Issuance ”), are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, (c) approved the execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement, the performance by Parent of its covenants and agreements contained herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, (d) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the holders of Parent Common Stock at the Parent Stockholders Meeting to approve the Parent Stock Issuance, and (e) resolved to recommend that the holders of Parent Common Stock approve the Parent Stock Issuance (the “ Parent Board Recommendation ”);

 

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WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Merger Sub (the “ Merger Sub Board ”), at a meeting duly called and held, has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (b) approved the execution and delivery by Merger Sub of this Agreement, the performance by Merger Sub of its covenants and agreements contained herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, and (c) submitted this Agreement to Parent, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, for adoption thereby and recommended that Parent approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger (and Parent, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, has executed and delivered a unanimous written consent of the sole stockholder of Merger Sub adopting this Agreement and approving the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the DGCL (as defined herein), which consent shall become effective immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall be irrevocable);

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent and the Company to enter into this Agreement, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company (the “ Company Designated Stockholders ”) and Parent (the “ Parent Designated Stockholders ” and together with the Company Designated Stockholders, the “ Designated Stockholders ”) set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter and Parent Disclosure Letter, respectively, have entered into voting and support agreements (the “ Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements ”);

WHEREAS, immediately following the effectiveness of the Merger, the Surviving Entity shall be merged with and into LLC Sub (the “ LLC Sub Merger ”), with LLC Sub continuing as the surviving entity in the LLC Sub Merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent; and

WHEREAS, each of the Parties hereto intends that the Merger and the LLC Sub Merger (together, the “ Integrated Mergers ”) will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (the “ Intended Tax Treatment ”), and this Agreement is intended to constitute and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

 

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ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

1.1 Certain Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person, whether now in existence or hereafter created, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition and the definition of Subsidiary, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means, with respect to a Person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of equity interests, including, but not limited to, voting securities, by contract or agency or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement: (i) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries shall not be considered Affiliates of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and (ii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries shall not be considered Affiliates of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Appraisal Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.4 .

Benefit Plan ” means (a) any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, regardless of whether such plan is subject to ERISA), and (b) any bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, termination, hospitalization or other medical, dental, vision, accident, disability, life insurance, vacation, paid time off or other material fringe benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement, or any employment, change in control, retention or severance, profit sharing, stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation, phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock unit or other equity or equity-based compensation plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement.

Book-Entry Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.3(b)(i) .

Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the SEC or commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close.

Cancelled Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.1(b)(iii) .

Certificate of Merger ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.2(b) .

Certificate s ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.3(b)(i) .

Closing ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.2(a) .

Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.2(a) .

COBRA ” means Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Section 4980B of the Code and any similar state Law.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

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Company Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.4(e)(ii) .

Company Alternative Proposal ” means any contract, proposal, offer or indication of interest relating to any transaction or series of related transactions (other than transactions with Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries) involving: (A) any direct or indirect acquisition (by asset purchase, stock purchase, merger, or otherwise) by any Person or group of any business or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any Subsidiary) that generated 15% or more of the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and amortization for the preceding twelve months, or any license, lease or long-term supply agreement having a similar economic effect, (B) any direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership by any Person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or any tender or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or (C) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company that is structured to permit any Person or group to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ assets or equity interests.

Company Balance Sheet ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.6(c) .

Company Benefit Plan ” means a Benefit Plan maintained, sponsored or contributed to (or required to be contributed to) by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or otherwise with respect to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has any current or contingent liability.

Company Board ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Company Board Recommendation ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.4(b) .

Company Board RSU ” means each restricted stock unit of the Company issued to the members of the Company Board subject to service-based vesting conditions, whether granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans or otherwise, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Company Borrowing Base Amendment ” means an amendment to the Company Credit Agreement to increase the borrowing base thereunder so that the total borrowing base thereunder after giving effect to such amendment is an amount sufficient for the combined company’s liquidity needs.

Company CIC Payments ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.21 .

Company Change in Recommendation ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.4(c) .

Company Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(a) .

 

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Company Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2018, by and among Amplify Energy Operating LLC, as borrower, Amplify Acquisitionco, Inc., as parent, Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent, and the financial institutions party thereto as lenders (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

Company Credit Agreement Amendment ” means an amendment to the Company Credit Agreement pursuant to which the required lenders thereunder consent to the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the extent required by the Company Credit Agreement.

Company Designated Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Company Disclosure Letter ” has the meaning set forth in Article IV .

Company Expenses ” means all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, financial advisors, and investment bankers of the Company and its Affiliates) incurred by the Company or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution, and performance of this Agreement and any transactions and ancillary documents related thereto, any litigation with respect thereto, the preparation, printing, filing, and mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the filing of any required notices under any antitrust Laws, or in connection with other regulatory approvals, and all other matters related to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Company Intellectual Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.20 .

Company Intervening Event ” means any material event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence that is not known by the Company Board as of the date of this Agreement (or if known, the magnitude or material consequences of which were not known by the Company Board as of the date of this Agreement), which event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence becomes known (or the magnitude or material consequences thereof become known) to or by the Company Board prior to the Company Stockholder Approval; provided , however , that in no event shall the following events, facts, circumstances, developments or occurrences constitute a Company Intervening Event: (A) any event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence resulting from any action taken or omitted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that is required to be taken or omitted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement (other than with respect to any obligation of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in accordance with Section  6.1) , (B) the receipt, existence or terms of a Company Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, proposal, offer, request for information or expression of interest that may reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Company Alternative Proposal, (C) any event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence relating to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that does not amount to a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (D) changes in the market price or trading volume of Company Common Stock, Parent Common Stock or any other securities of the Company, Parent or their respective Subsidiaries, or any change in the credit rating thereof or the fact that the Company meets or exceeds (or that Parent fails to meet or exceed) internal or published estimates, projections, forecasts or predictions for any period (it being understood that

 

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the underlying cause thereof or the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence may be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a Company Intervening Event has occurred if such cause or facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition), (E) changes after the date hereof in general economic or business conditions (including, without limitation, the price of oil, natural gas or other commodities) in the United States or elsewhere in the world or (F) changes after the date hereof in the credit, debt, financial or capital markets or in interest or exchange rates, in each case, in the United States or elsewhere in the world.

Company Material Adverse Effect ” means any change, event, effect or occurrence that (a) has a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) prevents the consummation of the Merger, provided that in the case of clause (a) , none of the following shall be deemed either alone or in combination to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect: any change, event, effect or occurrence that results from or arises in connection with (A) (I) the oil and gas exploration and production industry generally; (II) the natural gas gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transportation industry generally; (III) the natural gas liquids fractionating and transportation industry generally; (IV) the crude oil and condensate logistics and marketing industry generally; and (V) the natural gas marketing and trading industry generally (including in each case changes in the Laws affecting such industries), (B) general U.S. or global economic or regulatory, legislative or political conditions (or changes therein) or securities, credit, financial or other capital markets conditions (including changes generally in prevailing interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices, credit markets and price levels or trading volumes), (C) any change or prospective change in applicable Law or GAAP (or interpretation or enforcement thereof), (D) geopolitical conditions, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, any acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, terrorism or any epidemics, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage or terrorism or any epidemics, (E) any hurricane, tornado, flood, volcano, earthquake or other natural or man-made disaster or any other national or international calamity or crises, (F) the failure, in and of itself, of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenues, earnings or other financial or operating metrics before, on or after the date of this Agreement, or changes or prospective changes in the market price or trading volume of any securities or indebtedness of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or the credit rating of the Company (it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure or change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect if such facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition), (G) the announcement, pendency and consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, or any Proceeding in respect of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (H) the compliance with the covenants contained in this Agreement (other than with respect to any obligation of the Company or any Company Subsidiary in accordance with Section  6.1 ) and any loss of or change in relationship with any customer, supplier, vendor or other business partner, or departure of any employee or officer, of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary, (I) (1) any action taken by the Company or any Company Subsidiary at Parent’s written request or with Parent’s written consent or (2) the failure to take any action by the Company or any Company Subsidiary if that action is prohibited by this Agreement to the extent that Parent fails to give its written consent after receipt of a request therefor and (J)

 

6


the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates, provided that the exceptions set forth in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) shall not be excluded to the extent such effect has disproportionately affected the Company or any Company Subsidiary when compared to other Persons operating in the same industries.

Company Material Customers ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.19(a) .

Company Material Suppliers ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.19(b) .

Company Permitted Liens ” means, collectively:

(a) to the extent waived prior to the Effective Time, preferential purchase rights, rights of first refusal, purchase options and similar rights granted pursuant to any contracts, including joint operating agreements, joint ownership agreements, stockholders agreements, organic documents and other similar agreements and documents;

(b) contractual or statutory mechanic’s, materialman’s, warehouseman’s, journeyman’s and carrier’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent and Liens for Taxes or assessments that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in the consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP;

(c) lease burdens payable to third parties that are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Company Reserve Report, including any royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment, carried interest or reversionary working interest;

(d) (A) contractual or statutory Liens securing obligations for labor, services, materials and supplies furnished to mineral interests, or (B) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities that arise out of operation of Law, or (C) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, transportation, processing or exchange of oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, development agreements, joint ownership arrangements and other agreements that are customary in the oil and gas business;

(e) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business on cash or securities pledged in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders, statutory obligations, leases and contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (including lessee and operator obligations under statute, governmental regulations or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals on state, federal or foreign lands or waters) or to secure obligations on surety or appeal bonds;

 

7


(f) pre-judgment Liens and judgment Liens in existence less than fifteen (15) days after the entry thereof or with respect to which execution has been stayed or the payment of which is covered in full (subject to a customary deductible) by insurance;

(g) rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Entity to control or regulate any of the Company’s or the Company Subsidiaries’ properties or assets in any manner;

(h) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing any Indebtedness;

(i) all easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other similar rights in respect of surface operations, and easements for pipelines, streets, alleys, highways, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements and rights-of-way, on, over or in respect of any of the properties of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary that are customarily granted in the oil and gas industry and do not (i) materially interfere with the operation, value or use of the property or asset affected or (ii) increase the burdens payable to third parties that are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Company Reserve Report, including any royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment, carried interest or reversionary working interest;

(j) such title defects as Parent (in the case of title defects with respect to properties or assets of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) has expressly waived in writing; and

(k) all other Liens, defects and irregularities not arising in connection with Indebtedness, and any encroachments, overlapping improvements, and other state of facts as would be shown on an accurate survey of any real property, that are not such as to materially interfere with the operation, value or use of the property or asset affected.

Company Permits ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.16(b) .

Company Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(a) .

Company PSU ” means each restricted stock unit of the Company subject to performance- and service-based vesting conditions, whether granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans or otherwise, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Company Refinancing Facility ” means any bank debt financing for the purposes of financing any repayment or refinancing of debt under the Company Credit Agreement, provided that such bank financing shall (x) permit the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (y) provide that the total borrowing base thereunder is an amount sufficient for the combined company’s liquidity needs and (z) otherwise be on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries than the Company Credit Agreement.

Company Registration Rights Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.20 .

 

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Company Reserve Report ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.13 .

Company Specified Contract ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.14(a) .

Company Stockholder Approval ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.4(c) .

Company Stockholders Meeting ” means the special meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock to approve the adoption of this Agreement and other related matters (including any postponement, adjournment or recess thereof).

Company Stock Option ” means each stock option to acquire shares of Company Common Stock from the Company, whether granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plan or otherwise, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Company Stock Plan ” means the Amplify Management Incentive Plan and the Amplify 2017 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan.

Company Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of the Company.

Company Superior Proposal ” means a bona fide written proposal by any Person or group (other than Parent or any of its Affiliates) to acquire, directly or indirectly, (a) businesses or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary that generated 50% or more of the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and amortization for the preceding twelve months, respectively, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, in each case whether by way of merger, amalgamation, share exchange, tender offer, exchange offer, recapitalization, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise, that in the good faith business judgment of the Company Board or any committee thereof, after consultation with its advisors and, would, if consummated in accordance with its terms, result in a transaction more favorable, in the opinion of the Company Board or any committee thereof in the exercise of its good faith business judgment, from a financial point of view to the Company’s stockholders than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (taking into account the time likely to be required to consummate such proposal and any adjustments or revisions to the terms and conditions of the Merger and/or this Agreement offered by Parent in response to such proposal or otherwise).

Company Tax Opinion ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.3(e) .

Company Termination Fee has the meaning set forth in Section  8.4(i) .

Company TSU ” means each restricted stock unit or similar right of the Company (other than a Company PSU) payable in shares of Company Common Stock or whose value is determined with reference to the value of shares of Company Common Stock, granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plan, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Company Warrant Agreement ” means that certain Warrant Agreement dated as of May 4, 2017 by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

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Company Warrants ” means outstanding warrants issued pursuant to the Company Warrant Agreements.

Confidentiality Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.6(c) .

Consent ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.5(b) .

Continuation Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.13(a) .

Continuing Employee ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.13(a) .

Contract ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.5(a) .

Derivative Transaction ” means any forward, future, hedge, swap, collar, put, call, floor, cap, option or other Contract that is intended to benefit from, relate to or reduce or eliminate the risk of fluctuations in interest rates, basis risk or the price of commodities, including Hydrocarbons and produced Hydrocarbons, that binds a Person or any of its assets.

Designated Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

DGCL ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.2(b) .

Environmental Law ” means any Law enacted and in effect on or prior to the Closing Date that relates to pollution, protection of human health and safety (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials) or protection of the environment or natural resources.

Environmental Permit means any permit, license, consent, certification, registration, variance, exemption, approval or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., as amended.

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq., as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.3(a) .

Exchange Fund has the meaning set forth in Section  3.3(a) .

Exchange Ratio ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.1(b)(i) .

Filed Company SEC Documents ” has the meaning set forth in Article IV .

 

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Filed Parent SEC Documents ” has the meaning set forth in Article V .

Form S-4 ” means the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent, pursuant to which Parent Common Stock issuable under this Agreement will be registered with the SEC (including any amendments or supplements thereto).

GAAP ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.6(b) .

Governmental Entity ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.5(b) .

Hazardous Material ” means any substance, material or waste that is listed, defined, designated, classified or otherwise regulated as “hazardous,” “toxic,” a “pollutant” or a “contaminant,” or words of similar meaning and regulatory effect, pursuant to any Environmental Law, including Hydrocarbons and any other petroleum and petroleum byproducts, naturally occurring radioactive minerals and asbestos.

HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. § 18a et seq., as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Hydrocarbons ” means crude oil, natural gas, condensate, drip gas and natural gas liquids (including coalbed gas) and other liquids or gaseous hydrocarbons or any combination thereof produced or associated therewith.

Immaterial Inaccuracies ” means any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the Company in Section  4.2(a) or of Parent in Section  5.2(a) that individually or in the aggregate are immaterial relative to the total fully diluted equity capitalization of the Company or Parent, as applicable.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication: (a) indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price for any property of such Person; (c) reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of drawn letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial institutions for the account of such Person; (d) obligations of such Person under a lease to the extent such obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP; and (e) indebtedness of others as described in clauses (a) through (d) above guaranteed by such Person; provided , however , that Indebtedness does not include accounts payable to trade creditors, or accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in each case, that are not yet due and payable, or are being disputed in good faith, and the endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business.

Indemnification Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.11(a) .

Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.11(a) .

Integrated Mergers ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Intellectual Property means all intellectual property rights in the following: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, slogans, domain names, trade names and corporate names, all applications and registrations for the foregoing, including all renewals of the same, and together with the goodwill associated therewith, (b) patents and patent applications, including divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part and renewal applications, and including renewals, extensions, reexaminations and reissues, (c) confidential information, trade secrets and know-how and (d) copyrightable works of authorship, copyrights, industrial designs and other design rights, and registrations and applications therefor, and all renewals, extensions, restorations and reversions thereof.

Intended Tax Treatment ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.16 .

Judgment ” means any judgment, order, award, injunction or decree of a Governmental Entity or arbitrator.

Knowledge ” means the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of, in the case of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, the individuals listed in Section  1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter and, in the case of Parent and the Merger Sub, the individuals listed on Section  1.1 of the Parent Disclosure Letter.

Law ” means any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, Judgment, order, treaty, convention, governmental directive or other legally enforceable requirement, U.S. or non-U.S., of any Governmental Entity, including common law.

Letter of Transmittal has the meaning set forth in Section  3.3(b)(i) .

Lien ” means any mortgage, lien, charge, restriction (including restrictions on transfer), pledge, security interest, option, right of first offer or refusal, preemptive right, lease or sublease, claim, right of any third party, covenant, right of way, easement, encroachment or encumbrance, provided that “Lien” shall not include any license or any option or other covenant with respect to any Intellectual Property.

LLC Sub ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

LLC Sub Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

LLC Sub Merger Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.7 .

Maximum Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.11(d) .

Measurement Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(a) .

Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Merger Consideration ” has the meaning set forth in Section  3.1(b)(i) .

 

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Merger Sub ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Merger Sub Board ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Oil and Gas Leases ” means all Hydrocarbon and mineral leases and subleases, royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, mineral fee interests, carried interests and other rights to Hydrocarbons in place, and mineral servitudes, and all leases, subleases, licenses or other occupancy or similar agreements under which a Person acquires or obtains operating rights in and to Hydrocarbons or any other real property which is material to the operation of such Person’s business.

Oil and Gas Properties ” means (a) all interests in and rights with respect to Hydrocarbons and similar properties of any kind and nature, including Oil and Gas Leases, mineral interests and operating rights, and the interests in lands covered thereby or pooled, communitized or unitized therewith and royalties, overriding royalties, production payments, net profit interests and other non-working interests and non-operating interests and the interests in lands covered thereby or pooled, communitized or unitized therewith (including all Oil and Gas Leases, operating agreements, pooling, communitization or unitization agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders, mineral deeds, royalty deeds, and in each case, interests thereunder), surface interests, fee interests, reversionary interests, reservations, and concessions, (b) easements, rights-of-way, licenses, permits, surface use agreements and other surface interests used in connection with the ownership or operation of any other Oil and Gas Properties or the production, gathering, processing, storage, disposition, transportation or sale of Hydrocarbons therefrom and (c) interests in machinery, equipment (including wells, well equipment and machinery), facilities, rigs, pumps, plants and other personal property used in connection with the ownership or operation of any other Oil and Gas Properties or the production, gathering, processing, storage, disposition, transportation or sale of Hydrocarbons therefrom.

Organizational Documents ” means (a) with respect to a corporation, the charter, articles or certificate of incorporation, as applicable, and bylaws thereof, (b) with respect to a limited liability company, the certificate of formation or organization, as applicable, and the operating or limited liability company agreement thereof, (c) with respect to a partnership (general or limited), the certificate of formation or partnership and the partnership agreement, and (d) with respect to any other Person the organizational, constituent and/or governing documents and/or instruments of such Person.

OTCQX ” means the over-the-counter stock market operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.

Other Party ” means, (a) with respect to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, the Company, and (b) with respect to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, Parent and Merger Sub.

Outside Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.1(f) .

Parent ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

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Parent 401(k) Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.13(d) .

Parent Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.5(e)(ii) .

Parent Alternative Proposal ” means any contract, proposal, offer or indication of interest relating to any transaction or series of related transactions (other than transactions with Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries) involving: (A) any direct or indirect acquisition (by asset purchase, stock purchase, merger, or otherwise) by any Person or group of any business or assets of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any Subsidiary) that generated 15% or more of Parent’s and the Parent Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and amortization for the preceding twelve months, or any license, lease or long-term supply agreement having a similar economic effect, (B) any direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership by any Person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or any tender or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or (C) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving Parent that is structured to permit any Person or group to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of Parent’s and the Parent Subsidiaries’ assets or equity interests.

Parent Balance Sheet ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.7(c) .

Parent Benefit Plan ” means a Benefit Plan maintained, sponsored or contributed to (or required to be contributed to) by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or otherwise with respect to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary has any current or contingent liability.

Parent Board ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Parent Board Recommendation ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Parent Change in Recommendation ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.5(c) .

Parent Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.2(a) .

Parent Designated Directors ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.6(a) .

Parent Designated Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Parent Disclosure Letter ” has the meaning set forth in Article V .

Parent Expenses ” means all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, financial advisors, and investment bankers of Parent and its Affiliates) incurred by Parent or Merger Sub or on their behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution, and performance of this Agreement and any transactions and ancillary documents related thereto, any litigation with respect thereto, the preparation, printing, filing, and mailing of the Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the filing of any required notices under any antitrust Laws, or in connection with other regulatory approvals, and all other matters related to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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Parent Intellectual Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.21 .

Parent Intervening Event ” means any material event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence that is not known by the Parent Board as of the date of this Agreement (or if known, the magnitude or material consequences of which were not known by the Parent Board as of the date of this Agreement), which event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence becomes known (or the magnitude or material consequences thereof become known) to or by the Parent Board prior to the Parent Stockholder Approval; provided , however , that in no event shall the following events, facts, circumstances, developments or occurrences constitute an Parent Intervening Event: (A) any event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence resulting from any action taken or omitted by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that is required to be taken or omitted by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement (other than with respect to any obligation of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries in accordance with Section  6.2) , (B) the receipt, existence or terms of a Parent Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, proposal, offer, request for information or expression of interest that may reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Parent Alternative Proposal, (C) any event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary that does not amount to a Company Material Adverse Effect, (D) changes in the market price or trading volume of Parent Common Stock, Company Common Stock or any other securities of Parent, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, or any change in the credit rating thereof or the fact that Parent meets or exceeds (or that the Company fails to meet or exceed) internal or published estimates, projections, forecasts or predictions for any period (it being understood that the underlying cause thereof or the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence may be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a Parent Intervening Event has occurred if such cause or facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition), (E) changes after the date hereof in general economic or business conditions (including, without limitation, the price of oil, natural gas or other commodities) in the United States or elsewhere in the world or (F) changes after the date hereof in the credit, debt, financial or capital markets or in interest or exchange rates, in each case, in the United States or elsewhere in the world.

Parent Material Adverse Effect ” means any change, event, effect or occurrence that (a) has a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) prevents the consummation of the Merger, provided that in the case of clause (a) , none of the following shall be deemed either alone or in combination to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Parent Material Adverse Effect: any change, event, effect or occurrence that results from or arises in connection with (A) (I) the oil and gas exploration and production industry generally; (II) the natural gas gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transportation industry generally; (III) the natural gas liquids fractionating and transportation industry generally; (IV) the crude oil and condensate logistics and marketing industry generally; and (V) the natural gas marketing and trading industry generally (including in each case changes in the Laws affecting such industries), (B) general U.S. or global economic or regulatory, legislative or political conditions (or changes therein) or securities, credit, financial or other capital markets conditions (including changes generally in prevailing interest rates, currency

 

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exchange rates, commodity prices, credit markets and price levels or trading volumes), (C) any change or prospective change in applicable Law or GAAP (or interpretation or enforcement thereof), (D) geopolitical conditions, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, any acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, terrorism or any epidemics, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage or terrorism or any epidemics, (E) any hurricane, tornado, flood, volcano, earthquake or other natural or man-made disaster or any other national or international calamity or crises, (F) the failure, in and of itself, of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenues, earnings or other financial or operating metrics before, on or after the date of this Agreement, or changes or prospective changes in the market price or trading volume of any securities or indebtedness of Parent or any Parent Subsidiaries or the credit rating of Parent (it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure or change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Parent Material Adverse Effect if such facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition), (G) the announcement, pendency and consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, or any Proceeding in respect of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (H) the compliance with the covenants contained in this Agreement (other than with respect to any obligation of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary in accordance with Section  6.2 ) and any loss of or change in relationship with any customer, supplier, vendor or other business partner, or departure of any employee or officer, of Parent or of any Parent Subsidiary, (I) (1) any action taken by Parent or any Company Subsidiary at the Company’s written request or with the Company’s written consent or (2) the failure to take any action by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary if that action is prohibited by this Agreement to the extent that the Company fails to give its written consent after receipt of a request therefor and (J) the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, the Company or its Affiliates, provided that the exceptions set forth in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) shall not be excluded to the extent such effect has disproportionately affected Parent or any Parent Subsidiary when compared to other Persons operating in the same industries.

Parent Material Customers ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.20(a) .

Parent Material Suppliers ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.20(b) .

Parent Permitted Liens ” means, collectively:

(a) to the extent waived prior to the Effective Time, preferential purchase rights, rights of first refusal, purchase options and similar rights granted pursuant to any contracts, including joint operating agreements, joint ownership agreements, stockholders agreements, organic documents and other similar agreements and documents;

(b) contractual or statutory mechanic’s, materialman’s, warehouseman’s, journeyman’s and carrier’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent and Liens for Taxes or assessments that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in the consolidated financial statements of Parent in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(c) lease burdens payable to third parties that are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Parent Reserve Report, including any royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment, carried interest or reversionary working interest;

(d) (A) contractual or statutory Liens securing obligations for labor, services, materials and supplies furnished to mineral interests, or (B) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities that arise out of operation of Law, or (C) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, transportation, processing or exchange of oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, development agreements, joint ownership arrangements and other agreements that are customary in the oil and gas business;

(e) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business on cash or securities pledged in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders, statutory obligations, leases and contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (including lessee and operator obligations under statute, governmental regulations or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals on state, federal or foreign lands or waters) or to secure obligations on surety or appeal bonds;

(f) pre-judgment Liens and judgment Liens in existence less than fifteen (15) days after the entry thereof or with respect to which execution has been stayed or the payment of which is covered in full (subject to a customary deductible) by insurance;

(g) rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Entity to control or regulate any of Parent’s or the Parent Subsidiaries’ properties or assets in any manner;

(h) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing any Indebtedness;

(i) all easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other similar rights in respect of surface operations, and easements for pipelines, streets, alleys, highways, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements and rights-of-way, on, over or in respect of any of the properties of Parent or of any Parent Subsidiary that are customarily granted in the oil and gas industry and do not (i) materially interfere with the operation, value or use of the property or asset affected or (ii) increase the burdens payable to third parties that are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Parent Reserve Report, including any royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment, carried interest or reversionary working interest;

(j) such title defects as the Company (in the case of title defects with respect to properties or assets of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries) has expressly waived in writing; and

 

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(k) all other Liens, defects and irregularities not arising in connection with Indebtedness, and any encroachments, overlapping improvements, and other state of facts as would be shown on an accurate survey of any real property, that are not such as to materially interfere with the operation, value or use of the property or asset affected.

Parent Permits ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.17(b) .

Parent Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.2(a) .

Parent PSU ” means a restricted stock unit of Parent that is subject to the achievement of any performance- or market-based vesting conditions, whether granted pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans or otherwise.

Parent Reserve Report ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.14 .

Parent RSU ” means each restricted stock unit or similar right of Parent (other than a Parent PSU) payable in shares of Parent Common Stock or whose value is determined with reference to the value of shares of Parent Common Stock, whether granted pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans or otherwise.

Parent Severance Plan ” means the Midstates Severance Benefit Plan for Non-Officers as in effect on the date hereof.

Parent Specified Contract ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.15(a) .

Parent Stockholder Approval ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.5(c) .

Parent Stockholders Meeting ” means the special meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock to approve the adoption of this Agreement and other related matters (including any postponement, adjournment or recess thereof).

Parent Stock Issuance ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Parent Stock Option ” means each stock option to acquire shares of Parent Common Stock from Parent, whether granted pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans or otherwise, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Parent Stock Plans ” means the Midstates 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan and the Midstates Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.

Parent Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary of Parent.

Parent Superior Proposal ” means a bona fide written proposal by any Person or group (other than the Company or any of its Affiliates) to acquire, directly or indirectly, (a) businesses or assets of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that generated 50% or more of Parent’s and the Parent Subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings before interest, Taxes, depreciation and amortization for the preceding twelve months, respectively, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock, in each case whether by way of merger,

 

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amalgamation, share exchange, tender offer, exchange offer, recapitalization, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise, that in the good faith business judgment of the Parent Board or any committee thereof, after consultation with its advisors and, would, if consummated in accordance with its terms, result in a transaction more favorable, in the opinion of the Parent Board or any committee thereof in the exercise of its good faith business judgment, from a financial point of view to the Parent’s stockholders than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (taking into account the time likely to be required to consummate such proposal and any adjustments or revisions to the terms and conditions of the Merger and/or this Agreement offered by the Company in response to such proposal or otherwise).

Parent Tax Opinion ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.2(d) .

Parent Termination Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.4(i) .

Parent Warrant Agreements ” means those certain Warrant Agreements dated as of October 21, 2016 by and between Parent and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Party means a party to this Agreement.

Payoff Indebtedness ” means all Indebtedness of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness set forth on Section 6.10 of the Parent Disclosure Letter.

Payoff Letters ” has the meaning set forth in Section  7.2(c) .

Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Entity, or any group composed of two or more of the foregoing.

PPACA ” means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended and including any guidance issued thereunder.

Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.15 .

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment.

Replacement Plans has the meaning set forth in Section  6.13(b) .

Representatives ” means with respect to a Person, its directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor, agent or representative.

Rights ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating such person to issue, transfer or sell any equity interest of such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or

 

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exchangeable for such equity interests, or (b) contractual obligations of such person (or the general partner of such person) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interest in such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (a) of this definition.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq., as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Subsidiary means, with respect to a Person, any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at least 50% of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions, (b) a general partner interest or (c) a managing member interest, is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by one or more of its respective Subsidiaries.

Surviving Entity ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.1 .

Takeover Law means any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “supermajority”, “affiliate transactions” or “business combination statute or regulation” or any other anti-takeover statute or similar statute enacted under state or federal law.

Tax Return means any return, report or similar filing (including any attached schedules, supplements and additional or supporting material) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes, including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Taxes (and including any amendments with respect thereto).

Taxes means (i) any net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property or other taxes, escheat or unclaimed property obligations, custom duties, or other similar assessments, fees, levies or charges in the nature of a tax, together with any interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity in connection with any of the foregoing and (ii) any liabilities in respect of an item described in clause (i) payable by reason of contract, assumption, transferee or successor liability, operation of Law, Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) or otherwise.

Termination Fee has the meaning set forth in Section  8.4(i) .

Treasury Regulations ” means the regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.

Voting Company Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.2(c) .

Voting Parent Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section  5.2(c) .

 

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Willful Breach has the meaning set forth in Section  8.3 .

1.2 Interpretation . Unless expressly provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” and other equivalent words refer to this Agreement as an entirety and not solely to the particular portion, article, section, subsection or other subdivision of this Agreement in which any such word is used;

(b) examples are not to be construed to limit, expressly or by implication, the matter they illustrate;

(c) the word “including” and its derivatives means “including without limitation” and is a term of illustration and not of limitation;

(d) all definitions set forth herein are deemed applicable whether the words defined are used herein in the singular or in the plural and correlative forms of defined terms have corresponding meanings;

(e) a defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement and each exhibit and schedule to this Agreement, regardless of whether it appears before or after the place where it is defined;

(f) all references to prices, values or monetary amounts refer to United States dollars;

(g) wherever used herein, any pronoun or pronouns will be deemed to include both the singular and plural and to cover all genders;

(h) this Agreement has been jointly prepared by the Parties, and this Agreement will not be construed against any Person as the principal draftsperson hereof or thereof and no consideration may be given to any fact or presumption that any Party had a greater or lesser hand in drafting this Agreement;

(i) the captions of the articles, sections or subsections appearing in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way define, limit, construe or describe the scope or extent of such section, or in any way affect this Agreement;

(j) any references herein to a particular Section, Article, Annex or Schedule means a Section or Article of, or an Annex or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise expressly stated herein;

(k) the Annexes and Schedules attached to this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and will be considered part of this Agreement;

 

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(l) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis;

(m) all references to days mean calendar days unless otherwise provided; and

(n) all references to time mean Houston, Texas time.

ARTICLE II

THE MERGER; EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

2.1 The Merger . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL. As a result of the Merger, the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue its existence under the laws of the State of Delaware as the surviving entity and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (in such capacity, the Company is sometimes referred to herein as the “ Surviving Entity ”).

2.2 Closing .

(a) The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”), shall take place by the exchange of documents by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means at 8:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time, on a date that is no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver in accordance with this Agreement of the last of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than any such conditions which by their nature cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date, which shall be required to be so satisfied or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waived in accordance with this Agreement on the Closing Date), unless another date and/or place is agreed to in writing by the authorized officers of the Company and Parent. The date on which the Closing actually takes place is referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

(b) As soon as practicable on the Closing Date after the Closing, a certificate of merger prepared and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL (the “ Certificate of Merger ”) shall be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall become effective upon the due filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time as shall be agreed upon in writing by Parent and the Company and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL (such date and time being hereinafter referred to as the “ Effective Time ”).

2.3 Effect of the Merger . At the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Surviving Entity, in each case, as provided under the DGCL and other applicable Law.

 

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2.4 Organizational Documents . At the Effective Time, (i) the certificate of incorporation of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit A hereto and, as so amended and restated, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with its terms, the terms of this Agreement and applicable Law, and (ii) the bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms of the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Entity, such bylaws, the terms of this Agreement and applicable Law.

2.5 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Entity . The Parties shall take all necessary action such that from and after the Effective Time, the directors and officers of the Surviving Entity shall be those set forth on Schedule 2.5 , and such directors and officers shall serve until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity. All current directors and officers of the Company shall be removed and/or terminated, as applicable, from their respective positions effective immediately upon the Closing.

2.6 Governance .

(a) Unless otherwise agreed to by Parent and the Company prior to the Closing, Parent shall take such action as may be necessary so that, immediately after the Effective Time, three members of the Parent Board, listed on Section 2.6(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter and mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company prior to the mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, shall remain members of the Parent Board immediately following the Closing (the “ Parent Designated Directors ”). From the Closing until at least six (6) months following the Closing, Parent shall take such action as may be necessary to cause the Parent Designated Directors, or individuals designated by the Parent Designated Directors, to remain members of the Parent Board.

(b) Unless otherwise agreed to by Parent and the Company prior to the Closing, the Parent Board, immediately upon the Closing, shall consist of eight (8) members comprised of the persons set forth on Section 2.6(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter. Parent shall cause each Person who is a member of the Parent Board prior to the Effective Time and is not listed on Section 2.6(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter to execute and deliver a letter effectuating his or her resignation as a member of the Parent Board to be effective as of the Effective Time. Each Person who is an officer of Parent prior to the Effective Time and is listed on Section 2.6(b) of the Parent Disclosure letter shall be deemed to be terminated without cause effective as of the Effective Time. From the Closing until at least six (6) months following the Closing, Parent shall not take any action to increase the size of the Parent Board.

2.7 Post-Closing Merger . Immediately following the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall merge with and into LLC Sub, with LLC Sub continuing as the surviving entity in such merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, pursuant to a merger agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ LLC Sub Merger Agreement ”). At the time of and immediately after the LLC Sub Merger, Parent shall own all of the issued and outstanding membership interests and other equity interests, if any, in LLC Sub and shall be the sole member of LLC Sub, and LLC Sub shall be treated as an entity disregarded as separate from Parent for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.

 

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2.8 Principal Offices; Name; Trading Symbol . Immediately following the Closing, the principal offices of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Entity) shall be located in Houston, Texas. Parent shall cause (i) the name of the combined company to be changed to “Amplify Energy Corp.” as of the Effective Time and (ii) the NYSE ticker symbol of the combined company to be changed to “AMPY” as of the Effective Time.

ARTICLE III

MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

3.1 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock . At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any holder of any securities of Parent, Merger Sub, or the Company:

(a) Capital Stock of Merger Sub . Each whole share of capital stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and shall represent one (1) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Entity, so that, after the Effective Time, Parent shall be the holder of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Surviving Entity’s common stock.

(b) Capital Stock of the Company .

 

  (i)

Subject to the other provisions of this Article III , each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding any Appraisal Shares and any shares of Company Common Stock described in clause (iii)  of this Section  3.1(b) ), shall be converted automatically at the Effective Time into the right to receive 0.933 validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (the “ Exchange Ratio ”), and the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable per share of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Section  3.1(b) , the “ Merger Consideration ”), subject to the provisions of this Article III .

 

  (ii)

All such shares of Company Common Stock, when so converted, shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist. Each holder of any such share of Company Common Stock that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration upon the surrender of such shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with Section  3.3 , including any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) .

 

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  (iii)

All shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by the Company as treasury shares, by Parent or by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or Parent shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and no consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect thereto (collectively, the “ Cancelled Shares ”).

(c) Impact of Stock Splits, Etc . In the event of any change in the number of shares of Company Common Stock or Parent Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock or Parent Common Stock (including options to purchase Company Common Stock or Parent Common Stock or any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into shares of Company Common Stock or Parent Common Stock), issued and outstanding after the date of this Agreement and prior the Effective Time by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the Exchange Ratio shall be equitably adjusted to provide to the holders of Company Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event and, as so adjusted, shall from and after the date of such event, be used to determine the Merger Consideration, subject to further adjustment in accordance with this Section  3.1(c) . Nothing in this Section  3.1(c) shall be construed to permit any party to take any action that is otherwise prohibited or restricted by any other provision of this Agreement.

3.2 Treatment of Equity Compensation Awards .

(a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the Company Stock Plan) shall adopt such resolutions and take all such other actions as may be required to effect the following:

 

  (i)

each Company Stock Option, whether vested or unvested, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, at the Effective Time, automatically and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, be converted into a Parent Stock Option, subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Company Stock Option, to acquire the number of shares of Parent Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share), determined by multiplying the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share of Parent Common Stock (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of such Company Stock Option divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio;

 

  (ii)

each Company TSU and Company Board RSU outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, at the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into a Parent RSU, subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such

 

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  Company TSU or Company Board RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time, with respect to a number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such award determined by multiplying the number of shares subject to such Company TSU or Company Board RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole share; and

 

  (iii)

each Company PSU outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, at the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into a number of shares of Parent Common Stock, with performance-vesting conditions determined such that Company PSUs to be earned based on the Company stock price level attained over a performance period shall be considered earned at the level corresponding to the price measured based on the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day prior to the Closing Date, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement pursuant to which such Company PSU was granted, and by multiplying such number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole share.

(b) Company Actions . Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board or a committee thereof with necessary authority shall take such actions (including adopting resolutions) as may be necessary or desirable to provide for or give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Section  3.2 . Prior to any such adoption, the Company shall provide Parent with drafts of, and a reasonable opportunity to comment upon, all such resolutions.

(c) Parent Actions . Parent shall take such actions as are necessary for the grant of the Parent Stock Options, Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs pursuant to this Section  3.2 , including the reservation, issuance and listing of Parent Common Stock as is necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Section  3.2 . As soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time, Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate form, or a post-effective amendment to a registration statement previously filed under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such Parent Stock Options, Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs.

3.3 Payment for Securities; Exchange .

(a) Exchange Agent; Exchange Fund . Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and Merger Sub shall enter into an agreement with an entity reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent for the holders of Company Common Stock in connection with the Merger (the “ Exchange Agent ”) and to receive the Merger Consideration and all cash payable pursuant to this Article III . On the Closing Date and prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger, Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the sole benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than holders of Cancelled Shares or Appraisal Shares, for exchange in accordance with this Article III through the Exchange Agent, (i) evidence of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable

 

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pursuant to Section  3.1(b) in book entry form equal to the aggregate Merger Consideration and (ii) cash in immediately available funds in an amount sufficient to pay any dividends or other distributions under Section  3.3(g) , if applicable (such evidence of book-entry shares of Parent Common Stock and cash amounts, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect thereto, the “ Exchange Fund ”), provided that no such deposits shall be required to be made with respect to any Cancelled Shares or Appraisal Shares. The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions from Parent, deliver the Merger Consideration contemplated to be issued in exchange for shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable, out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. Except as contemplated by this Section  3.3(a) , the Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. The Surviving Entity shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Exchange Agent, in connection with the exchange of shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration. Any interest or other income resulting from investment of the Exchange Fund shall become part of the Exchange Fund.

(b) Payment Procedures .

 

  (i)

As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event more than three (3) Business Days after the Closing Date, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver to each record holder (other than record holders of Cancelled Shares or Appraisal Shares), as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, of (A) an outstanding certificate or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Company Common Stock (the “ Certificates ”) or (B) shares of Company Common Stock that were represented by book-entry (“ Book-Entry Shares ”) a letter of transmittal (“ Letter of Transmittal ”) (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent or, in the case of Book-Entry Shares, upon adherence to the procedures set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, and which shall be in a customary form and agreed to by Parent and the Company prior to the Closing) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or, in the case of Book-Entry Shares, the surrender of such shares, for payment of the Merger Consideration, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable.

 

  (ii)

Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate or Book-Entry Shares, delivery of a duly completed and validly executed Letter of Transmittal, and such other customary documents as may be reasonably required by the Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate or Book-Entry Shares shall be entitled to promptly receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Article III , together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable, for each share of Company Common Stock formerly represented by

 

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  such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, and all Certificates so surrendered shall be forthwith cancelled. No interest shall be paid or accrued for the benefit of holders of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares on the Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares. If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a Person other than the record holder of such shares of Company Common Stock, it shall be a condition of payment that shares so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other Taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration to a Person other than the registered holder of such shares surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving Entity that such Taxes either have been paid or are not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section  3.3(b)(ii) , each Certificate and each Book-Entry Share shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration payable in respect of such shares of Company Common Stock, together with any amounts payable to such holder pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable.

(c) Termination Rights . All Merger Consideration, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable, paid upon the surrender of and in exchange for shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Surviving Entity shall be closed immediately, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Entity of the shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates or Book-Entry Shares are presented to the Surviving Entity for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration payable in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock previously represented by such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares (other than Certificates or Book-Entry Shares evidencing shares of Company Common Stock described in clause (iii) of Section  3.1(b) ) without any interest thereon.

(d) Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the former stockholders of the Company on the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date shall be delivered to Parent, upon Parent’s demand, and any former common stockholders of the Company who have not received the Merger Consideration, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable, in each case without interest thereon prior to such delivery, shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of their claim for such amounts.

(e) No Liability . None of the Surviving Entity, Parent, Merger Sub or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any holder of Company Common Stock for any amount of Merger Consideration properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property law, escheat law or similar Law. If any Certificate or Book-Entry Share has not been

 

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surrendered prior to the time that is immediately prior to the time at which Merger Consideration in respect of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, any such shares, cash, dividends or distributions in respect of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

(f) Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates . If any Certificate (other than a Certificate evidencing shares of Company Common Stock described in clause (iii) of Section  3.1(b) ) shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if reasonably required by Parent or the Surviving Entity, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as Parent or the Surviving Entity may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration payable in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section  3.3(g) , if applicable.

(g) Distributions with Respect to Parent Common Stock . No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Share with respect to the whole shares of Parent Common Stock that such holder would be entitled to receive upon surrender of such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares until such holder shall surrender such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in accordance with this Section  3.3 . Following surrender of any such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, there shall be paid to such holder of whole shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) promptly after the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock. For purposes of dividends or other distributions in respect of shares of Parent Common Stock, all whole shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall be entitled to dividends pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence as if such whole shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time.

(h) Withholding . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent, Merger Sub, LLC Sub, the Company, the Surviving Entity and the Exchange Agent and each of their respective Affiliates shall be entitled to deduct or withhold (or cause to be deducted or withheld) from any amounts or securities otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts or securities as are required to be deducted or withheld with respect to the making of such payments under applicable Law. To the extent that any such amounts or securities are so deducted or withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate Governmental Entity, such deducted or withheld amounts or securities shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made.

 

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(i) Fractional Shares . No certificate or scrip or shares representing fractional Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, and such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a shareholder of Parent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all fractional shares of Parent Common Stock that a holder of shares of Company Common Stock converted pursuant to the Merger would otherwise be entitled to receive as Merger Consideration (after taking into account all Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) and Book-Entry Shares) will be aggregated and then, if a fractional share of Parent Common Stock results from that aggregation, be rounded up to the nearest share of Parent Common Stock, as applicable.

3.4 Appraisal Rights . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that are held by any holder who has not voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto and properly exercises and perfects appraisal rights in respect of such shares pursuant to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL (the “ Appraisal Shares ”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration payable pursuant to Section  3.1(b)(i) , but instead at the Effective Time shall be entitled to only those rights as are granted by Section 262 of the DGCL, and at the Effective Time all Appraisal Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist. If any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, then such shares of Company Common Stock shall thereupon cease to constitute Appraisal Shares and shall thereafter be deemed to have been converted into and to have become, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive, without interest thereon, the Merger Consideration. The Company shall deliver prompt notice to Parent of any demands for appraisal of any shares of Company Common Stock and the Company shall provide Parent with the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as disclosed in the reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by the Company with or furnished by the Company to the SEC on or after December 31, 2017 (excluding any disclosures set forth in any such Filed Company SEC Documents in any risk factor section, any forward-looking disclosure, any quantitative or qualitative disclosures about market risk or any other statements that are non-specific, predictive or primarily cautionary in nature other than historical facts included therein) and publicly available one (1) Business Day prior to the date of this Agreement (the “ Filed Company SEC Documents ”) or as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to Parent (the “ Company Disclosure Letter ”), the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

4.1 Organization, General Authority and Standing . Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized (in the case of good standing, to the extent the concept is recognized by such jurisdiction), except in the case of any Company Subsidiary where any such

 

30


failure would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (a) has full power and authority necessary to enable it to conduct its business as presently conducted and (b) is duly qualified or licensed to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to have such power and authority or to be so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in violation of its Organizational Documents in any material respect. True and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement, are included in the Filed Company SEC Documents.

4.2 Capital Structure .

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 300,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Company Common Stock ”) and 45,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Company Preferred Stock ”). At the close of business on May 3, 2019 (the “ Measurement Date ”), (i) 22,212,290 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 356,155 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to the Company Stock Options, 567,039 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to Company TSUs, 384,250 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to the Company PSUs and 71,728 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to the Company Board RSUs, (iii) no shares of Company Common Stock were held by the Company in its treasury, (iv) 2,173,913 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding rights under the Company Warrant Agreement, (v) 1,499,387 additional shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, and (vi) no shares of the Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Except as set forth above, at the close of business on the Measurement Date, no shares of capital stock of the Company were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. From the Measurement Date to the date of this Agreement, there have been no issuances by the Company of shares of capital stock of the Company or options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company or other rights that give the holder thereof any economic interest of a nature accruing to the holders of Company Common Stock, other than the rights under the Company Warrant Agreement or rights under the Company Stock Plans.

(b) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and all such shares that may be issued prior to the Effective Time will be when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights.

(c) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Common Stock may vote (“ Voting Company Debt ”).

 

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(d) Except as set forth above and in the Company Warrant Agreement and the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or other rights or Contracts to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound (i) obligating the Company to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or any security convertible or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of, the Company or any Voting Company Debt, (ii) obligating the Company to issue, grant or enter into any such option, warrant, security, unit, right or Contract or (iii) that give any Person the right to receive any economic interest of any nature accruing to the holders of Company Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company, except for (A) the withholding of shares of Company Common Stock to satisfy Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plan and (B) the acquisition by the Company of Company Stock Options, Company TSUs, Company PSUs and Company Board RSUs in connection with the forfeiture of awards.

(e) All Company Stock Options, Company TSUs, Company PSUs and Company Board RSUs are evidenced by written award agreements, in each case substantially in the forms that have been made available to Parent, except that such agreements may differ from such forms with respect to the number of Company Stock Options, Company TSUs, Company PSUs and Company Board RSUs or shares of Company Common Stock covered thereby, the exercise price (if applicable), the vesting schedule, the expiration date applicable thereto and other similar terms.

4.3 Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .

(a) Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, the name and jurisdiction of each (i) Company Subsidiary and (ii) entity (other than the Company Subsidiaries) in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary owns any interest other than non-material interests. All of the outstanding interests of each Company Subsidiary have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, except as set forth on Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, are owned by the Company, free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “ Liens ”), other than Company Permitted Liens. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or Contracts to which any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any Company Subsidiary is bound obligating any Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or any security convertible or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of, any Company Subsidiary.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or other equity interest in any Person.

(c) The Company Subsidiaries are not in violation of their respective Organizational Documents in any material respect.

 

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4.4 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability .

(a) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Company has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub, this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (except insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies, whether considered in a Proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) The Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (iii) approved the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements contained herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, (iv) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the holders of Company Common Stock at the Company Stockholders Meeting to approve its adoption, and (v) resolved to make the Company Board Recommendation. None of the foregoing actions by the Company Board have been rescinded or modified in any way (unless such rescission or modification has been effected after the date hereof in accordance with the terms of Section  6.4 ).

(c) The only vote of holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company necessary to approve this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, is the adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote thereon (the “ Company Stockholder Approval ”).

4.5 No Conflicts; Consents .

(a) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any material obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the Company’s Organizational Documents or the comparable Organizational Documents of the Company Subsidiaries, (ii) any contract, lease, license, indenture, note, bond, agreement, concession, franchise or other binding instrument (other than Oil and Gas Leases) (a “ Contract ”) to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in Section  4.5(b) , any Law applicable to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that for purposes of this Section  4.5(a) , clause (G) of the definition of the term “Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not be excluded in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur).

 

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(b) No consent, approval, clearance, waiting period expiration or termination, license, permit, order or authorization (“ Consent ”) of, or registration, declaration, notice, notification, submission or filing with, any national, Federal, state, supranational, provincial, local or other government, domestic or foreign, or any court of competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (a “ Governmental Entity ”), is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of such registration statements, reports, schedules and statements, or the taking of other actions, under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of the other jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified to do business, (iv) such filings as may be required under the rules and regulations of the OTCQX and (v) such other items (A) required solely by reason of the participation of Parent (as opposed to any third Person) in the transactions contemplated hereby or (B) that the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that for purposes of this Section  4.5(b) , clause (G) of the definition of the term “Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not be excluded in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur).

4.6 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities .

(a) Since December 31, 2017, the Company has filed or furnished with the SEC all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements required to be filed or furnished under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act. At the time filed (or, in the case of registration statements, solely on the dates of effectiveness) (except to the extent amended by a subsequently Filed Company SEC Document prior to the date of this Agreement, in which case as of the date of such amendment), each Filed Company SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) The audited consolidated financial statements and the unaudited quarterly financial statements (including, in each case, the notes thereto) of the Company included in the Filed Company SEC Documents (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ GAAP ”) (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC) applied in all material respects on a consistent

 

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basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods covered thereby (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end adjustments).

(c) Except as reflected or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company, as of December 31, 2018, or the notes thereto, included in the Filed Company SEC Documents (such balance sheet and the notes thereto, the “ Company Balance Sheet ”), the Company and the Company Subsidiaries do not have any liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) other than (i) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Company Balance Sheet (other than any liability for breaches of Contract or relating to any Proceeding), (ii) liabilities or obligations not required to be disclosed in a consolidated balance sheet of the Company or in the notes thereto prepared in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto, (iii) liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) liabilities or obligations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by the Exchange Act. From the date of the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 to the date of this Agreement, the Company’s auditors and the Company Board have not been advised of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(e) The Filed Company SEC Documents accurately summarize, in all material respects, the outstanding Derivative Transaction positions of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, including Hydrocarbon and financial Derivative Transaction positions attributable to the production and marketing activities of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, as of the dates reflected therein.

4.7 Information Supplied . Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Article V , none of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 (and any amendment or supplement thereto) will, at the time such document is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it is first published, sent or given to the Company’s or Parent’s stockholders, contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 (i) will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not contain any untrue

 

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statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading, except that the Company will make no representation or warranty with respect to statements included or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

4.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events .

(a) Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) From the date of the Company Balance Sheet to the date of this Agreement, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in the ordinary course in substantially the same manner as previously conducted, and during such period have not taken any action that would have required the consent of Parent under Section  6.1(c) , Section  6.1(e) , Section  6.1(j) or Section  6.1(m) .

4.9 Taxes . Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has (i) duly and timely filed, or caused to be duly and timely filed on its behalf, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file, all Tax Returns required to have been filed by it, and all such Tax Returns are true and complete, and (ii) duly and timely paid, or caused to be paid, all Taxes required to have been paid by it (whether or not shown as due on any Tax Return).

(b) Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has duly and timely withheld and paid all Taxes required to be withheld and paid with respect to its employees, independent contractors, creditors, stockholders and other third parties.

(c) No written agreement or other written document waiving or extending, or having the effect of waiving or extending, the statute of limitations or the period of assessment or collection of any Taxes relating to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has been filed or entered into with any Governmental Entity.

(d) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have established adequate accruals and reserves, in accordance with GAAP, on the financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents for all Taxes payable by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of such financial statements.

(e) No deficiency for any Tax has been asserted or assessed by a Governmental Entity in writing against the Company or any Company Subsidiary that has not been paid, settled or withdrawn.

(f) No Proceeding, audit or controversy in respect of Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is presently in progress or has been threatened in writing.

 

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(g) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such agreements or arrangements (i) exclusively between the Company and any Company Subsidiary or (ii) the primary subject matter of which is not Tax).

(h) Within the past two (2) years, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) in a distribution intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code) or otherwise as a part of a plan (or series of related transactions), within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code, that includes the Integrated Mergers.

(i) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has been a party to a transaction that, as of the date of this Agreement, constitutes a “listed transaction” for purposes of Section 6011 of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations.

(j) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (i) is or has been a member of any affiliated, consolidated, unitary, combined or similar group (other than any such group the common parent of which is the Company) or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) by reason of contract, assumption, transferee or successor liability, operation of Law, Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) or otherwise.

(k) To the Knowledge of the Company, no claim has ever been made by a Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where the Company or any Company Subsidiary does not file a Tax Return that such entity is or may be required to file such Tax Return or pay Taxes in such jurisdiction that would be covered by or the subject of such Tax Return.

(l) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date and made prior to the Closing or use of an improper method of accounting prior to the Closing; (ii) any written agreement with any Governmental Entity executed on or prior to the Closing; (iii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing; (iv) prepaid amount received prior to the Closing; or (v) intercompany transaction or excess loss accounts described in the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 1502 of the Code (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) that existed prior to the Closing.

(m) There are no Liens for Taxes upon any property of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries except for statutory Liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable.

(n) To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement and/or any related ancillary documents that would prevent the Integrated Mergers, taken together, from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent or impede the Integrated Mergers, taken together, from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

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4.10 Labor Relations . There are no collective bargaining or other labor union, works council or other labor organization Contracts to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound. None of the employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is represented by any labor union, works council or any other labor organization with respect to his or her employment by the Company or any Company Subsidiary. Since December 31, 2017, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has experienced (a) any pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts or other material labor disputes or (b) to the Knowledge of the Company, pending or threatened union organization attempts concerning any employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. There is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint or other labor-related Proceeding pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary before the National Labor Relations Board or any similar Governmental Entity that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

4.11 Employee Benefits .

(a) Section 4.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of each material Company Benefit Plan. With respect to each material Company Benefit Plan, the Company has provided to Parent true and complete copies of the following (as applicable): (i) the plan document(s), (ii) the most recent summary plan description (and any summaries of material modifications thereto), (iii) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter and (iv) copies of any material non-routine correspondence with any Governmental Entity.

(b) Each Company Benefit Plan has been established, maintained, funded and administered, in all material respects, in accordance with its terms and all applicable laws, including ERISA and the Code. With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, all contributions, premiums and other payments that are due have been timely paid, and any such amounts not yet due have been paid or properly accrued.

(c) Each Company Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter as to such qualification or from the Internal Revenue Service, and no event has occurred, either by reason of any action or failure to act, that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect such Company Benefit Plan’s qualified status.

(d) No Company Benefit Plan is, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary sponsors, maintains, contributes to or is required to contribute to, or has any actual or contingent liability under: (i) any plan that is or was subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA). Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any current or contingent liability by reason of at any time being treated as a single employer with any other Person under Section 414 of the Code.

 

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(e) Except as set forth on Section 4.11(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Benefit Plan provides, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any current or contingent liability in respect of post-retirement health or other welfare benefits for retired, former or current employees, officers, directors, or other individual service providers (or any beneficiary thereof) of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries other than for continuation coverage required under COBRA for which the covered Person pays the full cost of coverage. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur or to be subject to, any material Tax, penalty or other liability that may be imposed under PPACA, including under Sections 4980D, 4980H, 6721 or 6722 of the Code.

(f) No action, suit, claim (other than routine claims for benefits), proceeding, audit, hearing or investigation is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened with respect to any Company Benefit Plan. There have been no “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Sections 406 or 407 of ERISA and not otherwise exempt under Section 408 of ERISA and no breaches of fiduciary duty (as determined under ERISA) with respect to any Company Benefit Plan, except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Company or a Company Subsidiary.

(g) No amount that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property), as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by any employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.280G-1) under any Company Benefit Plan could be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).

(h) The Company does not have any obligation to “gross-up” or otherwise indemnify any individual for the imposition of the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code or under Section 409A of the Code.

(i) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated hereby (alone or in conjunction with any other event, including any termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) will, after giving effect to Section  3.2 of this Agreement, (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor, consultant or other service provider of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any material increase in compensation or benefits, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any payment or funding, of any compensation, equity award or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor, consultant or other service provider of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or trigger any other material obligation under any Company Benefit Plan or (iii) entitle any current or former employee, consultant, director or other service provider of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to a bonus, severance or change in control payment.

 

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4.12 Title to Properties; Oil and Gas Properties .

(a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and defensible title to all real and personal properties that are material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, including Oil and Gas Properties described in the Company Reserve Report, in each case free and clear of all Liens and defects and imperfections of title except (i) such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, (ii) for Company Permitted Liens or (iii) such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “ good and defensible title ” means title that is free from reasonable doubt that a prudent person engaged in the business of purchasing and owning, developing and operating producing or non-producing Oil and Gas Properties in the geographical areas in which they are located, with knowledge of all of the facts and their legal bearing, would be willing to accept, acting reasonably.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no default under any Oil and Gas Lease by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any other party thereto, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all royalties, overriding royalties and similar burdens on Hydrocarbon production from the Company’s Oil and Gas Properties payable by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to third parties have been properly and timely paid or held in suspense funds.

(d) As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no outstanding authorization for expenditure or similar request or invoice for funding or participation under any agreement or contract which is binding on the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any Oil and Gas Property and which the Company reasonably anticipates will individually require expenditures by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in excess of $1,000,000.

4.13 Reserve Report . The factual, non-interpretive data relating to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company on which the reserve report prepared by the Company and audited by its independent reserve engineers referred to in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (the “ Company Reserve Report ”) was accurate in all material respects at the time of preparation of the Company Reserve Report. With respect to the proved reserves reflected in the Company Reserve Report, the Company Reserve Report conforms in all material respects to the guidelines with respect thereto of the SEC. Except for changes (including changes in Hydrocarbon commodity prices) generally affecting the oil and gas industry and normal depletion by production, there has been no change in respect of the matters addressed in the Company Reserve Report that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.14 Material Contracts .

(a) Except for this Agreement and the Contracts disclosed in the Filed Company SEC Documents, Section 4.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, and the Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies, of:

 

  (i)

each Contract that would be required to be filed by the Company as a “material contract” pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act;

 

  (ii)

each Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party that (A) restricts the ability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to compete in any business or with any Person in any geographical area, (B) requires the Company or any Company Subsidiary to conduct any business on a “most favored nations” basis with any third party or (C) provides for “exclusivity” or any similar requirement in favor of any third party, except in the case of each of clauses (A), (B) and (C) for such restrictions, requirements and provisions that are not material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

  (iii)

each Contract under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary licenses Intellectual Property from or to any third party (other than (A) generally commercially available, off-the-shelf software programs and (B) non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of business), except for such licenses and sublicenses that are not material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

  (iv)

any Contract pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary will acquire any material ownership interest in any other Person or other business enterprise other than any Company Subsidiary, in each case, with a value greater than $1,000,000 after the date of this Agreement;

 

  (v)

each Contract that constitutes a commitment relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) in excess of $1,000,000, other than agreements solely between or among the Company and any Company Subsidiaries;

 

  (vi)

each Contract for a Derivative Transaction;

 

  (vii)

each Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party that provides for annual payments, receipts or expenditures in excess of $1,000,000;

 

  (viii)

any Contract that is a settlement, conciliation or similar agreement with any Governmental Authority or pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary will have any material obligations after the date of this Agreement;

 

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  (ix)

each collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor union, works council, or other labor organization respecting employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;

 

  (x)

each Contract with or binding upon the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets that is of the type that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act; and

 

  (xi)

any Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party that is for the employment or engagement of any person on a full-time or part-time basis, including directors, employees and independent contractors and employees at annual compensation in excess of $1,000,000.

Each such Contract described in clauses (i) through (xi) above is referred to herein as a “ Company Specified Contract .”

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, each of the Company Specified Contracts is valid, binding and enforceable on the Company or a Company Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect except (i) for such failures to be valid, binding or enforceable or to be in full force and effect as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and (ii) insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies, whether considered in a Proceeding at law or in equity. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no default under any Company Specified Contract by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any other party thereto, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

4.15 Litigation . As of the date of this Agreement, there is no claim, suit, action, investigation or proceeding (each, a “ Proceeding ”) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any Judgment outstanding against the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.16 Compliance with Laws .

(a) Except with respect to Tax matters (which are provided for exclusively in Section  4.9 and Section  4.11 ) and environmental compliance matters (which are provided for exclusively in Section  4.17 ) and as set forth on Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is and for the last three (3) years has been, in compliance with all, and is not in default under or in violation of any, applicable Laws, other than any noncompliance, default or violation that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written communication since December 31, 2018 and prior to the date of this Agreement from a Governmental Entity that alleges that the Company or any Company Subsidiary is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable Law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in possession of all franchises, tariffs, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity necessary under applicable Law to own, lease and operate their properties and to lawfully carry on their businesses as they are being conducted as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “ Company Permits ”), except where the failure to be in possession of such Company Permits would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All Company Permits are in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is, to the Knowledge of the Company, pending or threatened, except where such suspension or cancellation would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

4.17 Environmental Matters . Except for matters that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining and complying with all Environmental Permits required for the operation of their businesses as they are being conducted as of the date of this Agreement;

(b) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written notice since December 31, 2018 (or earlier if pending or unresolved) and prior to the date of this Agreement from any Governmental Entity or other Person alleging the violation by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of or liability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any Environmental Law or any Environmental Permit;

(c) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Proceedings or Judgments pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary relating to any Environmental Law or any Environmental Permit;

(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for the disposal of, transported, handled, Released or exposed any Person to any Hazardous Material in a manner that has given rise to any current, or that is reasonably expected to give rise to any future, liabilities or obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to Environmental Laws; and

 

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(e) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has assumed, become subject to or provided an indemnity with respect to any liability of any other Person relating to Environmental Laws or Hazardous Materials.

4.18 Indebtedness . Section 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of all Indebtedness of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the date hereof and the Company has provided Parent with true and complete copies of all material agreements evidencing such Indebtedness.

4.19 Material Customers and Material Suppliers .

(a) Section 4.19(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the top ten (10) customers of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries collectively (based on the dollar amount of revenue from such customers) for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2018 (the “ Company Material Customers ”). Except as set forth on Section 4.19(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no such Company Material Customer has, during the last 12 months, cancelled or terminated any of its Contracts or arrangements or materially reduced its business in the aggregate, with the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Knowledge of the Company, made any threat to the Company or any Company Subsidiary to cancel or otherwise terminate any of its Contracts or arrangements or materially reduce its business in the aggregate with the Company or any Company Subsidiary (other than changes to pricing and quantity of products and services which are currently permitted by the arrangements with such Company Material Customer).

(b) Section 4.19(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the top ten (10) suppliers of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries collectively (based on the dollar amount of purchases from such suppliers) for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2018 (the “ Company Material Suppliers ”). Except as set forth on Section 4.19(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no such Company Material Supplier has, during the last 12 months, cancelled or terminated any of its contracts or arrangements, or materially reduced its business in the aggregate, with the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, made any threat to the Company or any Company Subsidiary to cancel or otherwise terminate any of its contracts or arrangements with, or materially reduce its supply to, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

4.20 Intellectual Property . The Company and the Company Subsidiaries own or have the right to use all Intellectual Property that is used in and necessary for the operation of the businesses of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as presently conducted (collectively, the “ Company Intellectual Property ”) free and clear of all Liens except for Company Permitted Liens, except where the failure to own or have the right to use such Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, the use of the Company Intellectual Property by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in the operation of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as presently conducted is not infringing upon or misappropriating any Intellectual Property of any other Person, except for such matters that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.21 Insurance . The Company and the Company Subsidiaries maintain, or are entitled to the benefits of, insurance in such amounts and against such risks substantially as the Company believes to be customary for the industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) all material insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement are in full force and effect, and all premiums due on such policies have been paid and (b) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and provisions of all insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in breach or default under, or has taken any action that would permit termination or material modification of, any material insurance policies.

4.22 Regulatory Matters . Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is (a) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (b) a “holding company,” a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” an Affiliate of a “holding company,” a “public utility” or a “public-utility company,” as each such term is defined in the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. Except for certain facilities, as described on Section 4.22 of the Company Disclosure Letter, used in the transport of Hydrocarbons which are subject to the Interstate Commerce Act and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and which are in substantial compliance with the applicable Laws, rules and regulations issued by any Governmental Entity, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary owns or holds any natural gas, liquefied natural gas, natural gas liquid and other pipelines, lateral lines, pumps, pump stations, storage facilities, terminals, processing plants and other related operations, assets, machinery or equipment that are subject to (x) regulation by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended, or (y) rate regulation or comprehensive nondiscriminatory access regulation under the Laws of any state or other local jurisdiction.

4.23 Brokers and Other Advisors . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person, other than UBS Securities LLC, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

4.24 Opinion of Financial Advisor . The Company has received the opinion of UBS Securities LLC, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Company Common Stock (other than the holders of Cancelled Shares and Appraisal Shares), a signed copy of which opinion will be made available to Parent for informational purposes only on a non-reliance basis promptly following the date of this Agreement.

 

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4.25 Related Party Transactions . Except as disclosed in the Filed Company SEC Documents, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary are party to any transaction or arrangement under which any (a) present or former executive officer or director of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of any class of equity of the Company or (c) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing is a party to any actual or proposed loan, lease or other contract with or binding upon the Company or any Company Subsidiary or owns or has any interest in any of their respective properties or assets, in each case as would be required to be disclosed by the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.

4.26 Company Credit Agreement Amendment . The Company Credit Agreement Amendment will become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the Company has made available to Parent a true and complete copy thereof.

4.27 No Other Representations or Warranties . Except for the representations and warranties set forth in this Article IV , none of the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any other Person makes or has made any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or with respect to any other information provided to Parent or Merger Sub in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby, and each of Parent and Merger Sub, on its own behalf and on behalf of their respective Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives, disclaims reliance on any representations or warranties or other information provided to them by the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates or Representatives or any other Person except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article IV . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of Parent and Merger Sub, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and its and their respective Affiliates and Representatives, acknowledges and agrees that none of the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or other obligation to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person resulting from the distribution to Parent or Merger Sub (including their respective Affiliates and Representatives), or Parent’s or Merger Sub’s (or such Affiliates’ or Representatives’) use, of any such information, including with respect to (i) the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, assets, employees, permits, liabilities, operations, prospectus or condition (financial or otherwise) or (ii) any opinion, projection, forecast, statement, budget, estimate, advice or other similar information (including with respect to the future revenues, earnings, results or operations (or any component thereof), cash flows, financial condition (or any component thereof) or the future business and operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, as well as any other business plan and cost-related plan information of the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries) made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) or to be made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) to Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives, in each case, whether made by the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates, Representatives or equity holders or any other Person.

 

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ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Except as disclosed in the reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by Parent with or furnished by Parent to the SEC on or after December 31, 2017 (excluding any disclosures set forth in any such Filed Parent SEC Documents in any risk factor section, any forward-looking disclosure, any quantitative or qualitative disclosures about market risk or any other statements that are non-specific, predictive or primarily cautionary in nature other than historical facts included therein) and publicly available one (1) Business Day prior to the date of this Agreement (the “ Filed Parent SEC Documents ”) or as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Parent to the Company (the “ Parent Disclosure Letter ”), Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

5.1 Organization, General Authority and Standing . Each of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized (in the case of good standing, to the extent the concept is recognized by such jurisdiction), except in the case of any Parent Subsidiary where any such failure would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries (a) has full power and authority necessary to enable it to conduct its business as presently conducted and (b) is duly qualified or licensed to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except, in the case of any Parent Subsidiary, where the failure to have such power and authority or to be so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent is not in violation of its Organizational Documents in any material respect. True and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of the Parent, as amended to the date of this Agreement, are included in the Filed Parent SEC Documents.

5.2 Capital Structure .

(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 250,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Parent Common Stock ”) and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Parent Preferred Stock ”). At the close of business on the Measurement Date, (i) 20,415,005 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 206,263 shares of Parent Common Stock were subject to Parent Stock Options, 343,230 shares of Parent Common Stock were subject to Parent RSUs and 568,737 shares of Parent Common Stock were subject to Parent PSUs, (iii) 205,343 shares of Parent Common Stock were held by Parent in its treasury, (iv) 6,979,609 shares of Parent Common Stock were subject to outstanding rights under the Parent Warrant Agreements, (v) 1,667,080 additional shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to Parent Stock Plan, and (vi) 0 shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Except as set forth above, at the close of business on the Measurement Date, no shares of capital stock of Parent were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. From the Measurement Date to the date of this Agreement, there have been no issuances by Parent of shares of capital stock of Parent or options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of Parent or other rights that give the holder thereof any economic interest of a nature accruing to the holders of Parent Common Stock, other than the rights under the Parent Warrant Agreements or rights under the Parent Stock Plan.

(b) All outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are, and all such shares that may be issued prior to the Effective Time will be when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights.

 

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(c) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Parent Common Stock may vote (“ Voting Parent Debt ”).

(d) Except as set forth above and in the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or other rights or Contracts to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound (i) obligating Parent to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or any security convertible or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of, Parent or any Voting Parent Debt, (ii) obligating Parent to issue, grant or enter into any such option, warrant, security, unit, right or Contract or (iii) that give any Person the right to receive any economic interest of any nature accruing to the holders of Parent Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of Parent or options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of Parent, except for (A) the withholding of shares of Parent Common Stock to satisfy Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans and (B) the acquisition by Parent of Parent Stock Options, Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs in connection with the forfeiture of awards.

(e) All Parent Stock Options, Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs are evidenced by written award agreements, in each case substantially in the forms that have been made available to the Company, except that such agreements may differ from such forms with respect to the number of Parent Stock Options, Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs or shares of Parent Common Stock covered thereby, the exercise price (if applicable), the vesting schedule, the expiration date applicable thereto and other similar terms.

5.3 Parent Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .

(a) Section 5.3(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, the name and jurisdiction of each (i) Parent Subsidiary and (ii) entity (other than the Parent Subsidiaries) in which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary owns any interest other than non-material interests. All of the outstanding interests of each Parent Subsidiary have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, except as set forth on Section 5.3(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, are owned by Parent, free and clear of all Liens, other than Parent Permitted Liens. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, stock-based performance units or Contracts to which any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which any Parent Subsidiary is bound obligating any Parent Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or any security convertible or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of, any Parent Subsidiary.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 5.3(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, Parent does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or other equity interest in any Person.

 

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(c) The Parent Subsidiaries are not in violation of their respective Organizational Documents in any material respect.

5.4 Capitalization of Merger Sub; Business Conduct . All of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Merger Sub are, and immediately prior to the Effective Time will be, owned by Parent. Merger Sub was incorporated on May 2, 2019. Since its inception, Merger Sub has not engaged in any activity, other than such actions in connection with (a) its organization and (b) the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Merger Sub has no operations, has not generated any revenues and has no liabilities other than those incurred in connection with the foregoing and in association with the Merger as provided in this Agreement.

5.5 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability .

(a) The execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub. Parent and Merger Sub have duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (except insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies, whether considered in a Proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) The Parent Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, are in the best interests of, and advisable to, Parent and its stockholders, (ii) approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Parent of this Agreement, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, (iv) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the holders of the Parent Common Stock at the Parent Stockholders Meeting to approve the Parent Stock Issuance, and (v) resolved to make the Parent Board Recommendation, subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement. Parent, as the owner of all of the outstanding equity interests of Merger Sub, will immediately after the execution and delivery of this Agreement adopt this Agreement in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub. None of the foregoing actions by the Parent Board have been rescinded or modified in any way (unless such rescission or modification has been effected after the date hereof in accordance with the terms of Section  6.5 ).

(c) The only vote of holders of any class or series of capital stock of Parent necessary to approve this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the Parent Stock Issuance, is the approval of the Parent Stock Issuance by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast in person or represented by proxy at the Parent Stockholders Meeting by the holders of Parent Common Stock entitled to vote thereon in accordance with Sections 312.03(c) and 312.07 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (the “ Parent Stockholder Approval ”).

 

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(d) The Merger Sub Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated here, including the Merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (ii) approved the execution and delivery by Merger Sub of this Agreement, the performance by Merger Sub of its covenants and agreements contained herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and (iii) submitted this Agreement to Parent, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, for adoption thereby and recommended that Parent approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. None of the foregoing actions by the Merger Sub Board have been rescinded or modified in any way (unless such rescission or modification has been effected after the date hereof in accordance with the terms of Section  6.5 ).

5.6 No Conflicts; Consents .

(a) The execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any material obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) Parent’s Organizational Documents or the comparable Organizational Documents of the Parent Subsidiaries, (ii) any Contract to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in Section  5.6(b) , any Law applicable to Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that for purposes of this Section  5.6(a) , clause (G) of the definition of the term “Parent Material Adverse Effect” shall not be excluded in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur).

(b) No Consent of, or registration, declaration, notice, notification, submission or filing with, any Governmental Entity, is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of such registration statements, reports, schedules and statements, or the taking of, other actions under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of the other jurisdictions in which Parent and Merger Sub are qualified to do business, (iv) such filings as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NYSE and (v) such other items (A) required solely by reason of the participation of the Company (as opposed to any third Person) in the transactions contemplated hereby or (B) that the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that for purposes of this Section  5.6(b) , clause (G) of the definition of the term “Parent Material Adverse Effect” shall not be excluded in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur).

 

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5.7 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities .

(a) Since December 31, 2017, Parent has filed or furnished with the SEC all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements required to be filed or furnished under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act. At the time filed (or, in the case of registration statements, solely on the dates of effectiveness) (except to the extent amended by a subsequently Filed Parent SEC Document prior to the date of this Agreement, in which case as of the date of such amendment), each Filed Parent SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) The audited consolidated financial statements and the unaudited quarterly financial statements (including, in each case, the notes thereto) of Parent included in the Filed Parent SEC Documents (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC) applied in all material respects on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods covered thereby (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end adjustments).

(c) Except as reflected or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of Parent, as of December 31, 2018, or the notes thereto, included in the Filed Parent SEC Documents (such balance sheet and the notes thereto, the “ Parent Balance Sheet ”), Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries do not have any liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) other than (i) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Parent Balance Sheet (other than any liability for breaches of Contract or relating to any Proceeding), (ii) liabilities or obligations not required to be disclosed in a consolidated balance sheet of Parent or in the notes thereto prepared in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto, (iii) liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) liabilities or obligations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Parent has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by the Exchange Act. From the date of the filing of Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 to the date of this Agreement, Parent’s auditors and the Parent Board have not been advised of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect Parent’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Parent’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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(e) The Filed Parent SEC Documents accurately summarize, in all material respects, the outstanding Derivative Transaction positions of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, including Hydrocarbon and financial Derivative Transaction positions attributable to the production and marketing activities of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, as of the dates reflected therein.

5.8 Information Supplied . Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article IV , none of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 (and any amendment or supplement thereto) will, at the time such document is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it is first published, sent or given to the Company’s or Parent’s stockholders, contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading. Parent and Merger Sub shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 (i) will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading, except that Parent and Merger Sub will make no representation or warranty with respect to statements included or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

5.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events .

(a) Since the date of the Parent Balance Sheet, there has not been any Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) From the date of the Parent Balance Sheet to the date of this Agreement, Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in the ordinary course in substantially the same manner as previously conducted, and during such period have not taken any action that would have required the consent of the Company under Section  6.2(c) , Section  6.2(e) , Section  6.2(j) or Section  6.2(m) .

5.10 Taxes . Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Each of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries has (i) duly and timely filed, or caused to be duly and timely filed on its behalf, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file, all Tax Returns required to have been filed by it, and all such Tax Returns are true and complete, and (ii) duly and timely paid, or caused to be paid, all Taxes required to have been paid by it (whether or not shown as due on any Tax Return).

 

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(b) Each of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries has duly and timely withheld and paid all Taxes required to be withheld and paid with respect to its employees, independent contractors, creditors, stockholders and other third parties.

(c) No written agreement or other written document waiving or extending, or having the effect of waiving or extending, the statute of limitations or the period of assessment or collection of any Taxes relating to Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries has been filed or entered into with any Governmental Entity.

(d) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries have established adequate accruals and reserves, in accordance with GAAP, on the financial statements included in the Filed Parent SEC Documents for all Taxes payable by Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of such financial statements.

(e) No deficiency for any Tax has been asserted or assessed by a Governmental Entity in writing against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that has not been paid, settled or withdrawn.

(f) No Proceeding, audit or controversy in respect of Taxes of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is presently in progress or has been threatened in writing.

(g) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such agreements or arrangements (i) exclusively between Parent and any Parent Subsidiary or (ii) the primary subject matter of which is not Tax).

(h) Within the past two (2) years, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) in a distribution intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code) or otherwise as a part of a plan (or series of related transactions), within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code, that includes the Integrated Mergers.

(i) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has been a party to a transaction that, as of the date of this Agreement, constitutes a “listed transaction” for purposes of Section 6011 of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations.

(j) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary (i) is or has been a member of any affiliated, consolidated, unitary, combined or similar group (other than any such group the common parent of which is Parent) or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries) by reason of contract, assumption, transferee or successor liability, operation of Law, Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) or otherwise.

 

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(k) To the Knowledge of Parent, no claim has ever been made by a Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where Parent or any Parent Subsidiary does not file a Tax Return that such entity is or may be required to file such Tax Return or pay Taxes in such jurisdiction that would be covered by or the subject of such Tax Return.

(l) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date and made prior to the Closing or use of an improper method of accounting prior to the Closing; (ii) any written agreement with any Governmental Entity executed on or prior to the Closing; (iii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing; (iv) prepaid amount received prior to the Closing; or (v) intercompany transaction or excess loss accounts described in the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 1502 of the Code (or any analogous or similar provision of Law) that existed prior to the Closing.

(m) There are no Liens for Taxes upon any property of Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries except for statutory Liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable.

(n) To the Knowledge of Parent, neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement and/or any related ancillary documents that would prevent the Integrated Mergers, taken together, from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. Neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent or impede the Integrated Mergers, taken together, from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

5.11 Labor Relations . There are no collective bargaining or other labor union, works council or other labor organization Contracts to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is bound. None of the employees of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is represented by any labor union, works council or any other labor organization with respect to his or her employment by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary. Since December 31, 2017, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has experienced (a) any pending, or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts or other material labor disputes or (b) to the Knowledge of Parent, pending or threatened union organization attempts concerning any employees of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary. There is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint or other labor-related Proceeding pending, or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary before the National Labor Relations Board or any similar Governmental Entity that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

5.12 Employee Benefits .

(a) Section 5.12(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of each material Parent Benefit Plan. With respect to each material Parent Benefit Plan, Parent has provided to the Company true and complete copies of the following (as applicable): (i) the plan document(s), (ii) the most recent summary plan description (and any summaries of material modifications thereto), (iii) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter and (iv) copies of any non-routine correspondence with any Governmental Entity.

 

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(b) Each Parent Benefit Plan has been established, maintained, funded and administered, in all material respects, in accordance with its terms and all applicable laws, including ERISA and the Code. With respect to each Parent Benefit Plan, all contributions, premiums and other payments that are due have been timely paid, and any such amounts not yet due have been paid or properly accrued.

(c) Each Parent Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter as to such qualification or from the Internal Revenue Service, and no event has occurred, either by reason of any action or failure to act, that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect such Parent Benefit Plan’s qualified status.

(d) No Parent Benefit Plan is, and neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary sponsors, maintains, contributes to or is required to contribute to, or has any actual or contingent liability under: (i) any plan that is or was subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA). Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has any current or contingent liability by reason of at any time being treated as a single employer with any other Person under Section 414 of the Code.

(e) Except as set forth on Section 5.12(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, no Parent Benefit Plan provides, and neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has any current or contingent liability in respect of post-retirement health or welfare benefits for retired, former or current employees, officers, directors, or other individual service providers (or any beneficiary thereof) of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries other than for continuation coverage required under COBRA for which the covered Person pays the full cost of coverage. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur or to be subject to, any material Tax, penalty or other liability that may be imposed under PPACA, including under Sections 4980D, 4980H, 6721 or 6722 of the Code.

(f) No action, suit, claim (other than routine claims for benefits), proceeding, audit, hearing or investigation is pending or, to Parent’s Knowledge, threatened with respect to any Parent Benefit Plan. There have been no “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Sections 406 or 407 of ERISA and not otherwise exempt under Section 408 of ERISA and no breaches of fiduciary duty (as determined under ERISA) with respect to any Parent Benefit Plan, except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary.

(g) No amount that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property), as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by any employee, officer or director of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.280G-1) under any Parent Benefit Plan could be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).

 

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(h) Parent does not have any obligation to “gross-up” or otherwise indemnify any individual for the imposition of the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code or under Section 409A of the Code.

(i) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated hereby (alone or in conjunction with any other event, including any termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) will, after giving effect to Section  3.2 of this Agreement, (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor, consultant or other service provider of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to any material increase in compensation or benefits, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any payment or funding, of any compensation, equity award or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor, consultant or other service provider of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or trigger any other material obligation under any Parent Benefit Plan or (iii) entitle any current or former employee, consultant, director or other service provider of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to a bonus, severance or change in control payment.

5.13 Title to Properties; Oil and Gas Properties .

(a) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries have good and defensible title to all real and personal properties that are material to the business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, including Oil and Gas Properties described in the Parent Reserve Report, in each case free and clear of all Liens and defects and imperfections of title except (i) such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, (ii) for Parent Permitted Liens or (iii) such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “ good and defensible title ” means title that is free from reasonable doubt that a prudent person engaged in the business of purchasing and owning, developing and operating producing or non-producing Oil and Gas Properties in the geographical areas in which they are located, with knowledge of all of the facts and their legal bearing, would be willing to accept, acting reasonably.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of Parent, there is no default under any Oil and Gas Lease by Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries or any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any other party thereto, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, all royalties, overriding royalties and similar burdens on Hydrocarbon production from Parent’s Oil and Gas Properties payable by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to third parties have been properly and timely paid or held in suspense funds.

(d) As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of Parent, there is no outstanding authorization for expenditure or similar request or invoice for funding or participation under any agreement or contract which is binding on Parent, any Parent Subsidiary or any Oil and Gas Property and which Parent reasonably anticipates will individually require expenditures by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary in excess of $1,000,000.

 

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5.14 Reserve Report . The factual, non-interpretive data relating to the Oil and Gas Properties of Parent on which the reserve report prepared by Parent and audited by its independent reserve engineers referred to in Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (the “ Parent Reserve Report ”) was accurate in all material respects at the time of preparation of Parent Reserve Report. With respect to the proved reserves reflected in the Parent Reserve Report, the Parent Reserve Report conforms in all material respects to the guidelines with respect thereto of the SEC. Except for changes (including changes in Hydrocarbon commodity prices) generally affecting the oil and gas industry and normal depletion by production, there has been no change in respect of the matters addressed in the Parent Reserve Report that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

5.15 Material Contracts .

(a) Except for this Agreement and the Contracts disclosed in the Filed Parent SEC Documents, Section 5.15(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, and Parent has made available to the Company true and complete copies, of:

 

  (i)

each Contract that would be required to be filed by Parent as a “material contract” pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act;

 

  (ii)

each Contract to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party that (A) restricts the ability of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to compete in any business or with any Person in any geographical area, (B) requires Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to conduct any business on a “most favored nations” basis with any third party or (C) provides for “exclusivity” or any similar requirement in favor of any third party, except in the case of each of clauses (A), (B) and (C) for such restrictions, requirements and provisions that are not material to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

  (iii)

each Contract under which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary licenses Intellectual Property from or to any third party (other than (A) generally commercially available, off-the-shelf software programs and (B) non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of business), except for such licenses and sublicenses that are not material to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

  (iv)

any Contract pursuant to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary will acquire any material ownership interest in any other Person or other business enterprise other than any Parent Subsidiary, in each case, with a value greater than $1,000,000 after the date of this Agreement;

 

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  (v)

each Contract that constitutes a commitment relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) in excess of $1,000,000, other than agreements solely between or among Parent and any Parent Subsidiaries;

 

  (vi)

each Contract for a Derivative Transaction;

 

  (vii)

each Contract to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party that provides for annual payments, receipts or expenditures in excess of $1,000,000;

 

  (viii)

any Contract that is a settlement, conciliation or similar agreement with any Governmental Authority or pursuant to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary will have any material obligations after the date of this Agreement;

 

  (ix)

each collective bargaining agreement and other Contract with any labor union, works council, or other labor organization respecting employees of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary;

 

  (x)

each Contract with or binding upon Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets that is of the type that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act; and

 

  (xi)

any Contract to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party that is for the employment or engagement of any person on a full-time or part-time basis, including directors, employees and independent contractors and employees at annual compensation in excess of $1,000,000.

Each such Contract described in clauses (i) through (xi) above is referred to herein as a “ Parent Specified Contract .”

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, each of the Parent Specified Contracts is valid, binding and enforceable on Parent or a Parent Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of Parent, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect except (i) for such failures to be valid, binding or enforceable or to be in full force and effect as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect and (ii) insofar as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies, whether considered in a Proceeding at law or in equity. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of Parent, there is no default under any Parent Specified Contract by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any other party thereto, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.16 Litigation . As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any Judgment outstanding against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

5.17 Compliance with Laws .

(a) Except with respect to Tax matters (which are provided for exclusively in Section  5.10 and Section  5.12 ) and environmental compliance matters (which are provided for exclusively in Section  5.18 ) and as set forth on Section 5.17(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, each of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries is, and for the last three (3) years has been, in compliance with all, and is not in default under or in violation of any, applicable Laws, other than any noncompliance, default or violation that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has received any written communication since December 31, 2018 and prior to the date of this Agreement from a Governmental Entity that alleges that Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable Law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries are in possession of all franchises, tariffs, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity necessary under applicable Law to own, lease and operate their properties and to lawfully carry on their businesses as they are being conducted as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “ Parent Permits ”), except where the failure to be in possession of such Parent Permits would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All Parent Permits are in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Parent Permits is, to the Knowledge of Parent, pending or threatened, except where such suspension or cancellation would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

5.18 Environmental Matters . Except for matters that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining and complying with all Environmental Permits required for the operation of their businesses as they are being conducted as of the date of this Agreement;

(b) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has received any written notice since December 31, 2018 (or earlier if pending or unresolved) and prior to the date of this Agreement from any Governmental Entity or other Person alleging the violation by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary of or liability of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary under any Environmental Law or any Environmental Permit;

 

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(c) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Proceedings or Judgments pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary relating to any Environmental Law or any Environmental Permit;

(d) To the Knowledge of Parent, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for the disposal of, transported, handled, Released or exposed any Person to any Hazardous Material in a manner that has given rise to any current, or that is reasonably expected to give rise to any future, liabilities or obligations of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary pursuant to Environmental Laws; and

(e) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has assumed, become subject to or provided an indemnity with respect to any liability of any other Person relating to Environmental Laws or Hazardous Materials.

5.19 Indebtedness . Section 5.19 of the Parent Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of all Indebtedness of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries as of the date hereof and Parent has provided the Company with true and complete copies of all material agreements evidencing such Indebtedness.

5.20 Material Customers and Material Suppliers .

(a) Section 5.20(a)(i) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth the top ten (10) customers of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries collectively (based on the dollar amount of revenue from such customers) for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2018 (the “ Parent Material Customers ”). Except as set forth on Section 5.20(a)(ii) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, no such Parent Material Customer has, during the last 12 months, cancelled or terminated any of its Contracts or arrangements or materially reduced its business in the aggregate, with Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or, to the Knowledge of Parent, made any threat to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to cancel or otherwise terminate any of its Contracts or arrangements or materially reduce its business in the aggregate with Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (other than changes to pricing and quantity of products and services which are currently permitted by the arrangements with such Parent Material Customer).

(b) Section 5.20(b)(i) of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth the top ten (10) suppliers of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries collectively (based on the dollar amount of purchases from such suppliers) for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2018 (the “ Parent Material Suppliers ”). Except as set forth on Section 5.20(b)(ii) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, no such Parent Material Supplier has, during the last 12 months, cancelled or terminated any of its contracts or arrangements, or materially reduced its business in the aggregate, with Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or, to the Knowledge of Parent, made any threat to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to cancel or otherwise terminate any of its contracts or arrangements with, or materially reduce its supply to, Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries.

 

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5.21 Intellectual Property . Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries own or have the right to use all Intellectual Property that is used in and necessary for the operation of the businesses of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries as presently conducted (collectively, the “ Parent Intellectual Property ”) free and clear of all Liens except for Parent Permitted Liens, except where the failure to own or have the right to use such Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, the use of the Parent Intellectual Property by Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries in the operation of the business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries as presently conducted is not infringing upon or misappropriating any Intellectual Property of any other Person, except for such matters that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

5.22 Insurance . Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries maintain, or are entitled to the benefits of, insurance in such amounts and against such risks substantially as Parent believes to be customary for the industries in which Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries operate. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (a) all material insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement are in full force and effect, and all premiums due on such policies have been paid and (b) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and provisions of all insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, and neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is in breach or default under, or has taken any action that would permit termination or material modification of, any material insurance policies.

5.23 Regulatory Matters . Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is (a) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (b) a “holding company,” a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” an Affiliate of a “holding company,” a “public utility” or a “public-utility company,” as each such term is defined in the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary owns or holds any refined petroleum product, crude oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, natural gas liquid and other pipelines, lateral lines, pumps, pump stations, storage facilities, terminals, processing plants and other related operations, assets, machinery or equipment that are subject to (x) regulation by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended, or (y) rate regulation or comprehensive nondiscriminatory access regulation under the Laws of any state or other local jurisdiction.

5.24 Brokers and Other Advisors . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person, other than Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Affiliates.

5.25 Opinion of Financial Advisor . Parent has received the opinion of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc., dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to Parent, a signed copy of which opinion will be made available to the Company for informational purposes only on a non-reliance basis promptly following the date of this Agreement.

 

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5.26 Related Party Transactions . Except as disclosed in the Filed Parent SEC Documents, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary are party to any transaction or arrangement under which any (a) present or former executive officer or director of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of any class of equity of Parent or (c) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing is a party to any actual or proposed loan, lease or other contract with or binding upon Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or owns or has any interest in any of their respective properties or assets, in each case as would be required to be disclosed by Parent pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.

5.27 No Other Representations or Warranties . Except for the representations and warranties set forth in this Article V , none of Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) or any other Person makes or has made any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries or with respect to any other information provided to the Company in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and Representatives, disclaims reliance on any representations or warranties or other information provided to them by Parent or its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates or Representatives or any other Person except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article V . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and its Affiliates and Representatives, acknowledges and agrees that none of Parent, Parent’s Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) or any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or other obligation to the Company or any other Person resulting from the distribution to the Company (including its Affiliates and Representatives), or the Company’s (or such Affiliates’ or Representatives’) use, of any such information, including with respect to (i) Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective businesses, assets, employees, permits, liabilities, operations, prospectus or condition (financial or otherwise) or (ii) any opinion, projection, forecast, statement, budget, estimate, advice or other similar information (including with respect to the future revenues, earnings, results or operations (or any component thereof), cash flows, financial condition (or any component thereof) or the future business and operations of Parent or Merger Sub, as well as any other business plan and cost-related plan information of Parent and/or Merger Sub) made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) or to be made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives, in each case, whether made by Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates, Representatives or equity holders or any other Person.

 

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ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS

The Company hereby covenants to and agrees with Parent and Merger Sub, and Parent and Merger Sub hereby covenant to and agree with the Company, that:

6.1 Conduct of Business by the Company . From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII , and except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as may be required by applicable Law or pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plan, (iii) as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter or (iv) with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company will not and will cause each Company Subsidiary not to:

(a) (i) conduct its business and the business of the Company Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course in any material respect, (ii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organizations, goodwill and assets and maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or (iii) take any action that adversely affects the ability of any Party to obtain any regulatory approvals for the transactions contemplated hereby; provided , however , that no action or omission by the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to matters specifically addressed by any provision of Section  6.1(b) through Section  6.1(r) shall be a breach of this Section  6.1(a) ;

(b) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer, encumber or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional equity or any additional Rights other than (i) grants of Company Stock Options, Company TSUs, Company Board RSUs and Company PSUs in the ordinary course of business and (ii) issuances of Company Common Stock in respect of the vesting, settlement and/or exercise of Company Stock Options, Company TSUs, Company Board RSUs and Company PSUs outstanding as of the date hereof or granted after the date hereof in accordance with their terms or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(c) (i) split, combine or reclassify any of its equity interests or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for its equity interests, or (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any Company Subsidiary to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any membership, partnership or other equity interests or Rights, except as permitted by the terms of the Company Stock Plan and any related award agreements or to satisfy any withholding obligations of the holder thereof or as permitted by the terms of its securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement (or granted following the date of this Agreement in accordance with this Agreement) by any Company Benefit Plan;

(d) (i) sell, lease, transfer, farmout, exchange, dispose of, license, convey or discontinue all or any portion of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s Oil and Gas Properties or other assets, business or properties other than (A) in the ordinary course of business (including sales, transfers and dispositions of inventory, commodities and produced Hydrocarbons, crude oil and refined products), (B) any individual sales, leases, dispositions or discontinuances for consideration not in excess of $500,000, or (C) any distributions expressly permitted under Section  6.1(e) ; (ii) acquire, by merger or otherwise, or lease any assets or all or any portion of the business or property of any other entity other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) acquisitions resulting from a working interest holder’s non-participation election in a well or wells; (iii) merge, consolidate or enter into any other business combination transaction with any Person; or (iv) convert from a limited liability company or corporation, as the case may be, to any other business entity;

 

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(e) make or declare dividends or distributions to the holders of Company Common Stock or any Company Subsidiary (other than any dividend or distribution from a wholly owned Company Subsidiary to the Company or to any other wholly owned Company Subsidiary);

(f) amend the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents;

(g) enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement that would be a Company Specified Contract, except as would not prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(h) modify, amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any rights under any material agreement, in a manner that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, or that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(i) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material Proceeding or settle or compromise any Proceeding if such settlement or compromise (i) involves a material conduct remedy or material injunctive or similar relief, (ii) involves an admission of criminal wrongdoing by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (iii) has in any material respect a restrictive impact on the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;

(j) implement or adopt any change in its GAAP accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP;

(k) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain, with financially responsible insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as is maintained by it at present except to the extent that any such failure would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

(l) (i) make, change or rescind any material elections relating to Taxes, (ii) settle or compromise any material Proceeding, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, (iii) amend any Tax Return in any material respect, (iv) change in any material respect any of its methods of reporting income or deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (v) agree to any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to Taxes, (vi) surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, (vii) enter into any written agreement with any Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes or (viii) enter into any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such agreements or arrangements (A) exclusively between the Company and any Company Subsidiary or (B) the primary subject matter of which is not Tax);

(m) except as required by applicable Law or as required pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plan, (i) establish, adopt, enter into, terminate or amend, or take any action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation, or benefits under, any Company Benefit Plan, (ii) grant to any director or officer any increase in compensation, bonus or fringe or other benefits, (iii) grant to any current or former director, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Company Subsidiary any increase in change in control, retention, severance or termination pay, (iv) enter into any employment,

 

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consulting, change in control, retention or severance agreement with any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor or consultant of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or (v) enter into a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor union, works council, or other labor organization or recognize any labor union, works council, or other labor organization as the representative of any employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; provided , however , that the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall not restrict the Company or any Company Subsidiary from entering into or making available to newly hired employees or to employees in the context of promotions based on job performance or workplace requirements, in each case in the ordinary course of business, compensation and benefits plans, programs, policies, agreements and arrangements (including equity or incentive grants) that have a value that is consistent with the past practice of making compensation and benefits available to newly hired or promoted employees in similar positions;

(n) (i) incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), other than (A) borrowings under existing revolving credit facilities in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices not to exceed $1,000,000 or (B) in the ordinary course of business, (ii) redeem, repurchase, cancel or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), (iii) other than with respect to the existing revolving credit facilities, create any material Lien that is not a Company Permitted Lien on its property or the property of any Company Subsidiary in connection with any pre-existing Indebtedness, new Indebtedness or lease, or (iv) make or commit to make any capital expenditures other than such capital expenditures that do not exceed 115% of the Company’s 2019 capital budget as set forth in Section 6.1(n) of the Company Disclosure Letter;

(o) implement or otherwise enter into any derivative security with respect to Hydrocarbon production or marketing or enter into any Derivative Transaction applicable to the Company other than in the ordinary course of business;

(p) enter into any transaction or Contracts with any Affiliate or other Person that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act;

(q) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation; or

(r) agree or commit to do anything prohibited by clauses (a) through (q) of this Section  6.1 ;

provided , however , that the foregoing does not limit or restrict the ability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to take otherwise prohibited actions in response to emergency situations to the extent required in order to ensure the protection of individuals or assets or to ensure compliance with any Law (including Environmental Law, including with respect to any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials), provided that the Company promptly notifies Parent of the same.

6.2 Conduct of Business by Parent . From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII , and except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as may be required by applicable

 

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Law or pursuant to the terms of any Parent Benefit Plan, (iii) as set forth in the Parent Disclosure Letter or (iv) with the prior written consent of the Company (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Parent will not and will cause each Parent Subsidiary not to:

(a) (i) conduct its business and the business of the Parent Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course in any material respect, (ii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organizations, goodwill and assets and maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or (iii) take any action that adversely affects the ability of any Party to obtain any regulatory approvals for the transactions contemplated hereby; provided , however , that no action or omission by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary with respect to matters specifically addressed by any provision of Section  6.2(b) through Section  6.2(r) shall be a breach of this Section  6.2(a) ;

(b) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer, encumber or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional equity or any additional Rights other than (i) grants of Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs in the ordinary course of business and (ii) issuances of Parent Common Stock in respect of the vesting, settlement and/or exercise of Parent RSUs and Parent PSUs outstanding as of the date hereof or granted after the date hereof accordance with the their terms or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(c) (i) split, combine or reclassify any of its equity interests or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for its equity interests, or (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any Parent Subsidiary to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any membership, partnership or other equity interests or Rights, except as permitted by the terms of the Parent Stock Plans and any related award agreements or to satisfy any withholding obligations of the holder thereof or as permitted by the terms of its securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement (or granted following the date of this Agreement in accordance with this Agreement) by any Parent Benefit Plan;

(d) (i) sell, lease, transfer, farmout, exchange, dispose of, license, convey or discontinue all or any portion of Parent’s or any Parent Subsidiary’s Oil and Gas Properties or other assets, business or properties other than (A) in the ordinary course of business (including sales, transfers and dispositions of inventory, commodities and produced Hydrocarbons, crude oil and refined products), (B) any individual sales, leases, dispositions or discontinuances for consideration not in excess of $500,000, or (C) any distributions expressly permitted under Section  6.2(e) ; (ii) acquire, by merger or otherwise, or lease any assets or all or any portion of the business or property of any other entity other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) acquisitions resulting from a working interest holder’s non-participation election in a well or wells; (iii) merge, consolidate or enter into any other business combination transaction with any Person; or (iv) convert from a limited liability company or corporation, as the case may be, to any other business entity;

(e) make or declare dividends or distributions to the holders of Parent Common Stock or any Parent Subsidiary (other than any dividend or distribution from a wholly owned Parent Subsidiary to the Company or to any other wholly owned Parent Subsidiary);

 

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(f) amend Parent’s or any Parent Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents;

(g) enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement that would be a Parent Specified Contract, except as would not prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(h) modify, amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any rights under any material agreement, in a manner that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, or that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(i) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material Proceeding or settle or compromise any Proceeding if such settlement or compromise (i) involves a material conduct remedy or material injunctive or similar relief, (ii) involves an admission of criminal wrongdoing by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or (iii) has in any material respect a restrictive impact on the business of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary;

(j) implement or adopt any change in its GAAP accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP;

(k) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain, with financially responsible insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as is maintained by it at present except to the extent that any such failure would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect;

(l) (i) make, change or rescind any material elections relating to Taxes, (ii) settle or compromise any material Proceeding, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, (iii) amend any Tax Return in any material respect, (iv) change in any material respect any of its methods of reporting income or deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (v) agree to any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to Taxes, (vi) surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, (vii) enter into any written agreement with any Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes or (viii) enter into any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such agreements or arrangements (A) exclusively between Parent and any Parent Subsidiary or (B) the primary subject matter of which is not Tax);

(m) except as required by applicable Law or as required pursuant to the terms of any Parent Benefit Plan, (i) establish, adopt, enter into, terminate or amend, or take any action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation, or benefits under, any Parent Benefit Plan, (ii) grant to any director or officer any increase in compensation, bonus or fringe or other benefits, (iii) grant to any current or former director, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or consultant of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary any increase in change in control, retention, severance or termination pay, (iv) enter into any employment, consulting, change in control, retention or severance agreement with any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor or consultant of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or (v) enter into a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor union, works council, or other labor organization or recognize any labor union, works council, or other labor organization as the representative of any

 

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employees of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary; provided , however , that the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall not restrict Parent or any Parent Subsidiary from entering into or making available to newly hired employees or to employees in the context of promotions based on job performance or workplace requirements, in each case in the ordinary course of business, compensation and benefits plans, programs, policies, agreements and arrangements (including equity or incentive grants) that have a value that is consistent with the past practice of making compensation and benefits available to newly hired or promoted employees in similar positions;

(n) (i) incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), other than (A) borrowings under existing revolving credit facilities in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices not to exceed $1,000,000 or (B) in the ordinary course of business, (ii) redeem, repurchase, cancel or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), (iii) other than with respect to the existing revolving credit facilities, create any material Lien that is not a Parent Permitted Lien on its property or the property of any Parent Subsidiary in connection with any pre-existing Indebtedness, new Indebtedness or lease, or (iv) make or commit to make any capital expenditures other than such capital expenditures that do not exceed 115% of Parent’s 2019 capital budget as set forth in Section 6.2(n) of the Parent Disclosure Letter;

(o) implement or otherwise enter into any derivative security with respect to Hydrocarbon production or marketing or enter into any Derivative Transaction applicable to Parent other than in the ordinary course of business;

(p) enter into any transaction or Contracts with any Affiliate or other Person that would be required to be disclosed by Parent under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act;

(q) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation; or

(r) agree or commit to do anything prohibited by clauses (a) through (q) of this Section  6.2 ;

provided , however , that the foregoing does not limit or restrict the ability of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to take otherwise prohibited actions in response to emergency situations to the extent required in order to ensure the protection of individuals or assets or to ensure compliance with any Law (including Environmental Law, including with respect to any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials), provided that Parent promptly notifies the Company of the same.

6.3 Consummation of the Merger .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company, on the one hand, and each of Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, will cooperate with the other and use (and will cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, all things, necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to the Closing to be satisfied as promptly as practicable and to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger, including preparing and filing promptly and fully all documentation to effect all necessary filings,

 

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notifications, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents (including, filing any Notification and Report Form required pursuant to the HSR Act within ten (10) Business Days following the execution of this Agreement and to request early termination of the applicable waiting period), (ii) obtain promptly all Consents (including Environmental Permits) from any Governmental Entity or third party necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Merger and (iii) obtain all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties. Parent and the Company shall be responsible for their respective share of the payment of all filing fees under the HSR Act.

(b) Each of the Parties hereto will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any filing to or submission with a Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and in connection with any investigation or inquiry by or before a Governmental Entity relating to the Merger, including any Proceeding initiated by a private Person, (ii) promptly inform the Other Party of (and supply to the Other Party) any material communication received by such Party from, or given by such Party to any third party or Governmental Entity and any material communication received or given in connection with any Proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding the Merger, (iii) permit the Other Party to review in advance and incorporate their reasonable comments in any communication to be given by it to any Governmental Entity with respect to obtaining any Consents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) to the extent practicable, consult with the Other Party in advance of any substantive meeting, written communications or teleconference with any Governmental Entity or, in connection with any Proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and, to the extent not prohibited by the Governmental Entity or other Person, give the Other Party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and teleconferences.

(c) Subject to Section  6.6 , the Parties will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to share information protected from disclosure under the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine, joint defense privilege or any other privilege pursuant to this Section  6.3 in a manner so as to preserve the applicable privilege. Any Party may share information with any Other Party on an “outside counsel only” basis. Nothing in this Section  6.3 shall obligate the Parties to share any information regarding the value of the transaction or that would result in a violation of any contractual arrangement or, absent the entry of a mutually acceptable joint defense agreement, information covered by the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other similar privilege, and any Party may redact such information before providing materials to any Other Party in accordance with this Section  6.3 .

6.4 No Solicitation by Company and Company Change in Recommendation .

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the

Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII hereof, the Company will, and will cause the Company Subsidiaries and Company Affiliates to, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their Representatives to, as applicable, (i) immediately cease, and cause to be terminated, any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with any Person conducted heretofore by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of its or their Representatives with respect to any Company Alternative Proposal, (ii) within two (2) Business Days of the date of this Agreement, request the prompt return or

 

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destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to any Person within the last six (6) months for the purposes of evaluating a possible Company Alternative Proposal and (iii) immediately terminate access to any physical or electronic data rooms relating to a possible Company Alternative Proposal.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Section  6.4 , from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII hereof, the Company will not, and will cause the Company Subsidiaries and Company Affiliates not to, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, propose or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by furnishing or providing information or taking any other action) any inquiries, proposals, offers, requests for information, expressions of interest or the making, submission or announcement of any inquiry, proposal, offer, request for information or expression of interest from any Person which constitutes or may reasonably be expected to result in, a Company Alternative Proposal, (ii) enter into, participate in or engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to a Company Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, indication of interest that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Alternative Proposal, (iii) furnish any information regarding the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, or access to the properties, assets or employees of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, to any Person in connection with or in response to a Company Alternative Proposal, (iv) enter into any letter of intent or agreement in principle, or other agreement or arrangement providing for a Company Alternative Proposal (other than a Company Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement), (v) waive or release any person from, forebear in the enforcement of, or amend any standstill agreement or any standstill provisions of any other Contract, provided that if the Company Board determines in good faith after consultation with the Company’s legal counsel that the failure to waive a particular standstill provision would be a breach of the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company may, with prior written notice to Parent, waive such standstill provision, solely to the extent necessary to permit a third party to make and pursue a Company Alternative Proposal, (vi) take any action to make any “moratorium”, “control share acquisition”, “fair price”, “supermajority”, “affiliate transactions” or “business combination statute or regulation” or other similar Takeover Laws, including Section 203 of the DGCL, inapplicable to any Person (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, Parent or any Parent Subsidiary) or any Company Alternative Proposal or (vii) resolve, agree or publicly propose to, or permit the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of its or their Representatives to agree or publicly propose to take any of the actions referred to in clauses (i) – (vi).

(c) Unless specifically permitted by Section  6.4(e) , the Company shall not (i) fail to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, (ii) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company Board Recommendation, (iii) recommend, adopt or approve, or propose publicly to recommend, adopt or approve, any Company Alternative Proposal, (iv) fail to publicly reaffirm the Company Board Recommendation within five (5) Business Days after Parent so requests in writing following any public disclosure of a Company Alternative Proposal, (v) fail to recommend, in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, against any Company Alternative Proposal subject to Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act within five (5) Business Days after the commencement of such Company Alternative Proposal and (vi) approve or authorize, or cause or permit the Company or any Company Subsidiary to enter into, any merger

 

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agreement, acquisition agreement, reorganization agreement, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or any other similar arrangement providing for any Company Alternative Proposal (other than a Company Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) (the taking of any action described in this Section  6.4(c) being referred to as a “ Company Change in Recommendation ”).

(d) From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) advise Parent of the receipt by the Company or by any of the Company’s Affiliates or, to the Company’s Knowledge, its or their respective Representatives of any Company Alternative Proposal made on or after the date of this Agreement or any inquiries, proposals, offers request for non-public information or data or expressions of interest relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary made by any Person that may reasonably be expected to result in a Company Alternative Proposal or from any Person who has made or has communicated to the Company that it intends to make a Company Alternative Proposal or any request for discussions or negotiations with the Company or a Representative of the Company relating to a Company Alternative Proposal. The Company shall provide to Parent (within such 24 hour time frame) either (i) an unredacted copy of any such Company Alternative Proposal made in writing provided to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective Representatives or, if such Company Alternative Proposal is not in writing, a reasonably detailed written description of the material terms thereof (including the identity of the Person making such Company Alternative Proposal and the price), or (ii) a written summary of the material terms of any such inquiry, proposal, offer, request or expression of interest (including the identity of the Person making such inquiry, proposal, offer, request or expression of interest and, as applicable, the nature of the information requested). Without limiting the Company’s other obligations under this Section  6.4 , the Company shall keep Parent informed on a timely basis (and in any event within 24 hours) with respect to the status and material terms of any such Company Alternative Proposal and any material changes to the status of any such discussions or negotiations or the nature of any information requested of the Company with respect thereto, and shall promptly (and in no event later than 24 hours after transmittal or receipt) provide Parent with copies of any material correspondence and, with respect to material oral communications, a written summary of such correspondence or communications, between: (x) on the one hand, the Company or any of their Representatives; and (y) on the other hand, the Person that made or submitted such Company Alternative Proposal or any Representative of such Person. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours after such determination) inform Parent in writing if the Company determines to begin providing non-public information or to engage in discussions or negotiations concerning a Company Alternative Proposal pursuant to Section  6.4(e)(ii) . The Company agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, enter into any agreement with any Person which directly or indirectly prohibits the Company from providing any information to Parent in accordance with, or otherwise complying with, this Section  6.4 .

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Representatives, may:

 

  (i)

comply with all applicable Laws, including by issuing a “stop, look and listen” communication pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or complying with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act with respect to a Company Alternative Proposal if the Company Board determines that its failure to do so would reasonably be likely to constitute a violation of applicable Laws;

 

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  (ii)

prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, engage in the activities prohibited by Sections 6.4(b)(ii) or 6.4(b)(iii) , solely with and to any Person who has made a written, bona fide Company Alternative Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section  6.4 ; provided , however , that (A) no non-public information that is prohibited from being furnished pursuant to Section  6.4(b) may be furnished until the Company receives an executed confidentiality agreement from such Person (an accurate and complete copy of which shall be provided to Parent substantially concurrently with the Company’s entry into such confidentiality agreement) containing limitations on the use and disclosure of nonpublic information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of the Company that are no less favorable to the Company in the aggregate than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement; provided , further , that such confidentiality agreement does not contain provisions that prohibit the Company from complying with the provisions of this Section  6.4 (such agreement, a “ Company Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement ”), (B) the Company also provides Parent, prior to or substantially concurrently with the time such non-public information is provided or made available to such Person, any non-public information furnished to such other Person that was not previously furnished to Parent, and (C) prior to taking any such actions, the Company Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel, that such Company Alternative Proposal is, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Superior Proposal and, after consultation with its legal counsel, that the failure to engage in such activities would be a breach of the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law; and

 

  (iii)

prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, in response to the Company’s receipt of a Company Alternative Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section  6.4 , if the Company Board (or any committee thereof) so chooses, cause the Company to effect a Company Change in Recommendation, if prior to taking such action (A) the Company Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel, that such Company Alternative Proposal is a Company Superior Proposal (taking into account any adjustment to the terms and conditions of this Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such Company Alternative Proposal), (B) the Company Board (or a committee thereof) has determined in good faith, after consultation with its legal counsel, that failure to do so would be a breach of the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under

 

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  applicable Law, and (C) the Company shall have given notice to Parent that the Company has received such proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such proposal, and that the Company intends to take such action, and either (1) Parent shall not have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the earlier to occur of the scheduled time for the Company Stockholders Meeting and the fifth Business Day after the date on which such notice is given to Parent, or (2) if Parent within the period described in the foregoing clause (1)  shall have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company Board (or any committee thereof), after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel, shall, at the end of such period, have determined in good faith that the Company Alternative Proposal remains a Company Superior Proposal with respect to Parent’s revised proposal; provided , however , that each time material modifications to the financial terms of a Company Alternative Proposal determined to be a Company Superior Proposal are made, the time period set forth in this clause (C)  following which the Company may effect a Company Change in Recommendation or terminate this Agreement shall be extended for 48 hours after notification of such change to Parent; provided , further , that during the time periods set forth in this clause (C)  above, the Company shall cause its Representatives (including its executive officers) to be available to negotiate in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) any proposal by Parent to amend the terms and conditions of this Agreement such that such Company Alternative Proposal would no longer constitute a Company Superior Proposal.

 

  (f)

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, in response to a Company Intervening Event that occurs or arises after the date of this Agreement, the Company may, if the Company Board (or any committee thereof) so chooses, effect a Company Change in Recommendation (only of the type contemplated by Section  6.4(c)(i) or Section  6.4(c)(ii) ) if prior to taking such action (A) the Company Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith after consultation with its legal counsel that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (B) the Company shall have given notice to Parent that the Company has determined that a Company Intervening Event has occurred or arisen (which notice will reasonably describe such Company Intervening Event) and that the Company intends to effect a Company Change in Recommendation, and either (1) Parent shall not have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the earlier to occur of (y) the scheduled time for the Company Stockholders Meeting and (z) the fifth Business Day after the date on which such notice is given to Parent, or (2) if Parent within the period described in the foregoing clause (1)  shall have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company Board (or any committee thereof), after consultation with its legal counsel, shall, at the end of such period, have determined in good faith that such proposed changes do not obviate the need for the Company Board to effect a Company Change in Recommendation and that the failure to make a Company Change in Recommendation would be a breach of the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under

 

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applicable Law, provided that during the time periods set forth in this clause (B)  above, the Company shall cause its Representatives (including its executive officers) to be available to negotiate in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) any proposal by Parent to amend the terms and conditions of this Agreement in a manner that would obviate the need to effect a Company Change in Recommendation.

(g) For purposes of this Section  6.4 and Section  6.5 , the term “Person” means any Person or “group,” as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than, with respect to the Company, Parent or any Parent Subsidiary and with respect to Parent, the Company.

(h) For the avoidance of doubt, any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section  6.4 by any of the Company’s controlled Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives (solely in the case of Representatives, acting at the Company’s or any of the Company’s controlled Affiliates’ direction) shall be a breach of this Section  6.4 by the Company.

6.5 No Solicitation by Parent and Parent Change in Recommendation .

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the

Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII hereof, Parent will, and will cause the Parent Subsidiaries and the Parent Affiliates to, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their Representatives to, as applicable, (i) immediately cease, and cause to be terminated, any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with any Person conducted heretofore by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any of its or their Representatives with respect to any Parent Alternative Proposal, (ii) within two (2) Business Days of the date of this Agreement, request the prompt return or destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to any Person within the last six (6) months for the purposes of evaluating a possible Parent Alternative Proposal and (iii) immediately terminate access to any physical or electronic data rooms relating to a possible Parent Alternative Proposal.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Section  6.5 , from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII hereof, Parent will not, and will cause the Parent Subsidiaries and the Parent Affiliates not to, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, propose or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by furnishing or providing information or taking any other action) any inquiries, proposals, offers, requests for information, expressions of interest or the making, submission or announcement of any inquiry, proposal, offer, request for information or expression of interest from any Person which constitutes or may reasonably be expected to result in, a Parent Alternative Proposal, (ii) enter into, participate in or engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to a Parent Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, indication of interest that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Parent Alternative Proposal, (iii) furnish any information regarding Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries, or access to the properties, assets or employees of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries, to any Person in connection with or in response to a Parent Alternative Proposal, (iv) enter into any letter of intent or agreement in principle, or other agreement or arrangement providing for a Parent Alternative Proposal (other than a Parent Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement), (v) waive or release any person from, forebear in the enforcement of, or amend any standstill agreement or any standstill provisions of

 

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any other Contract, provided that if the Parent Board determines in good faith after consultation with Parent’s legal counsel that the failure to waive a particular standstill provision would be a breach of the Parent Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, Parent may, with prior written notice to the Company, waive such standstill provision, solely to the extent necessary to permit a third party to make and pursue a Parent Alternative Proposal, (vi) take any action to make any “moratorium”, “control share acquisition”, “fair price”, “supermajority”, “affiliate transactions” or “business combination statute or regulation” or other similar Takeover Laws, including Section 203 of the DGCL, inapplicable to any Person (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company or any Company Subsidiary) or any Parent Alternative Proposal or (vii) resolve, agree or publicly propose to, or permit Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any of its or their Representatives to agree or publicly propose to take any of the actions referred to in clauses (i) – (vi).

(c) Unless specifically permitted by Section  6.5(e) , Parent shall not (i) fail to include the Parent Board Recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, (ii) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to the Company, the Parent Board Recommendation, (iii) recommend, adopt or approve, or propose publicly to recommend, adopt or approve, any Parent Alternative Proposal, (iv) fail to publicly reaffirm the Parent Board Recommendation within five (5) Business Days after the Company so requests in writing following any public disclosure of a Parent Alternative Proposal, (v) fail to recommend, in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, against any Parent Alternative Proposal subject to Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act within five (5) Business Days after the commencement of such Parent Alternative Proposal and (vi) approve or authorize, or cause or permit Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to enter into, any merger agreement, acquisition agreement, reorganization agreement, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or any other similar arrangement providing for any Parent Alternative Proposal (other than a Parent Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) (the taking of any action described in this Section  6.5(c) being referred to as a “ Parent Change in Recommendation ”).

(d) From and after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) advise the Company of the receipt by Parent or by any of Parent’s Affiliates or, to Parent’s Knowledge, its or their respective Representatives of any Parent Alternative Proposal made on or after the date of this Agreement or any inquiries, proposals, offers request for non-public information or data or expressions of interest relating to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary made by any Person that may reasonably be expected to result in a Parent Alternative Proposal or from any Person who has made or has communicated to Parent that it intends to make a Parent Alternative Proposal or any request for discussions or negotiations with Parent or a Representative of Parent relating to a Parent Alternative Proposal. Parent shall provide to the Company (within such 24 hour time frame) either (i) an unredacted copy of any such Parent Alternative Proposal made in writing provided to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective Representatives or, if such Parent Alternative Proposal is not in writing, a reasonably detailed written description of the material terms thereof (including the identity of the Person making such Parent Alternative Proposal and the price), or (ii) a written summary of the material terms of any such inquiry, proposal, offer, request or expression of interest (including the identity of the Person making such inquiry, proposal, offer, request or expression of interest and, as applicable, the nature of the information requested). Without limiting Parent’s other obligations under this Section  6.5 , Parent shall keep the Company informed on a timely basis (and in any event

 

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within 24 hours) with respect to the status and material terms of any such Parent Alternative Proposal and any material changes to the status of any such discussions or negotiations or the nature of any information requested of Parent with respect thereto, and shall promptly (and in no event later than 24 hours after transmittal or receipt) provide the Company with copies of any material correspondence and, with respect to material oral communications, a written summary of such correspondence or communications, between: (x) on the one hand, Parent or any of their Representatives; and (y) on the other hand, the Person that made or submitted such Parent Alternative Proposal or any Representative of such Person. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours after such determination) inform the Company in writing if Parent determines to begin providing non-public information or to engage in discussions or negotiations concerning a Parent Alternative Proposal pursuant to Section  6.5(e)(ii) . Parent agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, enter into any agreement with any Person which directly or indirectly prohibits Parent from providing any information to the Company in accordance with, or otherwise complying with, this Section  6.5 .

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Representatives, may:

 

  (i)

comply with all applicable Laws, including by issuing a “stop, look and listen” communication pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or complying with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act with respect to a Parent Alternative Proposal if the Parent Board determines that its failure to do so would reasonably be likely to constitute a violation of applicable Laws;

 

  (ii)

prior to the receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, engage in the activities prohibited by Sections 6.5(b)(ii) or 6.5(b)(iii) , solely with and to any Person who has made a written, bona fide Parent Alternative Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section  6.5 ; provided , however , that (A) no non-public information that is prohibited from being furnished pursuant to Section  6.5(b) may be furnished until Parent receives an executed confidentiality agreement from such Person (an accurate and complete copy of which shall be provided to the Company substantially concurrently with Parent’s entry into such confidentiality agreement) containing limitations on the use and disclosure of nonpublic information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of Parent that are no less favorable to Parent in the aggregate than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement; provided , further , that such confidentiality agreement does not contain provisions that prohibit Parent from complying with the provisions of this Section  6.5 (such agreement, a “ Parent Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement ”), (B) Parent also provides the Company, prior to or substantially concurrently with the time such non-public information is provided or made available to such Person, any non-public information furnished to such other Person that was not previously furnished to the Company, and (C) prior to taking any such actions, the Parent

 

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  Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel, that such Parent Alternative Proposal is, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Parent Superior Proposal and, after consultation with its legal counsel, that the failure to engage in such activities would be a breach of the Parent Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law; and

 

  (iii)

prior to the receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, in response to Parent’s receipt of a Parent Alternative Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section  6.5 , if the Parent Board (or any committee thereof) so chooses, cause Parent to effect a Parent Change in Recommendation, if prior to taking such action (A) Parent Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel, that such Parent Alternative Proposal is a Parent Superior Proposal (taking into account any adjustment to the terms and conditions of this Agreement proposed by the Company in response to such Parent Alternative Proposal), (B) the Parent Board (or a committee thereof) has determined in good faith, after consultation with its legal counsel, that failure to do so would be a breach of the Parent Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, and (C) Parent shall have given notice to the Company that Parent has received such proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such proposal, and that Parent intends to take such action, and either (1) the Company shall not have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the earlier to occur of the scheduled time for the Parent Stockholders Meeting and the fifth Business Day after the date on which such notice is given to the Company, or (2) if the Company within the period described in the foregoing clause (1)  shall have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parent Board (or any committee thereof), after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel, shall, at the end of such period, have determined in good faith that the Parent Alternative Proposal remains a Parent Superior Proposal with respect to the Company’s revised proposal; provided , however , that each time material modifications to the financial terms of a Parent Alternative Proposal determined to be a Parent Superior Proposal are made, the time period set forth in this clause (C)  following which Parent may effect a Parent Change in Recommendation or terminate this Agreement shall be extended for 48 hours after notification of such change to the Company; provided , further , that during the time periods set forth in this clause (C)  above, Parent shall cause its Representatives (including its executive officers) to be available to negotiate in good faith (to the extent the Company desires to negotiate) any proposal by the Company to amend the terms and conditions of this Agreement such that such Parent Alternative Proposal would no longer constitute a Parent Superior Proposal.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to the receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval, in response to a Parent Intervening Event that occurs or arises after the date of this Agreement, Parent may, if the Parent Board (or any committee thereof) so chooses, effect a Parent Change in Recommendation (only of the type contemplated by Section  6.5(c)(i) or Section  6.5(c)(ii) ) if prior to taking such action (A) the Parent Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith after consultation with its legal counsel that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the Parent Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (B) Parent shall have given notice to the Company that Parent has determined that a Parent Intervening Event has occurred or arisen (which notice will reasonably describe such Parent Intervening Event) and that Parent intends to effect a Parent Change in Recommendation, and either (1) the Company shall not have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the earlier to occur of (y) the scheduled time for the Parent Stockholders Meeting and (z) the fifth Business Day after the date on which such notice is given to the Company, or (2) if the Company within the period described in the foregoing clause (1)  shall have proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parent Board (or any committee thereof), after consultation with its legal counsel, shall, at the end of such period, have determined in good faith that such proposed changes do not obviate the need for the Parent Board to effect a Parent Change in Recommendation and that the failure to make a Parent Change in Recommendation would be a breach of the Parent Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, provided that during the time periods set forth in this clause (B)  above, Parent shall cause its Representatives (including its executive officers) to be available to negotiate in good faith (to the extent the Company desires to negotiate) any proposal by the Company to amend the terms and conditions of this Agreement in a manner that would obviate the need to effect a Parent Change in Recommendation.

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section  6.5 by any of Parent’s controlled Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives (solely in the case of Representatives, acting at Parent’s or any of Parent’s controlled Affiliates’ direction) shall be a breach of this Section  6.5 by Parent.

6.6 Access to Information: Confidentiality .

(a) From the date hereof until the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, upon reasonable prior notice, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford Parent and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to (and, with respect to books and records, the right to copy) all of the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ properties, offices, commitments, books, contracts, records and correspondence (in each case, whether in physical or electronic form), and Representatives. The Company shall furnish promptly to Parent (i) a copy of each report, schedule and other document filed or submitted by it pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws and a copy of any communication (including “comment letters”) received by the Company from the SEC concerning compliance with securities Laws and (ii) all other relevant information concerning its and its Subsidiaries’ business, properties and personnel as Parent may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  6.6(a) , the Company

 

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shall not be required to, or to cause any of the Company Subsidiaries to, (i) grant such access if the Company reasonably determines that it would cause significant risk of (A) disrupting or impairing the business or operations of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, (B) constituting a violation of any contract with respect to confidentiality or non-disclosure owing to a third party (including any Governmental Authority) to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party, (C) constituting a violation of any applicable Law, (D) disclosure of any information that in the reasonable judgment of the Company would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or other confidential business information, or (E) resulting in a waiver of attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or similar privilege, or (ii) grant access to conduct environmental sampling or testing or invasive or subsurface investigations.

(b) From the date hereof until the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, upon reasonable prior notice, Parent shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford the Company and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to (and, with respect to books and records, the right to copy) all of Parent’s and the Parent Subsidiaries’ properties, offices, commitments, books, contracts, records and correspondence (in each case, whether in physical or electronic form), and Representatives. Parent shall furnish promptly to the Company (i) a copy of each report, schedule and other document filed or submitted by it pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws and a copy of any communication (including “comment letters”) received by Parent from the SEC concerning compliance with securities Laws and (ii) all other relevant information concerning its and its Subsidiaries’ business, properties and personnel as the Company may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  6.6(b) , Parent shall not be required to, or to cause any of the Parent Subsidiaries to, (i) grant such access if Parent reasonably determines that it would cause significant risk of (A) disrupting or impairing the business or operations of Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries, (B) constituting a violation of any contract with respect to confidentiality or non-disclosure owing to a third party (including any Governmental Authority) to which Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party, (C) constituting a violation of any applicable Law, (D) disclosure of any information that in the reasonable judgment of Parent would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or other confidential business information, or (E) resulting in a waiver of attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or similar privilege, or (ii) grant access to conduct environmental sampling or testing or invasive or subsurface investigations.

(c) The Confidentiality Agreement dated as of January 11, 2019 between Parent and the Company (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”) shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall apply to all information furnished thereunder or hereunder. All information provided to any party or its Representatives pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement is deemed to be “Confidential Information” as defined under the Confidentiality Agreement.

6.7 Public Statements . The initial press release with respect to the execution of this Agreement shall be a joint press release to be reasonably agreed upon by Parent and the Company. Parent and the Company will not, and each of the foregoing will cause its Representatives not to, issue any public announcements or make other public disclosures regarding this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, without the prior written approval of the Other Party; provided , however , that a Party or its Representatives may issue a public announcement or other public disclosures required by Law or the rules of any stock exchange upon which such Party’s or its

 

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parent entity’s capital stock is traded, provided that such Party uses commercially reasonable efforts to afford the Other Party an opportunity to first review the content of the proposed disclosure and provide reasonable comments regarding same; provided , further , that this Section  6.7 shall not be deemed to restrict in any manner the Company’s ability to communicate with its employees and that the Company shall not be required by this Section  6.7 to consult with, or obtain the approval of, any Other Party with respect to a public announcement in connection with the receipt and existence of a Company Alternative Proposal and matters related thereto or a Company Change in Recommendation.

6.8 Takeover Laws . None of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub will take any action that would cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Laws, and each of them will take all reasonable steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from the Takeover Laws of any state that purport to apply to this Agreement, the Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby.

6.9 Obligations of Merger Sub . Parent shall take all action reasonably necessary to cause Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

6.10 Indebtedness .

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement, and through the earlier of the Effective Time and the date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII , Parent shall, and shall cause each of the Parent Subsidiaries to, and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its and their Representatives to provide timely cooperation in connection with the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the Company Borrowing Base Amendment or any Company Refinancing Facility, as applicable, including:

 

  (i)

executing and delivering definitive financing documents, including guarantee and collateral documents, hedging agreements and other certificates and documents as may be reasonably requested by the Company, and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Company, making available appropriate members of senior management of Parent to assist in the negotiation of such agreements and other documents and instruments;

 

  (ii)

using commercially reasonable efforts to provide reasonable assistance to the Company in connection with the preparation of pro forma financial information to be included in any marketing materials to be used in connection with the Company Borrowing Base Amendment or any Company Refinancing Facility, as applicable;

 

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  (iii)

using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain consents of the auditors and the relevant independent reserve engineers of Parent for use of their reports in any materials relating to the Company Borrowing Base Amendment or any Company Refinancing Facility, as applicable, and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause such auditors and independent reserve engineers to cooperate with the Company; and

 

  (iv)

cooperating with the Company to satisfy the conditions precedent to the Company Borrowing Base Amendment or any Company Refinancing Facility, as applicable, to the extent within the control of Parent or its Affiliates, and taking all corporate or limited liability company actions, subject to the occurrence of the Closing, reasonably requested by the Company to permit the consummation of the Company Borrowing Base Amendment or any Company Refinancing Facility.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company will be responsible for the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by either Parent or Company in connection with the cooperation pursuant to and compliance with this Section  6.10 .

6.11 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance .

(a) Without limiting any additional rights that any director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, or fiduciary may have under any employment or indemnification agreement or under the Company’s Organizational Documents, or, if applicable, the Company Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement and made available to Parent, during the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Entity, jointly and severally, will: (i) indemnify and hold harmless each person who (A) is now, or has been or becomes at any time prior to the Effective Time, an officer, director or employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (B) was an officer, director or employee of Parent prior to the Effective Time but whose service to Parent in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee, as applicable, was terminated or severed as part of the transactions contemplated hereby, and also with respect to any such Person, in such Person’s capacity as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, foundation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise (regardless of whether such other entity or enterprise is affiliated with the Company or Parent, as and if applicable) serving at the request of or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, as and if applicable and together with such Person’s heirs, executors or administrators (collectively, the “ Indemnified Parties ”) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable Law in connection with any Proceeding and any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, Indemnification Expenses, Judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any thereof) resulting therefrom; and (ii) promptly pay on behalf of or, within five (5) days after any request for advancement, advance to each of the Indemnified Parties, any Indemnification Expenses incurred in defending, serving as a witness with respect to or otherwise participating with respect to any Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, including payment on behalf of or advancement to the Indemnified Party of any Indemnification Expenses incurred by

 

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such Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to such indemnification or advancement, in each case without the requirement of any bond or other security. The indemnification and advancement obligations of Parent and the Surviving Entity pursuant to this Section  6.11 extend to acts or omissions occurring at or before the Effective Time and any Proceeding relating thereto (including with respect to any acts or omissions occurring in connection with the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the consideration and approval thereof and the process undertaken in connection therewith and any Proceeding relating thereto), and all rights to indemnification and advancement conferred hereunder continue as to any Indemnified Party who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or Parent or any Parent Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement and inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. As used in this Section  6.11 : (x) the term “ Indemnification Expenses ” means documented out of pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses and all other reasonable and documented out of pocket costs, expenses and obligations (including experts’ fees, travel expenses, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in, any Proceeding for which indemnification is sought pursuant to this Section  6.11 , including any Proceeding relating to a claim for indemnification or advancement brought by an Indemnified Party; and (y) the phrase “to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable Law” includes, but is not limited to (1) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any provision of the DGCL that authorizes or permits additional indemnification by agreement or otherwise, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL and (2) to 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 an entity may indemnify its directors, officers, trustees, employees, agents, or fiduciaries or persons serving in any capacity in which any Indemnified Party serves, provided that any amendment, alteration or repeal of the DGCL that adversely affects any right of any Indemnified Party will be prospective only and does not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal. Neither Parent nor the Surviving Entity will settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any Judgment in any actual or threatened Proceeding in respect of which indemnification has been or could be sought by such Indemnified Party hereunder unless such settlement, compromise or Judgment includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Proceeding without admission or finding of wrongdoing, or such Indemnified Party otherwise consents thereto.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties as provided in the Company’s Organizational Documents or the Company Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents will be assumed by the Surviving Entity and Parent in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and will survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

 

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(c) Parent’s Organizational Documents, each Parent Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents, the Surviving Entity’s Organizational Documents and each Company Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents will contain provisions no less favorable in the aggregate with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses, exculpation and limitations on liability of directors and officers than are set forth in Parent’s Organizational Documents, each such Parent Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents, the Company’s Organizational Documents and each such Company Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents, which provisions will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Effective Time, were Indemnified Parties, unless such modification is required by Law and then only to the minimum extent required by Law; provided , however , that any such modification shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to modification; and provided , further, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any Proceeding made within such period continue until the disposition of such Proceeding.

(d) Parent and the Company may each, on or prior to the Effective Time, obtain and purchase up to six (6) years of tail coverage for their respective current directors’ and officers’ liability and fiduciary liability insurance policies providing coverage for post-Effective Time claims asserting actual or alleged acts or omissions occurring prior to or at the Effective Time.

(e) If Parent, the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provision will be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Entity assume the obligations set forth in this Section  6.11 .

(f) Parent will cause the Surviving Entity to perform all of the obligations of the Surviving Entity under this Section  6.11 .

(g) This Section  6.11 survives the consummation of the Merger and is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties and their respective heirs and personal representatives, and will be binding on Parent, the Surviving Entity and their respective successors and assigns.

6.12 Section  16 Matters . Prior to the Effective Time, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of equity securities of the Company (including derivative securities) or acquisitions of equity securities of Parent (including derivative securities) in connection with this Agreement by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company, or may become subject to such reporting requirements with respect to Parent, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

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6.13 Employee Matters .

(a) Until December 31, 2019 (or, if earlier, an applicable Continuing Employee’s termination date) (the “ Continuation Period ”), Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Entity or LLC Sub to, provide to the employees of Parent and its Subsidiaries who remain as employees of Parent and its Subsidiaries following the Effective Time (each, a “ Continuing Employee ”), compensation and employee benefits (excluding any defined benefit pension, equity or equity-based, deferred compensation or post-termination or retiree health or welfare benefits) in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors such individual, in whole or in part, on the basis of whether such individual was an employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the other hand, immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided , however , that this Section  6.13 shall be deemed satisfied in the event Parent should for the Continuation Period, either (i) provide compensation and employee benefits (excluding any defined benefit pension, equity or equity-based, deferred compensation or post-termination or retiree health or welfare benefits) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to the compensation and employee benefits (excluding any defined benefit pension, equity or equity-based, deferred compensation or post-termination or retiree health or welfare benefits) to which the Continuing Employees were entitled immediately prior to the Effective Time or (ii) provide compensation and employee benefits (excluding any defined benefit pension, deferred compensation or post-termination or retiree health or welfare benefits) to the Continuing Employees at the same level as applies to similarly situated individuals employed by the Company its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time. Nothing herein shall limit the right of Parent or the employing Parent Subsidiary (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) to terminate the employment of any Continuing Employee at any time. During the Continuation Period, Parent will continue to maintain the Parent Severance Plan or a more favorable severance plan for the benefit of Continuing Employees, and Parent shall ensure the ongoing eligibility of any Continuing Employee who is employed by Parent as of December 31, 2019 and who, as of the Effective Time, was eligible to receive a payment under such plan based on continued service through December 31, 2019.

(b) During the Continuation Period, Parent shall take all commercially reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to permit each Continuing Employee to either continue to participate in the Parent Benefit Plans set forth on Section  5.12(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter or be eligible to participate in the Company Benefit Plans set forth on Section  4.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter. To the extent Parent causes a Continuing Employee to cease to be eligible to participate in a Parent Benefit Plan and instead provides for such Continuing Employee to be eligible to participate in a Company Benefit Plan or other benefit plan sponsored or maintained by Parent or one of its Affiliates (the “ Replacement Plans ”) during the plan year in which the Closing Date occurs, if such Replacement Plan is a group health plan, Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to credit (or cause to be credited) such Continuing Employee, for the year during which such coverage under such Replacement Plan begins, with any deductibles and copayments already incurred during such year under the comparable Parent Benefit Plan. Parent, the Surviving Entity, LLC Sub, their Affiliates, and the Replacement Plans shall recognize each Continuing Employee’s years of service and level of seniority with the Parent and its Subsidiaries (including service and seniority with any other employer that was recognized prior to the Effective Time) for purposes of terms of employment and eligibility to participate, vesting and (for purposes of vacation and severance benefits only) benefit determination (but not for benefit accruals under any defined benefit or retiree welfare arrangement) under the Replacement Plans; provided , however , that (i) such service shall only be credited to the same extent and for the same purpose as such service was credited under the analogous Parent Benefit Plan set forth on Section  5.12(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter and (ii) no such service shall be credited to the extent doing so would result in a duplication of benefits. Parent shall cause each Replacement Plan that is a group health plan to waive any preexisting condition exclusion or restriction with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to a Continuing Employee to the extent such exclusion or restriction did not apply with respect to such employee under the corresponding Parent Benefit Plan.

 

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(c) Parent expressly agrees and confirms its obligation to abide by and honor all of the terms of the Parent Benefit Plans as such Parent Benefit Plans are in effect, provided that nothing herein shall restrict Parent from amending, modifying or terminating any Parent Benefit Plan in accordance with (and only if permitted under) its terms or pursuant to agreement with an applicable participant, beneficiary or counterparty of or to such Parent Benefit Plan. Parent and Company further expressly agree that, except to the extent necessary to avoid a violation of Code Section 409A, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be treated as a “change in control” as of the Effective Time for purposes of all Parent Benefit Plans, including the Parent Stock Plans and all applicable employment agreements in effect prior to the Effective Time to which any employee of Parent or its Subsidiaries is a party. Parent agrees to satisfy promptly all applicable severance, retention and change in control payments and benefits owing to Parent employees, directors and other service providers under the Parent Benefit Plans. Without limiting the foregoing, (i) with respect to any employee of Parent and its Subsidiaries whose employment is terminated without “cause” (as such term is defined in the applicable Parent Benefit Plan, but also including employees who are deemed to be terminated without cause pursuant to Section 6.13(d) below) on or within one year after the Closing Date, (A) all Parent Stock Options held by such employee shall become fully vested, (B) all Parent RSUs held by such employee shall become fully vested and shall be settled promptly upon termination, (C) all Parent PSUs that are subject to the achievement of specific Parent stock price levels shall be deemed earned at the level specified in Section 3(e)(ii) of the applicable award agreement and shall become vested and settled promptly upon termination, (D) all Parent PSUs that are not described in the foregoing clause (C) shall be deemed earned at the target level of such award and shall become vested and settled promptly upon termination, and (E) all cash amounts pursuant to the “Share Buyback Equalization Program” approved by the Company Board on December 21, 2018 (the “ Equalization Program ”) that are owing to such Parent employee(s) shall be paid promptly upon termination, (ii) all Parent RSUs held by members of the Parent Board shall become fully vested and shall be settled promptly upon the Closing Date, and (iii) all cash amounts pursuant to the Equalization Program that are owing to non-employee directors of the Company shall be paid promptly upon the Closing Date.

(d) At least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall cease contributions to, and adopt written resolutions to terminate, the Midstates Petroleum Company, LLC 401(k) Plan (the “ Parent 401(k) Plan ”) and to one hundred percent vest all participants under the Parent 401(k) Plan, such termination and vesting to be effective no later than the Business Day preceding the Closing Date. Prior to the execution of any such resolutions, Parent shall provide the Company unexecuted draft resolutions for Company’s review and consent.

(e) For purposes of Section  6.13(c) and for purposes of eligibility to receive severance payments under the Parent Severance Plan (or a replacement plan maintained or implemented in compliance with the last sentence of Section  6.13(a) ), an employee of Parent shall be deemed to have been terminated without “cause” if such employee incurs a termination of employment with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries on or within one year after the Closing Date on account of such employee refusing to either (i) relocate his or her principal place of employment to a location that is more than 50 miles from his or her then current principal place of employment, or (ii) accept a job position that would result in a material diminution in duties, authority or responsibility.

 

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(f) Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute the establishment of or an amendment to, or be construed as establishing or amending, any benefit or compensation plan, program, contract, arrangement or agreement sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries, and, subject to the last sentence of Section  6.13(a) , nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to alter or limit the ability of Parent or any of its Affiliates (including, following the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity and, following consummation of the LLC Sub Merger, LLC Sub) to amend, modify or terminate any benefit or compensation plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement. The provisions of this Section  6.13 are for the sole benefit of the Parties and nothing herein, expressed or implied, is intended or will be construed to confer upon or give to any Person (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Continuing Employee or other current or former employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary), other than the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any legal or equitable or other rights or remedies under or by reason of any provision of this Agreement.

(g) Parent agrees, upon the Company’s reasonable request, to facilitate discussions between Parent and Company employees a reasonable time in advance of the Closing Date regarding employment, retention, consulting or other arrangements to be effective following the consummation of the Merger.

6.14 Transaction Litigation . The Company shall give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any security holder litigation against the Company or its respective directors relating to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Parent shall give the Company the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any security holder litigation against Parent or its directors relating to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

6.15 Cessation of Quotation . The Company will cooperate with Parent and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and rules and policies of the OTCQX to cause the cessation of quotation of Company Common Stock on the OTCQX on the Closing Date and prior to the Effective Time.

6.16 Preparation of Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus .

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and Parent shall jointly prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC, in a form mutually acceptable to the Parties, a joint proxy statement/prospectus to be sent to the respective holders of Company Common Stock and Parent Common Stock in connection with the

 

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Company Stockholders Meeting and Parent Stockholders Meeting and the prospectus relating to the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus ”), and Parent shall prepare (with the Company’s reasonable cooperation) and file with the SEC the Form S-4, in which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be included as a prospectus, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and with all other applicable Law. Each of the Company and Parent, as applicable, shall ensure that the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus includes (i) the opinion of its financial advisor referred to in Section  4.24 and Section  5.25 , as applicable, (ii) the Tax opinions referred to in Section  6.18(b) and (iii) a summary of the financial analysis conducted by such respective financial advisor. Subject to Section  6.4 , Section  6.5 and Section  6.16(d) , the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall include the Company Board Recommendation and Parent Board Recommendation. Parent and the Company shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after filing thereof (including by responding to any comments of the SEC). Parent and the Company shall also make all necessary filings with respect to the Merger and the transactions contemplated herein under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any necessary state or “blue sky” securities Laws in connection with the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock. Parent and the Company will cause the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to the respective holders of Parent Common Stock and Company Common Stock as soon as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC.

(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall furnish all information concerning such Party and its Affiliates to the Other Party, and provide such other assistance, as may be reasonably requested by such Other Party and shall otherwise reasonably assist and cooperate with the Other Party in the preparation, filing, and, as applicable, distribution of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 and the resolution of any comments received from the SEC. If at any time prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval and Parent Stockholder Approval, any information relating to the Company or Parent, or any of their respective Affiliates, directors or officers, should be discovered by the Company or Parent that is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to either the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4, so that either such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading, the Party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other Party and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the respective holders of Parent Common Stock and Company Common Stock, as applicable.

(c) The Parties shall notify each other promptly of the receipt of any comments, whether written or oral, from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 or for additional information and shall supply each other with copies of (i) all correspondence between

 

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any Party and/or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 and (ii) all stop orders of the SEC relating to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4. Each Party shall give the Other Party and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate in preparing the proposed response by such Party to comments received from the SEC or its staff and to provide comments on any proposed response thereto, and such Party shall give reasonable consideration to such comments. Unless, in the case of Parent, the Parent Board has made a Parent Change in Recommendation or, in the case of the Company, the Company Board has made a Company Change in Recommendation:

 

  (i)

each of Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts (1) to respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comment from the SEC with respect to, or any request from the SEC for amendments or supplements to, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and (2) to have the SEC advise Parent and the Company as promptly as reasonably practicable that the SEC has no further comments on the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus; and

 

  (ii)

each of Parent and the Company shall file the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in definitive form with the SEC and cause such definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be sent to the respective holders of Parent Common Stock and Company Common Stock as promptly as reasonably practicable after the SEC advises Parent and the Company that the SEC has no further comments on the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

(d) No amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 will be made by the Company or Parent without the approval of the Other Party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, provided that (i) the Company in connection with a Company Change in Recommendation made in compliance with the terms hereof may (and Parent shall comply with any request by the Company to) amend or supplement the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including by incorporation by reference) to the extent it contains (A) a Company Change in Recommendation, (B) a statement of the reasons of the Company Board for making such a Company Change in Recommendation and (C) additional information reasonably related to the foregoing and (ii) Parent in connection with a Parent Change in Recommendation made in compliance with the terms hereof may (and the Company shall comply with any request by Parent to) amend or supplement the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including by incorporation by reference) to the extent it contains (A) a Parent Change in Recommendation, (B) a statement of the reasons of the Parent Board for making such a Parent Change in Recommendation and (C) additional information reasonably related to the foregoing.

6.17 Company Stockholders Meeting; Parent Stockholders Meeting; Other Approvals .

(a) The Company shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Laws and the Organizational Documents of the Company to duly give notice of, convene and hold the Company Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, as promptly as reasonably practicable following the clearance of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus by the SEC (and in any event no later than forty-five days thereafter). Except

 

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as otherwise expressly permitted by Section  6.4 , the Company shall (i) through the Company Board, recommend, including through a recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, that the holders of Company Common Stock vote in favor of the approval of the adoption of this Agreement at the Company Stockholders Meeting and (ii) solicit from holders of Company Common Stock proxies in favor of the approval of the adoption of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (except for the sentence immediately following this sentence), the Company (A) shall be required to adjourn or postpone the Company Stockholders Meeting (1) to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is provided to the holders of Company Common Stock within a reasonable amount of time in advance of the Company Stockholders Meeting or (2) if, as of the time for which the Company Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, there are insufficient shares of Company Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at such Company Stockholders Meeting and (B) may, and at Parent’s request shall, adjourn or postpone the Company Stockholders Meeting if, as of the time for which the Company Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, there are insufficient shares of Company Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval; provided , however , that unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, the Company Stockholders Meeting shall not be adjourned or postponed to a date that is more than twenty Business Days after the date for which the Company Stockholders Meeting was previously scheduled (it being understood that such Company Stockholders Meeting shall be adjourned or postponed every time the circumstances described in the foregoing clause (A)(1) and clause (A)(2) exist, and such Company Stockholders Meeting may be adjourned or postponed every time the circumstances described in the foregoing clause (B)  exist) and provided , further , that the Company Stockholders Meeting shall not be adjourned or postponed to a date on or after two (2) Business Days prior to the Outside Date, as the same may be postponed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may adjourn or postpone the Company Stockholders Meeting to a date no later than the second Business Day after the expiration of the periods contemplated by Section  6.4(e) or Section  6.4(f) . Unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company’s obligation to call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company Stockholders Meeting in accordance with this Section  6.17(a) shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the making, commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission of any Company Alternative Proposal or Company Superior Proposal, or by any Company Change in Recommendation. If requested by Parent, the Company shall promptly provide to Parent all voting tabulation reports relating to the Company Stockholders Meeting that have been prepared by the Company or the Company’s transfer agent, proxy solicitor or other Representatives.

(b) Parent shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Laws and the Organizational Documents of Parent to duly give notice of, convene and hold the Parent Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval, as promptly as reasonably practicable following the clearance of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus by the SEC (and in any event no later than forty-five days thereafter). Except as otherwise expressly permitted by Section  6.5 , Parent shall (i) through the Parent Board, recommend, including through a recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, that the holders of Parent Common Stock vote in favor of the approval of the adoption of this Agreement at the Parent Stockholders Meeting and (ii) solicit from holders of the Parent Common Stock proxies in favor of the approval of the adoption of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement

 

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(except for the sentence immediately following this sentence), Parent (A) shall be required to adjourn or postpone the Parent Stockholders Meeting (1) to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is provided to the holders of Parent Common Stock within a reasonable amount of time in advance of the Parent Stockholders Meeting or (2) if, as of the time for which the Parent Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, there are insufficient shares of Parent Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at such Parent Stockholders Meeting and (B) may, and at the Company’s request shall, adjourn or postpone the Parent Stockholders Meeting if, as of the time for which the Parent Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, there are insufficient shares of Parent Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval; provided , however , that unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, the Parent Stockholders Meeting shall not be adjourned or postponed to a date that is more than twenty Business Days after the date for which the Parent Stockholders Meeting was previously scheduled (it being understood that such Parent Stockholders Meeting shall be adjourned or postponed every time the circumstances described in the foregoing clause (A)(1) and clause (A)(2) exist, and such Parent Stockholders Meeting may be adjourned or postponed every time the circumstances described in the foregoing clause (B)  exist) and provided , further , that the Parent Stockholders Meeting shall not be adjourned or postponed to a date on or after two (2) Business Days prior to the Outside Date, as the same may be postponed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent may adjourn or postpone the Parent Stockholders Meeting to a date no later than the second Business Day after the expiration of the periods contemplated by Section  6.5(e) or Section  6.5(f) . Unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms, Parent’s obligation to call, give notice of, convene and hold the Parent Stockholders Meeting in accordance with this Section  6.17(b) shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the making, commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission of any Parent Alternative Proposal or Parent Superior Proposal, or by any Parent Change in Recommendation. If requested by the Company, Parent shall promptly provide to the Company all voting tabulation reports relating to the Parent Stockholders Meeting that have been prepared by Parent or Parent’s transfer agent, proxy solicitor or other Representatives.

(c) Immediately after the execution of this Agreement, Parent shall duly approve and adopt this Agreement in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub in accordance with applicable Law and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent Organizational Documents of Merger Sub and deliver to the Company evidence of its vote or action by written consent so approving and adopting this Agreement.

6.18 Intended Tax Treatment .

(a) The Parties intend that the Integrated Mergers, taken together, will qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment, shall report the Integrated Mergers, taken together, as such for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income Tax purposes and shall not take any position inconsistent with such treatment unless otherwise required to do so pursuant to a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code or applicable state or local income Tax Law. Both prior to and following the Effective Time, Parent and the Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to use their commercially reasonable efforts, to take or cause to be taken any action necessary for the Integrated Mergers, taken together, to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment, including by reasonably refraining from any action that such party knows, or is reasonably expected to know, would impede or prevent the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

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(b) Parent and the Company shall cooperate and use, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to cooperate and use, their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any Tax opinions required to be filed with the SEC in connection with the filing of the Form S-4. Such efforts shall include (i) Parent, Merger Sub and LLC Sub delivering to Latham & Watkins LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP Tax representation letters in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C and (ii) the Company delivering to Latham & Watkins LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP Tax representation letters in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit D , in each case, with any modifications thereto that are reasonably requested by counsel and dated and executed as of the date the Form S-4 shall have been declared effective by the SEC or such other date(s) as determined reasonably necessary by Latham & Watkins LLP or Kirkland & Ellis LLP in connection with the filing of the Form S-4 or its exhibits.

(c) Parent and the Company shall cooperate and use, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to cooperate and use, their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the Company Tax Opinion and Parent Tax Opinion. Such efforts shall include (i) Parent, Merger Sub and LLC Sub delivering to Latham & Watkins LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP Tax representation letters in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C and (ii) the Company delivering to Latham & Watkins LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP Tax representation letters in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit D , in each case, with any modifications thereto that are reasonably requested by Latham & Watkins LLP or Kirkland & Ellis LLP and dated and executed as of the date of the Company Tax Opinion and Parent Tax Opinion.

(d) This Agreement is intended to constitute and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

6.19 Treatment of Company Warrants . Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the Company shall make all necessary and appropriate provisions to ensure that, pursuant to the terms of the Company Warrant Agreement, holders of the Company Warrants have the right to acquire and receive, upon the exercise of such warrants, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock that would have been issued or paid to the holders of the Company Warrants if such holders were to have exercised the Company Warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time, including Parent’s assumption by written instrument of the obligations to deliver to each such holder such shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Company Warrant Agreement.

6.20 Treatment of Company Registration Rights Agreement . Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the assumption by Parent of the obligations of the Company under that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 4, 2017, by and between the Company and certain holders of Company Common Stock party thereto (the “ Company Registration Rights Agreement ”), which efforts shall include negotiating in good faith to enter into a consolidated registration rights agreement among Parent and the holders of Company Common Stock that are party to the Company Registration Rights Agreement and the holders of Parent Common Stock that are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 21, 2016, by and between Parent and certain holders of Parent Common Stock party thereto.

 

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6.21 Waiver of Company Change in Control Payments . Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain written waivers from any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor, consultant of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for which the consummation of the Merger would accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any payment or funding, of any compensation, equity award or other benefits under any Company Benefit Plan (the “ Company CIC Payments ”), with such waivers to expressly waive the right to receive any such Company CIC Payments in relation to the consummation of the Merger.

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

7.1 Mutual Closing Conditions . The obligations of each of the Parties to consummate the Merger are conditioned upon the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing (or waiver by both the Company and Parent) of each of the following:

(a) Stockholder approvals . The Parent Stockholder Approval and Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

(b) Effectiveness of Form S-4 . The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or Proceeding seeing a stop order.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints . No Law (whether preliminary, temporary or permanent) issued, enacted, promulgated, entered or enforced by a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any Party restraining, enjoining, prohibiting or rendering illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (brought by a third party) is in effect, and no Proceeding before a Governmental Entity seeking such a Law shall be pending.

(d) Regulatory Approval . All Consents necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Merger shall have been obtained and all applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.

(e) Listing . The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

7.2 Conditions to Parent s and Merger Sub s Obligations to Effect the Merger . The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by Parent and Merger Sub, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

 

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(a) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in (i) this Agreement (other than in Section  4.2(a) and Section  4.8(a)) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” set forth in any individual such representation or warranty) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii)  Section  4.2(a) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except for any Immaterial Inaccuracies, and (iii)  Section  4.8(a) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such time;

(b) the Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with its obligations or covenants under the Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it under the Agreement at or prior to the Effective time;

(c) prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall deliver to Parent a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by its chief executive officer or chief financial officer that the conditions set forth in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above shall have occurred and be continuing as of the Effective Time; and

(d) Parent shall have received a written Tax opinion from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to Parent (or, if Latham & Watkins LLP is unable to deliver such opinion, Kirkland & Ellis LLP), dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and based on the facts, representations, assumptions and exclusions set forth or described in such opinion, to the effect that the Integrated Mergers, taken together, will qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment (the “ Parent Tax Opinion ”). Latham & Watkins LLP or Kirkland & Ellis LLP, as applicable, shall be entitled to rely upon customary assumptions, representations, warranties, and covenants from each of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub and LLC Sub (or any other relevant parties), in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Latham & Watkins LLP or Kirkland & Ellis LLP, as applicable, including Tax representation letters in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibit C hereto and Exhibit D hereto, with any modifications to such representation letters that are reasonably requested by Latham & Watkins LLP or Kirkland & Ellis LLP, as applicable. Each such representation letter shall be dated as of the date of the Parent Tax Opinion.

7.3 Conditions to the Company s Obligations to Effect the Merger . The obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) the representations and warranties of Parent contained in (i) this Agreement (other than in Section  5.2(a) and Section  5.9(a)) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” set forth in any individual such representation or warranty) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (ii)  Section  5.2(a) shall be true and correct as of the date of this

 

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Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except for any Immaterial Inaccuracies, and (iii)  Section  5.9(a) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such time;

(b) Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with their respective obligations or covenants under the Agreement required to be performed or complied with by them under the Agreement at or prior to the Effective time;

(c) not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have received payoff letters from each holder of Payoff Indebtedness that will be outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, setting forth the total amounts payable to each such holder, agent and trustee of such Payoff Indebtedness to fully satisfy all principal, interest, and all fees, costs and expenses as of the anticipated Closing Date (and the daily accrual thereafter), together with appropriate wire instructions, and the agreement of each such holder, agent and trustee of Payoff Indebtedness that upon payment in full of such amounts owed to such holder, agent or trustee, the loan documents and, if applicable, the indenture documents related to such Payoff Indebtedness shall be terminated with respect to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries that are borrowers, issuers or guarantors thereof (or the assets or equity of which secure such Indebtedness) and such holder, agent or trustee shall release and terminate all Liens on Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries and their respective assets and equity securing such Payoff Indebtedness (the “ Payoff Letters ”), together with any applicable documents necessary to evidence the release and termination of all Liens on Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries and their respective assets and equity securing, and any guarantees by Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries in respect of, such Payoff Indebtedness;

(d) prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall deliver to the Company a certificate, signed on behalf of Parent by its chief executive officer or chief financial officer that the conditions set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above shall have occurred and be continuing as of the Effective Time; and

(e) The Company shall have received a written Tax opinion from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (or, if Kirkland & Ellis LLP is unable to deliver such opinion, Latham & Watkins LLP), dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and based on the facts, representations, assumptions and exclusions set forth or described in such opinion, to the effect that the Integrated Mergers, taken together, will qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment (the “ Company Tax Opinion ”). Kirkland & Ellis LLP or Latham & Watkins LLP, as applicable, shall be entitled to rely upon customary assumptions, representations, warranties, and covenants from each of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub and LLC Sub (or any other relevant parties), in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Kirkland & Ellis LLP or Latham & Watkins LLP, as applicable, including Tax representation letters in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibit C hereto and Exhibit D hereto, with any modifications to such representation letters that are reasonably requested by Kirkland & Ellis LLP or Latham & Watkins LLP, as applicable. Each such representation letter shall be dated as of the date of the Company Tax Opinion.

 

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7.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions . None of the Parties may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Merger or for terminating this Agreement, on the failure of any condition set forth in Sections 7.1 , 7.2 or 7.3 to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such Party’s breach of any provision of this Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION

8.1 Termination of Agreement . This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing as follows:

(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;

(b) by the Company or Parent if there is in effect a final nonappealable order of a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or if there is adopted any Law that permanently makes consummation of the transactions illegal or otherwise permanently prohibited, provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section  8.1(b) is not available to the Company, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, if such order was primarily due to a material breach by the Company, on the one hand, or either of Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, of this Agreement;

(c) by the Company or Parent if, (i) after final adjournment or postponement of the Parent Stockholders Meeting at which a vote of the holders of Parent Common Stock has been taken in accordance with this Agreement, the Parent Stockholder Approval has not been obtained or (ii) after final adjournment or postponement of the Company Stockholders Meeting at which a vote of the holders of Company Common Stock has been taken in accordance with this Agreement, the Company Stockholder Approval has not been obtained;

(d) by Parent if (i) the Company has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, or (ii) any representation or warranty of the Company becomes untrue, and, with respect to either clause (i)  or (ii) above, which breach, failure to perform or untruth if it was continuing as of the Closing Date would result in the failure of the conditions set forth in Section  7.2(a) or Section  7.2(b) to be satisfied and such breach, failure to perform or untruth is incapable of being cured (or becoming true) or, if capable of being cured (or becoming true), is not cured (or does not become true) by the earlier of (x) the Outside Date or (y) within 30 days following receipt by the Company of notice of such breach, failure or untruth from Parent, provided that Parent and Merger Sub are not in material breach of this Agreement and that no Parent Designated Stockholder is in material breach of its obligations under the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreement;

(e) by the Company if (i) Parent has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, or (ii) any representation or warranty of Parent becomes untrue, and, with respect to either clause (i)  or (ii) above, which breach, failure to perform or untruth if it was continuing as of the Closing Date would result in the failure of the conditions set forth in Section  7.3(a) or Section  7.3(b) to be satisfied and such breach, failure to perform or untruth is incapable of being cured (or becoming

 

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true) or, if capable of being cured (or becoming true), is not cured (or does not become true) by the earlier of (x) the Outside Date or (y) within 30 days following receipt by Parent of notice of such breach, failure or untruth from the Company, provided that the Company is not in material breach of this Agreement and that no Company Designated Stockholder is in material breach of its obligations under the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreement;

(f) by the Company or Parent if the Closing does not occur on or before the date that is six (6) months from the date hereof (the “ Outside Date ”), provided that such failure of the Closing to occur is not due to the failure of such Party to perform and comply in all material respects with the covenants and agreements to be performed or complied with by such Party prior to the Closing;

(g) by Parent, if (i) prior to, but not after, the time the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained, the Company Board (or a committee thereof) shall have effected a Company Change in Recommendation or (ii) the Company is in violation in any material respect of its obligations under Section  6.4 ;

(h) by the Company, if (i) prior to, but not after, the time the Parent Stockholder Approval is obtained, the Parent Board (or a committee thereof) shall have effected a Parent Change in Recommendation or (ii) Parent is in violation in any material respect of its obligations under Section  6.5 ;

(i) by Parent, if any of the Company Designated Stockholders fail to execute and deliver to Parent the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreement within one business day following the execution of this Agreement; and

(j) by the Company if any of the Parent Designated Stockholders fail to execute and deliver to the Company the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreement within one business day following the execution of this Agreement.

8.2 Procedure Upon Termination . In the event of termination of this Agreement by Parent or the Company, or both, pursuant to Section  8.1 , written notice thereof shall be given to the Other Party, and this Agreement will terminate without further action by Parent or the Company.

8.3 Effect of Termination . In the event that this Agreement is validly terminated as provided in Section  8.1 , then each of the Parties will be relieved of its duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination will be without liability to Parent or the Company, provided that the agreements and obligations of the Parties set forth in Section  6.6(c) , this Section  8.3 , Section  8.4 and Article IX hereof will survive any such termination and are enforceable hereunder; provided , further , that nothing in this Section  8.3 relieves any of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company of any liability for fraud or any Willful Breach of this Agreement occurring prior to termination, or as provided in the Confidentiality Agreement, in which case the aggrieved Party shall be entitled to all rights and remedies available at Law or in equity (in the case of the Confidentiality Agreement, subject to the terms thereof). “ Willful Breach ” means an intentional and willful material breach, or an intentional and willful material failure to perform, in each case, that is the consequence of an act or omission by a Party with the Knowledge that the taking of, or failure to take, such act would, or would reasonably be expected to, cause a material breach of this Agreement.

 

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8.4 Fees and Expense Reimbursement .

(a) In the event that (i) a Company Alternative Proposal is publicly submitted, publicly proposed, publicly disclosed or otherwise communicated to the Company Board prior to, and not withdrawn at the time of, the Company Stockholders Meeting, (ii) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section  8.1(d) (Company Terminable Breach) or by the Company or Parent pursuant to Section  8.1(f) (Outside Date) or Section  8.1(c)(ii) (Failure to Obtain Company Stockholder Approval), and (iii) the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, a Company Alternative Proposal within 12 months after the date this Agreement is terminated, then the Company will pay to Parent the Company Termination Fee, within two (2) Business Days of the consummation of such Company Alternative Proposal. For purposes of this Section  8.4(a) , any reference in the definition of Company Alternative Proposal to “15%” shall be deemed to be to be a reference to “more than 50%.”

(b) In the event that (i) a Parent Alternative Proposal is publicly submitted, publicly proposed, publicly disclosed or otherwise communicated to the Parent Board prior to, and not withdrawn at the time of, the Parent Stockholders Meeting, (ii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section  8.1(e) (Parent Terminable Breach) or by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section  8.1(f) (Outside Date) or Section  8.1(c)(i) (Failure to Obtain Parent Stockholder Approval), and (iii) Parent enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, a Parent Alternative Proposal within 12 months after the date this Agreement is terminated, then Parent will pay to the Company the Parent Termination Fee, within two (2) Business Days of the consummation of such Parent Alternative Proposal. For purposes of this Section  8.4(b) , any reference in the definition of Parent Alternative Proposal to “15%” shall be deemed to be to be a reference to “more than 50%.”

(c) In the event this Agreement is terminated by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section  8.1(c)(ii) (Failure to Obtain Company Stockholder Approval) or by Parent pursuant to Section  8.1(d) (Company Terminable Breach), then the Company will pay to Parent the Parent Expenses (unless Parent is then entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section  8.1(g) (Company Change in Recommendation or Material Breach of Non-Solicit), in which event the Company will pay to Parent the Company Termination Fee) within two (2) Business Days after the date of such termination.

(d) In the event this Agreement is terminated by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section  8.1(c)(i) (Failure to Obtain Parent Stockholder Approval) or by Company pursuant to Section  8.1(e) (Parent Terminable Breach), then Parent will pay to the Company the Company Expenses (unless the Company is then entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section  8.1(h) (Parent Change in Recommendation or Material Breach of Non-Solicit), in which event Parent will pay to the Company the Parent Termination Fee) within two (2) Business Days after the date of such termination.

(e) In the event this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section  8.1(g) (Company Change in Recommendation or Material Breach of Non-Solicit), the Company will pay to Parent the Company Termination Fee within two (2) Business Days after the date of such termination.

 

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(f) In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section  8.1(e) (Parent Change in Recommendation or Material Breach of Non-Solicit), then Parent will pay to the Company the Parent Termination Fee within two (2) Business Days after the date of such termination.

(g) Any payment of the Parent Termination Fee, the Company Termination Fee, Parent Expenses or Company Expenses will be made in cash by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated in writing by the recipient of such payment.

(h) Each of the Parties acknowledges that the provisions of this Section  8.4 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated hereby and that, without these agreements, the Other Party would not enter into this Agreement. The Parties agree that (i) in the event that the Company pays the Company Termination Fee to Parent, the Company has no further liability to Parent of any kind in respect of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) in the event that Parent pays the Parent Termination Fee to the Company, Parent and Merger Sub have no further liability to the Company of any kind in respect of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party further acknowledges that any such Termination Fee is not a penalty, but rather is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Company or Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, in the circumstances under which such Termination Fee is payable for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions contained herein, including the Merger. In addition, if either the Company or Parent fails to pay in a timely manner any amount due pursuant to this Section  8.4 , then (i) such Party shall reimburse the other Party for all costs and expenses (including disbursements and fees of counsel) incurred in the collection of such overdue amounts, including in connection with any related claims or Proceedings commenced and (ii) such Party shall pay to the other Party interest on the amounts payable pursuant to this Section  8.4 , including the costs and expenses described in clause (i) of this Section  8.4(h) from and including the date payment of such amounts were due through the date of actual payment at the prime rate set forth in The Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made plus six percent (6%).

(i) As used herein, “ Parent Termination Fee ” means an amount equal to $4,500,000, and “ Company Termination Fee ” means an amount equal to $4,500,000 (each, a “ Termination Fee ”).

(j) In no event shall Parent or Company be entitled to more than one payment of a Parent Termination Fee, Company Termination Fee, Parent Expenses or Company Expenses, as applicable, in connection with this Agreement.

(k) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Party shall pay its own expenses incident to preparing for, entering into and carrying out this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Parent shall bear and pay the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of the Form S-4 and the printing and mailing to the holders of Parent Common of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus Stock and the Company shall bear and pay the expenses incurred in connection with the filing, printing and mailing to the holders of Company Common Stock of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

 

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ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

9.1 Amendment or Supplement . At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects by written agreement of the Parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective boards of directors; provided , however , that there will be no amendment or change to the provisions of this Agreement that by Law would require approval by the Company stockholders unless such approval is obtained.

9.2 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which is an original, and all of which, when taken together, constitute one Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other customary means of electronic transmission (e.g., “pdf”) will be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

9.3 Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder will be in writing and deemed given if (a) delivered personally, (b) if transmitted by facsimile (upon confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment) (c) if transmitted by electronic mail (“e-mail”) (if confirmation of receipt of such e-mail is requested and received), or (d) mailed by a nationally recognized overnight courier or registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as specified by like notice, provided that notices of a change of address will be effective only upon receipt thereof):

 

  (a)

If to Parent or Merger Sub, to :

Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.

321 South Boston, Suite 1000

Tulsa, OK 74103

Attention: Scott C. Weatherholt

Email: scott.weatherholt@midstatespetroleum.com

With a copy to (which does not constitute notice) :

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Ryan J. Maierson and William N. Finnegan IV

Email: ryan.maierson@lw.com

bill.finnegan@lw.com

Facsimile: (713) 546-5401

 

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  (b)

If to the Company, to :

Amplify Energy Corp.

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Eric Willis

Email: eric.willis@amplifyenergy.com

With a copy to (which does not constitute notice) :

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street, 45th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Doug Bacon, P.C. and Kim Hicks

Email: doug.bacon@kirkland.com

kim.hicks@kirkland.com

Facsimile: (713) 835-3601

9.4 Assignment . Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the Other Party, except that (a) Merger Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any wholly owned Parent Subsidiary, (b) Parent may assign any of its rights (but not delegate any of its obligations) under this Agreement to one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of Parent but, in each case, no such assignment shall relieve the Parent of any of its obligations hereunder and (c) the Company may assign any of its rights (but not delegate any of its obligations) under Section  8.4 to one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries. Any purported assignment not permitted under this Section  9.4 shall be null and void.

9.5 Entire Understanding: No Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement (including the exhibits, annexes, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter) and the documents, instruments and other agreements among the Parties as contemplated by or referenced herein, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to the matters therein and herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings on such matters. The provisions of this Agreement are binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, and no provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any Person other than the Parties hereto and their respective successors except (a) as provided in Section  6.11 (which will be to the benefit of the Persons referred to in such Section) and (b) following the Effective Time, the rights of holders of Company Common Stock to receive the Merger Consideration.

9.6 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction.

 

100


9.7 Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT, AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.

(b) THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR, IF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE LACKS JURISDICTION OVER SUCH MATTER, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE THAT ARISES IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT THAT IT IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY BY SUCH A DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 9.3 OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.

9.8 No Recourse . This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as Parties hereto and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any Party hereto has any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the Parties or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

101


9.9 Affiliate Liability .

(a) Each of the following is referred to as a “ Company Affiliate ” for purposes of this Section  9.9 : (i) any Company Designated Stockholder, (ii) any Affiliate of any Company Designated Stockholder (other than the Company) and (iii) any director, officer, employee, Representative or agent of the Company, any Company Designated Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Company Designated Stockholder. No Company Affiliate shall have any liability or obligation to Parent or Merger Sub of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and Parent and Merger Sub hereby waive and release all claims of any such liability and obligation, except in each case as expressly provided by the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreement between such Company Designated Stockholder and Parent.

(b) Each of the following is referred to as a “ Parent Affiliate ” for purposes of this Section  9.9 : (i) any Parent Designated Stockholder, (ii) any Affiliate of any Parent Designated Stockholder (other than Parent) and (iii) any director, officer, employee, Representative or agent of Parent, any Parent Designated Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Parent Designated Stockholder. No Parent Affiliate shall have any liability or obligation to the Company of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company hereby waives and releases all claims of any such liability and obligation, except in each case as expressly provided by the applicable Designated Stockholder Voting Agreement between such Parent Designated Stockholder and the Company.

9.10 Specific Performance . The Parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by the parties. Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII , it is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in accordance with this Section  9.10 , this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under the terms of this Agreement at law or in equity. Each Party accordingly agrees not to raise any objections to the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance to prevent or restrain breaches or threatened breaches of, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and obligations of such Party under this Agreement all in accordance with the terms of this Section  9.10 . Each Party further agrees that neither the Other Party nor any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section  9.10 , and each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

9.11 Transfer Taxes . All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes and fees (including penalties and interest) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the Surviving Entity when due (except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement).

[Signature pages follow ]

 

102


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.

 

COMPANY
AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.
By:  

/s/ Kenneth Mariani

Name:   Kenneth Mariani
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]


PARENT
MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.
By:  

/s/ David J. Sambrooks

Name:   David J. Sambrooks
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
MERGER SUB
MIDSTATES HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ David J. Sambrooks

Name:   David J. Sambrooks
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]


Exhibit A

Certificate of Incorporation of the Company

[see attached]

 

Exhibit A


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.

1. Name . The name of the corporation is Amplify Energy Corp. (the “ Corporation ”).

2. Address; Registered Office and Agent . The address of the Corporation’s registered office is 850 New Burton Road, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19904 (Kent County). The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at that address is Cogency Global Inc.

3. Purposes . 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 “ DGCL ”).

4. Number of Shares . The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue one (1) share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

5. Voting Powers . Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

6. Election of Directors. Unless and except to the extent that the By-laws of the Corporation (the “ By-laws ”) shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

7. Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. The Corporation hereby eliminates, to the fullest extent permitted by law (as contemplated by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL), the personal liability of any person who serves as a director of the Corporation to the Corporation and/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 any act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. In the event that it is determined that Delaware law does not apply, the liability of a director of the Corporation to the company or its stockholders for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. Any repeal of modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.


8. Certificate Amendments . The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and add other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by applicable law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (as amended) are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article 8 .


Exhibit B

LLC Sub Merger Agreement

[see attached]

 

Exhibit B


Form of LLC Sub Merger Agreement

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of                     is by and between Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Alpha Mike Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ LLC Sub ,” and together with the Company, the “ Parties ”) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS , LLC Sub is an entity disregarded as separate from Parent for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

WHEREAS , Parent, the Company, and Midstates Holdings, Inc. (“ Merger Sub ”), a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 5, 2019 (the “ Merger Agreement ”);

WHEREAS , pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), Merger Sub was merged with and into the Company (the “ First Merger ”), with the Company as the surviving corporation (the “ Surviving Corporation ”);

WHEREAS , the Merger Agreement provides that immediately following the First Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall be merged with and into LLC Sub, with LLC Sub continuing as the surviving entity following such merger (the “ Second Merger ” and, together with the First Merger, the “ Mergers ”);

WHEREAS , for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Mergers, taken together, qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the regulations thereunder, and that the Merger Agreement constitutes a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §§ 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a);

WHEREAS , it is proposed that LLC Sub and the Surviving Corporation enter into this Agreement to effectuate the Second Merger;

WHEREAS , the sole member of LLC Sub has approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Second Merger; and

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of the Company has (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Second Merger, (ii) resolved to submit this Agreement to the stockholders of the Company for adoption, and (iii) recommended that the stockholders of the Company approve the adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Second Merger.


NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE SECOND MERGER

1.1 Second Merger . At the Second Merger Effective Time (as defined below), upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ DLLCA ”), the Surviving Corporation shall be merged with and into LLC Sub, whereupon the separate existence of the Surviving Corporation shall cease and LLC Sub shall continue its existence as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Surviving Entity ”).

1.2 Effective Time of the Second Merger . LLC Sub shall execute and file a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL and the DLLCA, and make any other filings or recordings as may be required by Delaware law in connection with the Second Merger. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, the Second Merger will become effective immediately upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or such later date and time as may be specified in the Certificate of Merger (the “ Second Merger Effective Time ”).

1.3 Effects of the Second Merger . At and after the Second Merger Effective Time, the Second Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL and the DLLCA.

1.4 Cancellation of Surviving Corporation Common Stock . At the Second Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Second Merger and without any actions of the Parties or otherwise, each share of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Surviving Corporation (the “ Common Stock ”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Merger Effective Time, shall automatically be canceled and extinguished without any conversion thereof, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.

1.5 Surviving Entity Membership Interests . The limited liability company interests in LLC Sub shall not be affected, altered or modified in any respect by reason of the Second Merger, and shall remain as they were immediately prior to the Second Merger Effective Time.

ARTICLE II

THE SURVIVING ENTITY

2.1 Certificate of Formation . At the Second Merger Effective Time and without any further action on the part of the Parties or otherwise, the certificate of formation of LLC Sub (the “ Certificate of Formation ”), as in effect immediately prior to the Second Merger Effective Time, shall continue to be the Certificate of Formation of the Surviving Entity until altered, amended or repealed in accordance with applicable law.


2.2 Limited Liability Company Agreement . At the Second Merger Effective Time and without any further action on the part of the Parties or otherwise, the Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of LLC Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Second Merger Effective Time, shall continue to be the Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Surviving Entity until altered, amended or repealed in accordance with the provisions thereof or applicable law.

2.3 Intended Tax Treatment . It is intended that the Mergers, taken together, shall qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that the Merger Agreement constitutes a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §§ 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

ARTICLE III

CONDITION

3.1 Condition to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Second Merger . The respective obligation of each Party to effect the Second Merger shall be subject to the requisite approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Second Merger by the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote thereon and the sole member of LLC Sub in accordance with the DGCL and the DLLCA, respectively.

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

4.1 Captions and Counterparts . The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part, or to affect the construction or interpretation, of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

4.2 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any conflicts of law principles.

4.3 Amendment . No provision of this Agreement may be amended, changed, or modified in any manner, orally or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties.

4.4 Further Assurances . The Parties shall execute and deliver such further instruments of conveyance, transfer and assignment, including filing the necessary documents with the Secretary of State of Delaware to complete the Second Merger and will take such other actions as either of them may reasonably request of the other to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement and to carry out the terms hereof.

4.5 Complete Agreement . This Agreement and the Merger Agreement contain the complete agreement among the Parties with respect to the Second Merger and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to the Second Merger.


4.6 Successors; Binding Effect; Third Parties . This Agreement shall be binding on the successors of the Surviving Corporation and LLC Sub. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or is to be construed to confer upon or give to any person, other than the Parties to this Agreement or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under, or by reason of, this Agreement.

4.7 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

[ SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE ]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

Amplify Energy Corp.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Alpha Mike Holdings, LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to LLC Sub Merger Agreement]

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ First Amendment ”), dated as of May 5, 2019, is among AMPLIFY ENERGY OPERATING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), AMPLIFY ACQUISITIONCO INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Parent ”), AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP., a Delaware corporation, as Public Parent under the Credit Agreement on the date hereof and until the First Amendment Implementation Date (herein, the “ Amplify Parent ”), each of the other undersigned guarantors (together with the Borrower and the Parent, collectively, the “ Loan Parties ”), each of the Lenders that is a signatory hereto and BANK OF MONTREAL, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

Recitals

A. The Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lenders have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, made certain credit available to and on behalf of the Borrower.

B. The Borrower has advised the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that it intends to enter into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 5, 2019 (the “ Merger Agreement ”), by and among Amplify Parent, Midstates Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to which Amplify Parent will be acquired, directly or indirectly, by the Company (the “ Merger ”).

C. The Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders desire to amend the Credit Agreement to, among other things, permit the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

D. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1. Defined Terms . Each capitalized term which is defined in the Credit Agreement, but which is not defined in this First Amendment, shall have the meaning ascribed such term in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby. Unless otherwise indicated, all section and exhibit references in this First Amendment refer to the respective sections and exhibits in the Credit Agreement.

Section 2. Amendments to the Credit Agreement . In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this First Amendment, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section  4 hereof, (i) the Credit Agreement (but not the Schedules and Exhibits attached thereto, except as expressly set forth in clauses (ii)

 

1


and (iii)) shall be amended effective as of the First Amendment Implementation Date by deleting the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text ) as set forth in the pages of the Credit Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, (ii) Exhibit K (Public Parent Pledge Agreement) shall be amended and restated as of the First Amendment Implementation Date as set forth in the Exhibit K attached hereto, and (iii) the new Exhibit N (Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement) attached hereto as Exhibit N shall be inserted to the Credit Agreement as Exhibit N thereto.

Section 3. Pre-Merger Amendments to the Credit Agreement . In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this First Amendment, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section  4 hereof, the Credit Agreement shall be amended effective as of the First Amendment Effectiveness Date in the manner provided in this Section  3 .

3.1 Amendment to Section  7.04 of the Credit Agreement . Section 7.04 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the “and” at the end of Section 7.04(d), by replacing the “.” at the end of Section 7.04(e) with “; and” and by adding a new Section 7.04(f) to read in full as follows:

(f) the Parent may merge with a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Public Parent, in connection with tax planning matters; provided that the continuing or surviving Person of such merger is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Parent.

3.2 Amendment to Section  7.08 of the Credit Agreement . The proviso in Section 7.08 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the “or (ii)” and by adding the following clause in place thereof:

(ii) transactions between or among the Public Parent and the Parent in connection with the activities contemplated by Section  7.04(f) , or (iii)

3.3 Amendment to Section  7.21 of the Credit Agreement. The parenthetical in Section 7.21 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing “and (e)” with “, (e)” and by adding the following clauses at the end of the parenthetical:

(f) transactions between or among the Public Parent and the Parent in connection with the activities contemplated by Section  7.04(f) , and (g) Liens permitted under Section  7.01(a) , (c) and (t)

Section 4. Conditions Precedent to Execution Date . The effectiveness of the First Amendment (other than the amendments to the Credit Agreement contained in Section  2 hereof) shall occur upon satisfaction of the following conditions (the date such conditions have been satisfied, the “ First Amendment Effectiveness Date ”):

4.1 The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this First Amendment from the Loan Parties and the Majority Lenders.

 

2


4.2 All reasonable and documented fees and expenses due and owing to Mayer Brown LLP invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the First Amendment Effectiveness Date shall have been paid or reimbursed by the Borrower or Parent

4.3 The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the Merger Agreement certified by Amplify Parent as true, correct and complete.

4.4 Each of the Amplify Parent, Parent, the Borrower and each other Loan Party shall have confirmed and acknowledged to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and by its execution and delivery of this First Amendment each of the Amplify Parent, Parent, the Borrower and each other Loan Party does hereby confirm and acknowledge to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this First Amendment has been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, on the part of the Amplify Parent, Parent, the Borrower and each other Loan Party, (b) the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party constitute valid and legally binding agreements enforceable against the each of the Amplify Parent, the Parent, the Borrower and each other Loan Party in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity, and (c) the representations and warranties by the each of the Amplify Parent, the Parent, the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document to which such entity is a party are true and correct on and as of the First Amendment Effectiveness Date in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by or subject to a “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or any similar term or qualification, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as though made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case was true and correct, in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by or subject to a “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or any similar term or qualification, such representation or warranty shall continue to be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and (d) no Default or Event of Default exists under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

Section 5. Conditions Precedent to First Amendment Implementation Date . The effectiveness and implementation of the amendments to the Credit Agreement contained in Section  2 hereof shall occur upon the satisfaction of the following conditions on or prior to November 10, 2019 (the date of such effectiveness is referred to herein as the (“ First Amendment Implementation Date ”)) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Merger has not been consummated on or prior to November 10, 2019, such amendments shall not be implemented):

5.1 The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent confirming that the Merger has been consummated.

5.2 The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to or after giving effect to the amendments contained in Section 2 of the First Amendment.

 

3


Section 6. Conditions Subsequent to First Amendment Implementation Date . Not later than thirty (30) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) immediately following the First Amendment Implementation Date:

6.1 Amplify Parent shall execute and deliver, and cause any other Intermediate Parent to execute and deliver, to the Administrative Agent an Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement, together with (i) all certificated Pledged Equity in and of the Parent and any other Intermediate Parent (if any) and related blank stock powers and (ii) such officer’s and secretary’s certificates and opinions of counsel with respect thereto, in each case as the Administrative Agent shall deem necessary.

6.2 The Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed counterpart of the Public Parent Pledge Agreement from the Company with respect to the Company’s Equity Interest in any Intermediate Parent (and Parent, if any), together with (i) all certificated Pledged Equity in and of the Parent and any other Intermediate Parent (if any) and related blank stock powers and such officer’s and (ii) secretary’s certificates and opinions of counsel with respect thereto, in each case as the Administrative Agent shall deem necessary.

Section 7. Miscellaneous .

7.1 Confirmation and Effect and No Waiver . The provisions of the Credit Agreement (as amended by this First Amendment) shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the effectiveness of this First Amendment. Each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof”, “herein”, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement executed and/or delivered in connection with the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby. This First Amendment is a Loan Document for all purposes under the Loan Documents. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this First Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any default of the Amplify Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents. This First Amendment shall serve as an amendment to the Credit Agreement, but shall not extinguish or novate the Loans or any other Obligation under the Credit Agreement.

7.2 Ratification and Affirmation of Loan Parties . Each of the Amplify Parent and each of the Loan Parties hereby expressly (a) acknowledges the terms of this First Amendment, (b) ratifies and affirms all of their respective Obligations and each of their other obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, as amended hereby, (c) acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, as amended hereby, (d) ratifies and affirms all Liens granted by it pursuant to the Loan Documents to secure the Secured Obligations (except to the extent that such Liens have been released in accordance with the Loan Documents) and affirms that after giving effect to this First Amendment, the terms of the Security Instruments secure, and will continue to secure, all Secured Obligations thereunder, and (e) agrees that its guarantee under the Guaranty, if applicable, and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, as amended hereby, remains in full force and effect with respect to the Obligations.

 

4


7.3 Counterparts . This First Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this First Amendment by facsimile or electronic (e.g., pdf) transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed original counterpart hereof.

7.4 No Oral Agreement . T HIS WRITTEN F IRST A MENDMENT , THE C REDIT A GREEMENT AND THE OTHER L OAN D OCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH AND THEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR , CONTEMPORANEOUS , OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES . T HERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES .

7.5 Governing Law . T HIS F IRST A MENDMENT ( INCLUDING , BUT NOT LIMITED TO , THE VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY HEREOF ) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY , AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH , THE LAWS OF THE S TATE OF N EW Y ORK .

7.6 Payment of Expenses . The Borrower agrees to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for fees and expenses in connection with this First Amendment pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement.

7.7 Severability . If any provision of this First Amendment is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this First Amendment shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

7.8 Successors and Assigns . This First Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns as permitted under Section 10.06 of the Credit Agreement.

[ Signature pages follow ]

 

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to be duly executed effective as of the date first written above.

 

BORROWER:     AMPLIFY ENERGY OPERATING LLC,
    a Delaware limited liability company,
    as the Borrower
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PARENT:     AMPLIFY ACQUISITIONCO INC.,
    a Delaware corporation,
    as Parent
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
AMPLIFY PARENT:     AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.,
    a Delaware corporation,
    as Amplify Parent
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


GUARANTORS:     AMPLIFY ENERGY SERVICES LLC,
    a Delaware limited liability company
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    AMPLIFY ENERGY HOLDCO LLC,
    a Delaware limited liability company
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    BETA OPERATING COMPANY, LLC,
    a Delaware limited liability company
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    SAN PEDRO BAY PIPELINE COMPANY,
    a California corporation
    By:  

/s/ Martyn Willsher

    Name:   Martyn Willsher
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:     BANK OF MONTREAL, as Administrative Agent,
    an L/C Issuer, and as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ James V. Ducote

    Name:   James V. Ducote
    Title:   Managing Director

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Raza Jafferi

    Name:   Raza Jafferi
    Title:   Director

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Cliff Vaz

    Name:   Cliff Vaz
    Title:   Vice President

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     REGIONS BANK, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Daniel G. Steele

    Name:   Daniel G. Steele
    Title:   Managing Director

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Mark E. Thompson

    Name:   Mark E. Thompson
    Title:   Senior Vice President

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:    

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE,

NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender

    By:  

/s/ Megan Larson

    Name:   Megan Larson
    Title:   Authorized Signatory
    By:  

/s/ Donovan C. Broussard

    Name:   Donovan C. Broussard
    Title:   Authorized Signatory

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     KEYBANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ David M. Bornstein

    Name:   David M. Bornstein
    Title:   Senior Vice President

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Parker U. Mears

    Name:   Parker U. Mears
    Title:   Senior Vice President

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Houssem Daly

    Name:   Houssem Daly
    Title:   Associate Director
    By:  

/s/ Kenneth Chin

    Name:   Kenneth Chin
    Title:   Director

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


LENDER:     GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Jamie Minieri

    Name:   Jamie Minieri
    Title:   Authorized Signatory

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


EXHIBIT A

(See attached)


EXHIBIT A

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 2, 2018

among

AMPLIFY ENERGY OPERATING LLC

as the Borrower,

AMPLIFY ACQUISITIONCO INC.,

as Parent

BANK OF MONTREAL,

as Administrative Agent

and

an L/C Issuer,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Co-Syndication Agents

REGIONS BANK and U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Documentation Agents

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

 

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED,

CITIBANK N.A.

REGIONS CAPITAL MARKETS, a division of Regions Bank

U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Joint Lead Arrangers

and

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.,

as Sole Bookrunner

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     2  

Section 1.01

  Defined Terms      2  

Section 1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      38  

Section 1.03

  Accounting Terms      38  

Section 1.04

  Petroleum Terms      39  

Section 1.05

  Rounding      39  

Section 1.06

  Times of Day      39  

Section 1.07

  Letter of Credit Amounts      39  

ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     39  

Section 2.01

  Committed Loans      39  

Section 2.02

  Committed Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans      40  

Section 2.03

  Letters of Credit      41  

Section 2.04

  Increases of Aggregate Commitments      50  

Section 2.05

  Borrowing Base      51  

Section 2.06

  Prepayments      54  

Section 2.07

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      56  

Section 2.08

  Repayment of Loans      57  

Section 2.09

  Interest      57  

Section 2.10

  Fees      58  

Section 2.11

  Computation of Interest and Fees      58  

Section 2.12

  Evidence of Debt      59  

Section 2.13

  Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      59  

Section 2.14

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      61  

Section 2.15

  Defaulting Lenders      61  

ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     64  

Section 3.01

  Taxes      64  

Section 3.02

  Illegality      67  

Section 3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      68  

Section 3.04

  Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans      69  

Section 3.05

  Compensation for Losses      70  

Section 3.06

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      71  

 

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(cont’d)

 

Section 3.07

  Survival      71  

Section 3.08

  Availability of LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans      71  

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     72  

Section 4.01

  Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      72  

Section 4.02

  Conditions to All Credit Extensions      76  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     77  

Section 5.01

  Existence, Qualification and Power      77  

Section 5.02

  Authorization; No Contravention      77  

Section 5.03

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      77  

Section 5.04

  Binding Effect      78  

Section 5.05

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      78  

Section 5.06

  Litigation      79  

Section 5.07

  No Default      79  

Section 5.08

  Ownership of Property; Liens      79  

Section 5.09

  Environmental Compliance      79  

Section 5.10

  Insurance      80  

Section 5.11

  Taxes      80  

Section 5.12

  ERISA Compliance      81  

Section 5.13

  Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties      81  

Section 5.14

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      82  

Section 5.15

  Disclosure      82  

Section 5.16

  Compliance with Laws      82  

Section 5.17

  Solvency      82  

Section 5.18

  Casualty, Etc      83  

Section 5.19

  Labor Matters      83  

Section 5.20

  Security Instruments      83  

Section 5.21

  Engineered Oil and Gas Properties      83  

Section 5.22

  Sale of Production      84  

Section 5.23

  OFAC; Sanctions      84  

Section 5.24

  Anti-Corruption Laws      85  

Section 5.25

  PATRIOT Act      85  

ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     85  

Section 6.01

  Financial Statements      85  

 

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(cont’d)

 

Section 6.02

  Certificates; Other Information      87  

Section 6.03

  Notices      90  

Section 6.04

  Payment of Obligations      91  

Section 6.05

  Preservation of Existence, Etc      91  

Section 6.06

  Maintenance of Properties      91  

Section 6.07

  Maintenance of Insurance      91  

Section 6.08

  Compliance with Laws      92  

Section 6.09

  Books and Records      92  

Section 6.10

  Inspection Rights      92  

Section 6.11

  Use of Proceeds      92  

Section 6.12

  Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security      93  

Section 6.13

  Compliance with Environmental Laws      95  

Section 6.14

  Further Assurances      95  

Section 6.15

  Production Proceeds      95  

Section 6.16

  Anti-Corruption, Anti-Terrorism; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; and Sanctions      96  

Section 6.17

  Post-Closing Changes      96  

Section 6.18

  Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts      96  

Section 6.19

  Minimum Hedging Requirements      97  

Section 6.20

  Post-Closing Covenants - Supplemental Title Information      97  

ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     98  

Section 7.01

  Liens      98  

Section 7.02

  Investments      101  

Section 7.03

  Indebtedness      101  

Section 7.04

  Fundamental Changes      104  

Section 7.05

  Dispositions      105  

Section 7.06

  Restricted Payments      106  

Section 7.07

  Change in Nature of Business      108  

Section 7.08

  Transactions with Affiliates      108  

Section 7.09

  Burdensome Agreements      108  

Section 7.10

  Use of Proceeds      109  

Section 7.11

  Financial Covenants      109  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

Section 7.12

  Hedge Transactions      109  

Section 7.13

  Sanctions      111  

Section 7.14

  Anti-Corruption Laws      111  

Section 7.15

  Prepayment of Restricted Debt      111  

Section 7.16

  Limitation on Leases      111  

Section 7.17

  Take-or-Pay or Other Prepayments      112  

Section 7.18

  Marketing Activities      112  

Section 7.19

  No Foreign Subsidiaries or Foreign Operations      112  

Section 7.20

  Amendments to Organization Documents      112  

Section 7.21

  Holding Company      112  

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     113  

Section 8.01

  Events of Default      113  

Section 8.02

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      115  

Section 8.03

  Application of Funds      116  

ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     117  

Section 9.01

  Appointment and Authority      117  

Section 9.02

  Rights as a Lender      117  

Section 9.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      117  

Section 9.04

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      118  

Section 9.05

  Delegation of Duties      119  

Section 9.06

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      119  

Section 9.07

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      120  

Section 9.08

  No Other Duties, Etc      120  

Section 9.09

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      120  

Section 9.10

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      121  

Section 9.11

  Flood Insurance      122  

Section 9.12

  Intercreditor Agreements      122  

Section 9.13

  Enforcement      123  

Section 9.14

  Credit Bidding      123  

Section 9.15

  Certain ERISA Matters      124  

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     125  

Section 10.01

  Amendments, Etc      125  

Section 10.02

  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication      127  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

Section 10.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      129  

Section 10.04

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      129  

Section 10.05

  Payments Set Aside      131  

Section 10.06

  Successors and Assigns      132  

Section 10.07

  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      136  

Section 10.08

  Right of Setoff      137  

Section 10.09

  Interest Rate Limitation      138  

Section 10.10

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      138  

Section 10.11

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      138  

Section 10.12

  Severability      139  

Section 10.13

  Replacement of Lenders      139  

Section 10.14

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc      140  

Section 10.15

  Waiver of Jury Trial      140  

Section 10.16

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      141  

Section 10.17

  USA PATRIOT Act Notice      141  

Section 10.18

  Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      142  

Section 10.19

  Keepwell      142  

 

v


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

Schedules and Exhibits

 

Schedule 2.01    Commitments and Applicable Percentages
Schedule 5.03    Governmental Authorizations
Schedule 5.06    Litigation
Schedule 5.09    Environmental Matters
Schedule 5.13    Subsidiaries, Other Equity Investments and Loan Party Information
Schedule 5.22    Sale of Production
Schedule 7.01    Existing Liens
Schedule 7.02    Existing Investments
Schedule 7.03    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
Exhibit A    Form of Committed Loan Notice
Exhibit B    Form of Prepayment Notice
Exhibit C    Form of Note
Exhibit D    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit E    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit F    Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit G    Form of Guaranty
Exhibit H    Form of Mortgage
Exhibit I    Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit J    Form of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit K    Form of Public Parent Pledge Agreement
Exhibit L    Form of Commitment Increase Agreement
Exhibit M    Form of Additional Lender Agreement
Exhibit N    Form of Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement

 

vi


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of November 2, 2018 among AMPLIFY ENERGY OPERATING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), AMPLIFY ACQUISITIONCO INC., as Delaware corporation (the “ Parent ”), each LENDER from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”) and BANK OF MONTREAL, as Administrative Agent and an L/C Issuer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

WHEREAS, the Borrower, as borrower, and Parent have heretofore entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 4, 2017, with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other banks and financial institutions party thereto, pursuant to which the Borrower incurred certain Indebtedness as loans or reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit issued for its benefit or the benefit of one or more of its Subsidiaries;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that (i) on the Closing Date, the Lenders provide Committed Loans to the Borrower (but subject to compliance with Section 4.01(k) regarding the minimum remaining Available Commitment) and (ii) at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, the Lenders provide Committed Loans to the Borrower subject to the Available Commitment, and the Borrower has requested that each L/C Issuer issue Letters of Credit (subject to the Available Commitment) at any time and from time to time prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date (including on the Closing Date to back stop and/or replace any existing letter of credit, in an aggregate stated amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $50,000,000;

WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, the proceeds of the Committed Loans will be used by the Borrower to refinance the Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and following the Closing Date, the proceeds of the Committed Loans will be used by the Borrower for the acquisition, development and exploration of Oil and Gas Properties and for working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries and to make Investments and Restricted Payments (in each case, to the extent permitted under this Agreement), and the Letters of Credit will be used by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries for general corporate purposes, including to secure any surety and bonding requirements and to support deposits required under purchase agreements pursuant to which the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and Restricted Subsidiaries may acquire Oil and Gas Properties and other assets;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

Section 1.01 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Administrative Agent ” means Bank of Montreal in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

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Administrative Agent Fee Letter ” means that certain Administrative Agent Fee Letter, dated as of October 12, 2018, among the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

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

Agent Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c) .

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. As of the Closing Date, the amount of the Aggregate Commitments is $425,000,000.

Aggregate Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of such Lender plus (b) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations.

Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be further amended from time to time.

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Parent, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

Applicable Percentage ” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Committed Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

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Applicable Rate ” means, at any date, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below, based upon the Borrowing Base Utilization Ratio at such date:

 

   

Applicable Rate

   

Borrowing Base

Utilization Ratio

 

Base Rate

 

Eurodollar Rate + LIBOR Market Index
Rate +

Letters of Credit

 

Commitment Fee

> 90%   2.000%   3.000%   0.500%
> 75% and < 90%   1.750%   2.750%   0.500%
> 50% and < 75%   1.500%   2.500%   0.500%
> 25% and < 50%   1.250%   2.250%   0.375%
< 25%   1.000%   2.000%   0.375%

Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change; provided , however , that if at any time the Parent or the Borrower fails to deliver an Engineering Report pursuant to Section 6.01(e) or (f)  and such failure continues for more than 30 days from the date when such Engineering Report is due, then the “Applicable Rate” and the “Commitment Fee” means the rate per annum set forth on the applicable grid when the applicable Borrowing Base Utilization Ratio is at its highest level; provided further that the Applicable Rate and Commitment Fee shall revert to the previous Applicable Rate and Commitment Fee upon the delivery by the Parent or the Borrower of such Engineering Report.

Approved Counterparty ” means (a) any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender, (b) any other Person that has a long term senior unsecured debt rating of BBB+/Baa1 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher at the time the relevant Hedge Transaction is entered into (including, for the sake of clarity, any other Person the obligations of which under Hedge Transactions with Loan Parties are guaranteed by a credit support provider that has a long term senior unsecured debt rating of BBB+/Baa1 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher at the time such Hedge Transaction is entered into) or (c) any other Person that is a Lender Counterparty under the second prong of the definition thereof.

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Approved Petroleum Engineers ” means (a) DeGolyer and MacNaughton, (b) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., (c) Ryder Scott Company, L.P., and (d) at the Borrower’s option, any other independent petroleum engineers selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Arranger ” means each of BMO Capital Markets Corp., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated (or any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of Bank of America Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ investment banking, commercial lending services or related businesses may be transferred following the Closing Date), Citibank N.A., Regions Capital Markets, a division of Regions Bank, and U.S. Bank, National Association, in the capacity of joint lead arranger in respect of this Agreement.

 

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Assignee Group ” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(iii) .

Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(iv) .

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07 and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Committed Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 .

Available Commitment ” means, at any time of determination, the remainder of (a) the Facility Limit at such time minus (b) the Total Outstandings.

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time that is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Base Rate ” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, (ii) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (after giving effect to clause (ii)  of the final paragraph of the definition thereof) plus 1.00%  per annum ; provided that if at any time the Base Rate shall be less than 0%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0% for purposes of this

 

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Agreement. The “prime rate” is a rate set by the Administrative Agent based upon various factors including the Administrative Agent’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Base Rate Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan ” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Beta Decommissioning Trust ” means that certain Supplemental Bond for Decommissioning Liabilities Trust Agreement (as the same has been amended or supplemented from time to time), dated as of March 1, 2007 among U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, Rise Energy Beta, LLC, SP Beta Properties, LLC, and Beta Operating Company, LLC, as successor in interest to Pacific Energy Resources LTD., as settlor and Minerals Management Service of the United States Department of Interior, as beneficiary.

Beta Properties ” means the Oil and Gas Properties comprising the three Pacific Outer Continental Shelf lease blocks (P-0300, P-0301 and P-0306), referred to as the Beta Unit, in the Beta Field located in federal waters approximately 11 miles offshore the Port of Long Beach, California.

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor thereto).

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

Borrowing Base ” means, on any date, either the amount provided for in Section 2.05(a) or the amount determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.05(b) , as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.05(c) and (d) .

Borrowing Base Deficiency ” means, as of any date, the amount, if any, by which the Total Outstandings on such date exceeds the Borrowing Base in effect on such date.

Borrowing Base Utilization Ratio ” means at any time the ratio (expressed as a percentage) determined by taking the Total Outstandings and dividing by the Borrowing Base.

 

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Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, Houston, Texas and Chicago, Illinois, and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Capital Lease ” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as a lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided that leases that are recharacterized as Capital Leases due to a change in GAAP after the Closing Date shall not be treated as Capital Leases for any purposes under this Agreement but shall instead be treated as they would have been in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date.

Cash Collateral ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h) .

Cash Collateralize ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h) .

Cash Equivalents ” means, at any date of determination, any of the following types of Investments:

(a) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any state, territory or commonwealth of the United States or any political subsidizations of any such state, territory of commonwealth of the United States, including any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case, having maturities of not more than 24 months from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof; provided , further , that, for the avoidance of doubt, treasury securities issued by the United States shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this clause (a) ;

(b) time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B)(i) is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c)  of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000;

(c) commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(d) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, that are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating assigned at that time from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a) , (b)  and (c)  of this definition;

 

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(e) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(f) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (a)  and (b)  entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b)  above; and

(g) investment funds investing at least 90.0% of their assets in funds or securities of the types described in clauses (a)  through (f)  above.

Casualty Event ” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any nationalization, taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Engineered Oil and Gas Property of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary.

CERCLIS ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any Law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority or quasi-Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, orders, regulations and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, orders, regulations or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change of Control ” means an event or series of events by which:

(a) (1) any Person (other than any Permitted Holder), or Persons (other than one or more of the Permitted Holders) constituting a “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or its Subsidiaries, and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that such Person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such Person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “ option right ”)), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the Equity Interests of the Public Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Public Parent , on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such “Person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right ); provided that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall not constitute a Change of Control pursuant to this clause (a) ; or

 

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(b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on (i) the Board of Directors of the Parent are occupied by individuals who were neither (A) nominated, appointed or approved by the Board of Directors of the Parent nor (B) appointed by directors so nominated, appointed or approved or (ii) the Board of Directors of the Public Parent are occupied by individuals who were neither (A) nominated, appointed or approved by the Board of Directors of the Public Parent nor (B) appointed by directors so nominated, appointed or approved; or

(c) the Public Parent shall at any time cease to own , directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests of the Parent; or

(d) the Parent shall at any time cease to own 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower; or

(e) the Borrower or another Loan Party ceases to own 100% of the Equity Interests of each Guarantor (other than the Parent); or

(f) a “change in control” (as such term or other similar term is defined in any indenture or other agreement evidencing any Junior Lien Debt or unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Parent or the Borrower in accordance with Section 7.03(l) ) shall have occurred.

Closing Date ” means November 2, 2018.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral ” means all of the “Collateral” and “Mortgaged Property” referred to in the Security Instruments and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Security Instruments to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Commitment Fee ” means has the meaning specified in Section 2.10(a) .

Committed Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.02 .

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

 

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Committed Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Commodity Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

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 a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

Consolidated ” refers to the consolidation of any Person, in accordance with GAAP, with its properly consolidated subsidiaries. References herein to a Person’s Consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. refer to the consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc., of such Person and its properly consolidated subsidiaries.

Consolidated EBITDAX ” means, with respect to the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) interest expense (including realized and unrealized losses on interest rate derivative contracts); (b) income tax expense; (c) depreciation, depletion and amortization expense; (d) impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets (including Oil and Gas Properties); (e) accretion of asset retirement obligations; (f) unrealized losses on commodity derivative contracts; (g) realized losses upon the early termination or other monetization of commodity derivative contracts; (h) losses on sale of assets; (i) noncash stock-based compensation expenses; (j) exploration costs; (k) fees and expenses expensed and paid in cash in connection with any registered offering of Equity Interests in the Parent; and (l) one time transaction costs, fees and expenses paid or accrued in connection with debt financings, capital-raising transactions, acquisitions, investments, divestitures and other non-recurring corporate transactions, whether or not consummated, in an aggregate amount for this clause (l)  not to exceed $5,000,000 during any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters; provided that clauses (a)  through (j)  shall exclude noncash items to the extent they represent an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period; minus , without duplication and to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of interest income (including realized and unrealized gains on interest rate derivative contracts); income tax benefit; unrealized gains on commodity derivative contracts; realized gains upon the early termination or other monetization of commodity derivative contracts; and gains on sales of assets. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAX for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “ Reference Period ”) pursuant to any determination of the financial covenants contained in Section 7.11 , (x) if during such Reference Period, the Parent or any Consolidated Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Material Disposition or Material Acquisition, the Consolidated EBITDAX for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Disposition or (if elected by the Parent or the Borrower) such Material Acquisition, as applicable,

 

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occurred on the first day of such Reference Period and (y) notwithstanding the occurrence of a Hedge Liquidation in respect of any Hedge Transaction, the Consolidated EBITDAX for such Reference Period shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to any gain (or loss) that would be attributable during such Reference Period to the applicable Hedge Transaction in the event such Hedge Liquidation had not been consummated prior to the scheduled maturity of such Hedge Transaction. As used in this definition, “ Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that involves (x)  the payment of consideration by the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) the acquisition by the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries of such property with a fair market value, in each case, in excess of (1) $20,000,000 in the aggregate during a fiscal quarter or (2) $20,000,000 for any single acquisition or series of related acquisitions of Property; and “ Material Disposition ” means any disposition of property or series of related dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Parent or any of the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries in excess of (1) $20,000,000 in the aggregate during a fiscal quarter or (2) $20,000,000 for any single disposition or series of related dispositions of property.

Consolidated Net Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, all Indebtedness of the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis other than (a) contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness described in clause (b)  of the definition of “Indebtedness” (excluding letters of credit), (b) Indebtedness described in clauses (d) , (i) , (j)  and (k)  of the definition of “Indebtedness”, and (c) Indebtedness described in clause (e)  of the definition of “Indebtedness” in respect of Indebtedness of others described in clauses (a)  or (b)  of this definition, minus (b) up to $30,000,000 of the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Parent, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties on such date.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein) the following: (a) the net income of any Person in which the Parent or any Consolidated Restricted Subsidiary has an interest (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be consolidated with the net income of the Parent and the Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in cash during such period by such other Person to the Parent or to a Consolidated Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be; (b) the net income (or loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such transaction so long as the assets of such Person are not included in the calculation of the Borrowing Base; (c) any extraordinary gains or losses during such period; and (d) any gains or losses attributable to writeups or writedowns of assets, including ceiling test writedowns.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

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

 

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Control Agreement ” means a control agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, providing for the Administrative Agent’s exclusive control of a Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account, as applicable, executed and delivered by the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, and the applicable securities intermediary (with respect to a Securities Account), bank (with respect to a Deposit Account) or commodity intermediary (with respect to a Commodity Account), in each case, at which such relevant account is maintained.

COPAS ” means the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies.

Credit Extension ” means each of the following: (a) a Committed Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

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, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2.00%  per annum ; provided , however , that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Committed Loan plus 2.00%  per annum and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2.00%  per annum .

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of (i) the Committed Loans within two Business Days of the date such Committed Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied or (ii) the participations in L/C Obligations required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, (c) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Committed Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which

 

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condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (d) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (d)  upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a)  through (e)  above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(e) ) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each L/C Issuer and each Lender.

Deposit Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Designated Jurisdiction ” means any country, region or territory to the extent that such country, region or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

Determination Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b) .

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction but excluding all events described in the definition of “Casualty Event” regardless of the value thereof) of any property by any Person (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith. The issuance of Equity Interests by any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person other than the Borrower or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed a Disposition by the Borrower of its direct or indirect Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent of the resulting dilution.

Disqualified Stock ” means any capital stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than customary offers to purchase upon a change in control, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event and customary acceleration rights after an event of default so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans

 

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and all other Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted)), in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date, except to the extent that such capital stock is redeemable with, or solely exchangeable for, any capital stock of such Person that is not Disqualified Stock, (b) provide for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash or (c) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date; provided that, if such capital stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such capital stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided , further , that any capital stock held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant of the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or a Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the board of directors or managers of the Parent or the Borrower, in each case pursuant to any equity holders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock incentive plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Parent or the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country that is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country that is a parent of an institution described in clause (a)  of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country that is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a)  or (b)  of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Election Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(ii) .

Eligible Assignee ” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) , (v) , (vi)  and (vii)  (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii) ).

Engineered Oil and Gas Property ” means any Oil and Gas Property listed in the most recent Engineering Report other than any Oil and Gas Property that has been Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition to a Person other than a Loan Party that is permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

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Engineering Report ” means the Initial Engineering Report and each engineering report delivered pursuant to Section 2.05 or Section 6.01 setting forth, as of each December 31 (or January 1) and June 30 (or July 1), as applicable, the Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, together with a projection of the rate of production of future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the economic assumptions consistent with the Administrative Agent’s lending requirements at the time, and reflecting any Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions that are in place with respect to such production. To the extent that two or more engineering firms prepare reports as of the same date for portions of the properties required to be reported on, such reports will collectively constitute a single “Engineering Report” for the purposes hereof.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Interests ” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination. For the avoidance of doubt, debt instruments that are convertible into Equity Interests shall not be deemed to be Equity Interests until they are so converted.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

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ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it 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; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition that constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Eurodollar Rate ” means:

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) 0% and (b) the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR rate (“ LIBOR ”) or a comparable or successor rate that rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or, if such Reuters screen page is not available, any successor or substitute page for such service providing such quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London Interbank eurodollar market) 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, provided that if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) at which dollar deposits of an amount comparable to such Loan and for a term equivalent to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day); and

(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day) prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Eurodollar Rate shall be less than 0%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0% for purposes of this Agreement and (ii) if the circumstances described in Section 3.03(b) have occurred, each reference to the Eurodollar Rate shall be deemed to refer to the applicable alternative rate that is implemented in accordance with Section 3.03(b) .

Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01 .

Excluded Accounts ” means (a) each account in which all of the deposits consist solely of amounts utilized to fund payroll, employee benefits (including medical, dental and employee benefits claims) or tax obligations of the Parent, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) any segregated account to the extent such account consists solely of amounts in respect of oil and gas royalty interests held in a fiduciary, trust or similar capacity for one or more third parties and (c) other accounts with funds on deposit not to exceed $2,500,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts at any time; provided that in no event shall any of the principal operating accounts of the Parent, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries constitute an Excluded Account.

Excluded Subsidiary ” shall mean (a) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) each Immaterial Subsidiary, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary that is a captive insurance company, (d) each Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Obligation (not entered into in contemplation of the exclusionary consequence afforded hereby) or requirement of Law from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure the Obligations at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (and for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect) or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to guarantee or grant Liens to secure the Obligations at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), and (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, (x) in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Parent or the Borrower (and confirmed in writing), the cost or other consequences of providing a Guarantee of the Obligations shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (y) providing such a Guarantee would result in material adverse Tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Subsidiary owning Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base shall be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Hedge Obligation in respect of a Hedge Transaction if, and to the extent that, and only for so long as, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, as applicable, such Hedge 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 Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Hedge Obligation or (b) any other Hedge Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan

 

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Parties and counterparty applicable to such Hedge Obligations, and agreed by the Administrative Agent. If a Hedge Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Hedge Transaction, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Hedge Obligation that is attributable to Hedge Transactions for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the recipient is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13 ), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(f) , except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a) , and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Existing Credit Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2017, among the Borrower, the Parent, each lender party thereto from time to time and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and L/C Issuer.

Facility Limit ” means, at any time, the lesser of (a) the Aggregate Commitments at such time and (b) the Borrowing Base at such time.

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 and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any of the foregoing, and any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of any of the foregoing.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1.00%) charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Flood Insurance Regulations ” 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 statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer other than L/C 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.

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

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

Granting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(g) .

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness payable or performable by another Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (iii) to maintain working

 

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capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). 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 by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Parent, each Restricted Subsidiary on the Closing Date that is not an Excluded Subsidiary on such date, and each other Person that becomes a Guarantor after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.12 .

Guaranty ” means the Guaranty executed by the Parent, the Borrower and the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G , as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

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

Hedge Liquidation ” means the sale, assignment, novation (excluding novations between Lenders and/or affiliates of Lenders), liquidation, unwind or termination (other than at its scheduled expiry) of all or any part of any Hedge Transaction.

Hedge Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Hedge Transaction.

Hedge Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Transactions, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Transactions, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Transactions have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s) and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a) , the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Transactions, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Transactions (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Hedge Transaction ” 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

 

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swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, 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, pursuant to which a Person hedges risks related to commodity prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates, securities prices or financial market conditions and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, that 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. Hedge Transactions expressly include Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions.

Honor Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(d)(i) .

Hydrocarbons ” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasolines, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate and all other liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons produced or to be produced in conjunction therewith, and all products, by-products and all other substances derived therefrom or the processing thereof, and all other minerals and substances, including, but not limited to, sulphur, lignite, coal, uranium, thorium, iron, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, helium and any and all other minerals, ores or substances of value, and the products and proceeds therefrom, including, without limitation, all gas resulting from the in situ combustion of coal or lignite.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower with less than $5,000,000 in total assets on a Consolidated basis.

Immaterial Title Deficiencies ” means, with respect to specified Engineered Oil and Gas Properties, defects or clouds on title, discrepancies in reported net revenue and working interest ownership percentages, inaccuracies of representations and warranties in Sections 5.21 and 5.22 that are qualified by reference to this definition, and other Liens, defects, discrepancies and similar matters that do not, in the aggregate, reduce the PV9 Value of all Engineered Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties by more than 2.5% of PV9 Value of all such Engineered Oil and Gas Properties.

Indebtedness ” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Hedge Transaction;

 

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(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

(g) the mandatory redemption price of all Disqualified Stock of such Person;

(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing;

(i) obligations to deliver commodities, goods or services, including, without limitation, Hydrocarbons, in consideration of one or more advance payments, other than gas balancing arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(j) obligations to pay for goods or services even if such goods or services are not actually received or utilized by such Person; and

(k) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Transaction on any date shall be deemed to be the Hedge Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date. The amount of any non-recourse Indebtedness described in clause (e)  of this definition shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property or asset encumbered, as determined by such Person in good faith.

Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligations of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b) .

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07 .

Initial Engineering Report ” means the engineering report concerning Oil and Gas Properties of Loan Parties dated as of July 1, 2018, prepared internally by the Borrower.

 

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Initial Financial Statements ” means (a) audited consolidated balance sheet and related Consolidated income statements and statements of cash flows of the Public Parent, the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of, and for the fiscal year ended, December 31, 2017 and (b) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated income statements and statements of cash flows of the Public Parent, the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of, and for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Intermediate Parent” means, Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its successors, together with any other Person (if any) that both (i) is owned directly or indirectly by Public Parent and (ii) directly or indirectly owns any Equity Interests of the Parent.

“Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement” means a Non-Recourse Pledge Agreement between any Intermediate Parent and the Administrative Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit N (or otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) granting Liens on and a security interest in such Intermediate Parent’s personal property constituting Collateral (as defined therein) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Committed Loan other than a Base Rate Loan and any LIBOR Market Index Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Committed Loan and the Maturity Date; provided , however , that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan and any LIBOR Market Index Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period ” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice, or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and commercially available to all the Lenders; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

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 capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in,

 

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another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

ISP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Issuer Documents ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any other Loan Party) or in favor the applicable L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Junior Lien Debt ” means Indebtedness (i) of the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties secured by the Collateral on a junior lien basis on the terms and conditions set forth in (and with a Junior Lien Representative at all times party to) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries other than the Collateral (on such junior basis) and (ii) as to which a representative of the holders of such Indebtedness, acting on behalf of such holders, shall have become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a Junior Lien Representative (or, to the extent no Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement exists at the time of the incurrence of such Junior Lien Debt, shall have entered into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the Administrative Agent).

Junior Lien Financing Documentation ” means any documentation governing any Junior Lien Debt including, without limitation, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means an Intercreditor Agreement executed by representative for the holders of the Junior Lien Debt (the “ Junior Lien Representative ”), the Administrative Agent and the Parent, the Borrower and the Guarantors, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit J , as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Junior Lien Representative ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement”.

L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit that has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing.

L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

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L/C Issuer ” means (a) Bank of Montreal and (b) any other Lender satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that may agree to issue Letters of Credit hereunder pursuant to an instrument in form reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer and the Borrower, in the case of clauses (a)  and (b) , in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder.

L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07 . 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 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

Lender ” or “ Lenders ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Lender Counterparty ” means (i) any counterparty under a Hedge Transaction that was a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) at the time such Hedge Transaction was entered into or became a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) after the time such Hedge Transaction was entered into, (ii) with respect to any Hedge Transaction in existence on the Closing Date, ING Capital Markets LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Natixis, and/or (iii) any counterparty under a Treasury Management Services Agreement that was a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) at the time such Treasury Management Services Agreement was entered into or became a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) after the time such Treasury Management Services Agreement was entered into.

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder.

Letter of Credit Application ” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of any Letter of Credit Application and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

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Letter of Credit Fee ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(j) .

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to $50,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

LIBOR ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate”.

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” for any day with respect to any LIBOR Market Index Rate Loan, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) 0% and (ii) the rate determined by reference to the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited or a comparable or successor rate that rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or, if such Reuters screen page is not available, any successor or substitute page for such service providing such quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London Interbank eurodollar market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time on such day (or if such day is not a Business day, then the immediately preceding Business Day), as the rate for dollar deposits with one-month maturity. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Market Index Rate” with respect to such LIBOR Market Index Rate Loan shall be the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) at which dollar deposits of an amount comparable to such Loan and for a one-month maturity are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day).

Lien ” means any interest in property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, including the lien or security arising from any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Guaranty, the Security Instruments and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, neither any agreement evidencing a Hedge Transaction (including any Master Agreement) between a Loan Party and a Lender Counterparty, nor any Treasury Management Services Agreement with a Lender Counterparty shall constitute a Loan Document.

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Parent, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Majority Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Majority Lenders.

 

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Master Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Hedge Transaction”.

Material Acquisition ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAX”.

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties or the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of (i) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents or (ii) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents.

Material Disposition ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAX”.

Maturity Date ” means November 2, 2023; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09 .

Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated on or about May 5, 2019 by and among Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation, Midstates Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of the Public Parent, and the Public Parent, substantially in the form provided to the Administrative Agent on May 2, 2019, together with any amendments or other modifications thereto not materially adverse to the interests of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, taken as a whole.

Minimum Required Conditions ” means, with respect to any applicable transaction to which the Minimum Required Conditions apply in accordance with this Agreement, that (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to such applicable transaction or shall result from the applicable transaction; (b) the Parent’s (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent’s) ratio of Consolidated Net Debt after giving effect to such transaction to Consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarter period ended most recently ended on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been, or were required to be, delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) , as applicable, as adjusted to give pro forma effect (if any) to such transaction, does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00; and (c) after giving effect to such transaction, the Available Commitment shall not be less than 20.0% of the Facility Limit.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

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Mortgage ” means a mortgage or a deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed, assignment of as-extracted collateral, fixture filing or other security documented entered into by the owner of Mortgaged Property and the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property, substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto (with such changes as may be necessary to account for local law matters) or otherwise in such form as agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Mortgaged Property ” means real property (including Oil and Gas Properties that constitute real property under applicable Law) and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is required to be granted pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(iv) , Section 6.12 or Section 6.14 hereof.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means each Lender that is not, at such time, a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(iii) .

Non-Reinstatement Deadline ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(iv) .

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Committed Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Obligations ” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Committed Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that the term “Obligations” shall not, with respect to any Guarantor, include any Excluded Swap Obligation with respect to such Guarantor.

OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Oil and Gas Business ” means the business of acquiring, exploring, or developing and operating Oil and Gas Properties and the production, marketing, processing and transporting of Hydrocarbons therefrom, and providing services to the oil and gas upstream and midstream segments.

Oil and Gas Hedge Transaction ” means a Hedge Transaction pursuant to which any Person hedges the price (including the price basis or any other basis element related to price) to be received by it for future sales of production of Hydrocarbons.

 

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Oil and Gas Properties ” means all oil, gas and/or mineral leases, oil, gas or mineral properties, mineral servitudes and/or mineral rights of any kind (including, without limitation, mineral fee interests, lease interests, farm-out interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profits interests, oil payment interests, production payment interests and other types of mineral interests), and all oil and gas gathering, treating, storage, processing, monitoring and handling assets and all other assets directly related thereto.

Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that such term shall not include Taxes resulting from an assignment, grant of a participation pursuant to Section 10.06(d) or transfer or assignment to or designation of a new lending office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (“ Assignment Taxes ”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the assignor/participating Lender and/or the assignee/Participant and the taxing jurisdiction (other than a connection arising solely from such assignee/Participant having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document), unless any action described in this proviso is requested or required by the Borrower.

Outstanding Amount ” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans, on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount by which such L/C Obligations exceed the Cash Collateral held by the Administrative Agent on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Parent ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .

 

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Passive Holding Company ” means a holding company that does not (a) incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness or other liabilities (other than liabilities arising from (i) those incidental to its ownership in, and status as a parent company of, its Subsidiaries (and, in the case of the Public Parent, its ownership of any Intermediate Parent, the Parent and its their respective Subsidiaries only), (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance) and status as a public company, (iii) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance of its Equity Interests; provided that, the net cash proceeds from such offerings or issuances are contributed to the Parent, (iv) the contributions to the capital of its Subsidiaries, (v) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent and the Borrower and (vi) providing compensation and indemnification to officers and directors); (b) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except, in the case of the Public Parent or any Intermediate Parent , Liens created pursuant to the Public Parent Pledge Agreement or the Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement, as applicable, and Liens permitted thereunder; (c) have any income other than income incidental to its ownership in its Subsidiaries; (d) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any properties or assets other than its ownership in its Subsidiaries; and (e) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, or commit, transact or otherwise engage in, any business, operations or activities other than those permitted by clauses (a)  through (d)  above.

PATRIOT Act ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.25 .

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

PCAOB ” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Pension Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

Permitted Debt Restrictions ” means, an instrument or instruments governing indebtedness that imposes limitations on or requirements with respect to Indebtedness, Restricted Payments or Liens of the type described in Section 7.09 that are substantially the same as or less restrictive than the corresponding limitations or requirements, if any, with respect to such matters contained in any of the Principal Debt Obligations.

Permitted Holders ” means any of Brigade Capital Management LP, Citadel Advisors LLC, Fir Tree Inc., Trust Asset Management LLC, York Capital Management Global Advisors, LLC, their respective Affiliates or any funds or partnerships managed or advised by any of the foregoing (including those funds or partnerships managed or advised by the Affiliates of any of the foregoing).

 

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Permitted Refinancing ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder (the “ Refinanced Indebtedness ”), any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension (any of the foregoing, a “ Refinancing “, and any such new Indebtedness, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”) of such Refinanced Indebtedness; provided that (i) the amount of such Refinanced Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such Refinancing except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such Refinancing, (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such Refinancing Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable taken as a whole in any material respect to the Loan Parties, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith, than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Refinanced Indebtedness, (iii) no Event of Default would result from such Refinancing after giving effect thereto and (iv) such Refinancing Indebtedness does not mature and requires no scheduled amortization prior to 91 days following the Maturity Date.

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

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

Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate, and including any Pension Plan.

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

Pledged Equity ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement , each Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement or the Public Parent Pledge Agreement, as applicable.

Principal Debt Obligations ” means all long-term debt issued by the Parent or the Borrower including, without limitation, any Junior Lien Debt or unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Parent or the Borrower in accordance with Section 7.03(l) .

Proceeding ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b) .

Proved Developed Producing Reserves ” means, oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “proved reserves” and “developed producing reserves”.

Proved Reserves ” means, collectively, oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as “proved developed nonproducing reserves”, “proved developed producing reserves” and/or “proved undeveloped reserves”.

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

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Public Parent ” means Amplify Energy Corp Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc ., a Delaware corporation.

Public Parent Pledge Agreement ” means Non-Recourse Pledge Agreement between the Public Parent and the Administrative Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit K (or otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) granting Liens on and a security interest on in the Public Parent’s personal property constituting Collateral (as defined therein) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

PV9 Value ” means, with respect to any Engineered Oil and Gas Properties or other Oil and Gas Properties becoming Engineered Oil and Gas Properties, the net present value, discounted at 9%  per annum , of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ collective interests in such reserves expected to be produced from such Oil and Gas Properties during the remaining expected economic lives of such reserves made in accordance with the then existing standards of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (with appropriate adjustments made for hedging operations) as follows:

(a) for anticipated sales of oil and gas that are fixed in a firm fixed price sales contract with an investment grade counterparty or a counterparty guaranteed, or for whom a letter of credit has been issued, by an investment grade party (or another counterparty approved by the Administrative Agent), the fixed price or prices provided for in such sales contract during the term thereof; and

(b) for anticipated sales of oil and gas, if such sales are not under a sales contract that is described in clause (a)  above, for the date of calculation (or, if such date is not a Business Day, for the first Business Day thereafter), the prices provided in the most recent price deck provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, adjusted in each case for historical location and quality differentials during the twelve months preceding such date of determination.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Hedge Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Hedge Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Stock ” means Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.

Reference Period ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAX”.

Refinanced Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing”.

Refinancing ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing”.

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing”.

Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c) .

Regulation T ” means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation X ” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having at least 66-2/3% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Committed Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders holding in the aggregate at least 66-2/3% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01 , the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II , any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer of employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. 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 Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.15(a) .

 

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Restricted Debt Documentation ” means any documentation governing any Restricted Debt (including, in the case of Junior Lien Debt, Junior Lien Financing Documentation).

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of 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 such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, any payment of interest (including payment-in-kind interest) made in respect of any Indebtedness convertible into Equity Interests of the Borrower permitted hereunder shall not constitute a Restricted Payment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sanctions ” means any economic or financial sanction or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC or the United States Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

Sarbanes-Oxley ” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Scheduled Determination ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i) .

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Obligations ” means all Obligations and all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Hedge Transaction or Treasury Management Services Agreement with a Lender Counterparty, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that the term “Secured Obligations” shall not, with respect to any Guarantor, include any Excluded Swap Obligation with respect to such Guarantor.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Lender Counterparties, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05 , and the other Persons the Secured Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Security Instruments.

 

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Securities Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Security Agreement ” means the Pledge and Security Agreement entered into by the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties party thereto as grantors and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Security Agreement Supplement ” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Security Instruments ” means, collectively, the Guaranty, the Security Agreement, the Public Parent Pledge Agreement, any Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement, the Mortgages, each Control Agreement, each of the mortgages, collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or Sections 4.01 , 6.12 or 6.14 hereof, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as such agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Solvent ” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

South Texas Properties ” means the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties as of the Closing Date located in South Texas.

SPC ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(g) .

Special Determination ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(ii) .

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

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Subsidiary Redesignation ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”.

Synthetic Lease Obligation ” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so called synthetic, off—balance sheet or tax retention lease or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but that, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Threshold Amount ” means $20,000,000.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Transactions ” means, collectively, (a) the entering into and effectiveness of the senior credit facility under this Agreement (including in respect of any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, supplement or modification of this Agreement), (b) the other transactions related to each of the foregoing and (c) the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the foregoing.

Treasury Management Services Agreement ” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit, debit or purchasing card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements to the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Type ” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, LIBOR Market Index Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

Unfunded Pension Liability ” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

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United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(d)(i) .

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (1) any Subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower designated by the Parent or the Borrower, respectively, as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder by written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided that the Parent and the Borrower shall only be permitted to so designate a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as (a) no Event of Default has occurred or is continuing after giving effect to such designation, (b) such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be capitalized (to the extent capitalized by the Parent, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) through Investments as permitted by, and in compliance with, Section 7.02(h) , (c) for purposes of clause (b)  such designation shall be deemed an Investment in an amount equal to the fair market value of the total investment of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, (d) if the Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary owns any Oil and Gas Properties with Proved Reserves that are included in the Borrowing Base, such designation shall constitute a Disposition of such Oil and Gas Properties for purposes of Section 2.05(d) and (e) the Parent or the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower, certifying compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (a)  through (d) , and containing the calculations and information required by the preceding clause (b)  and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement (each, a “ Subsidiary Redesignation ”); provided that (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such Subsidiary Redesignation, the Parent and the Borrower shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis with each financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11 and (iii) the Parent and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower, certifying compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (i)  and (ii) , and containing the information required by the preceding clause (ii) .

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Section 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions . With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications

 

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set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) 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.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”, and the word “through” means “to and including”.

(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Section 1.03 Accounting Terms .

(a) Generally . 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 on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements described in clause (a)  of the definition of “Initial Financial Statements”, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Changes in GAAP . If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Parent or the Majority Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Parent shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Majority Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Parent shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP; provided , further , that 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 (i) any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined

 

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therein and (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

Section 1.04 Petroleum Terms . As used herein, the terms “proved reserves”, “proved developed reserves”, “proved developed producing reserves”, “proved developed nonproducing reserves” and “proved undeveloped reserves” shall be determined in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards.

Section 1.05 Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

Section 1.06 Times of Day . Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

Section 1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts . 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 , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer 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.

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

Section 2.01 Committed Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally, but not jointly, agrees to make loans denominated in Dollars (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided , however , that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing and the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds thereof, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit and (ii) the Aggregate Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed the lesser of such Lender’s (A) Commitment and (B) Applicable Percentage of the Facility Limit. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , repay under Section 2.06 , and reborrow under this Section 2.01 . Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans, LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

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Section 2.02 Committed Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans .

(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Committed Loan Notice. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans and (ii) on the Business Day prior to any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans. Each Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.03(d) , each Committed Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Committed Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding clause (a) . In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 , the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Committed Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

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(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Administrative Agent’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

Section 2.03 Letters of Credit .

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment .

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 , (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with clause (c)  below and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit, (y) the Aggregate Exposure of any Lender, shall not exceed the lesser of such Lender’s (I) Commitment and (II) the Applicable Percentage of the Facility Limit and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) The L/C Issuers shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

(A) subject to Section 2.03(c)(iii) , the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Majority Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

 

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(iii) An L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the applicable L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the applicable L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the applicable L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the applicable L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the applicable L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the applicable L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable on the Closing Date and that the applicable L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the applicable L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $50,000;

(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or

(E) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.01 exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) either with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the applicable L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Letter of Credit then requested to be issued.

(iv) Each L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

(v) The L/C Issuers shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the applicable L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(vi) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuers shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the applicable L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer.

(b) [ Reserved ].

 

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(c) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension and Auto-Reinstatement Letters of Credit .

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least three Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the applicable L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Section 4.02 shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the applicable L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the applicable L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the applicable L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with

 

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the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the applicable L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided , however , that the applicable L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the applicable L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii)  or (iii)  of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise) or (B) it has received notice (in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Majority Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the applicable L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iv) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “ Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit ”). Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the applicable L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement. Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits the applicable L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “ Non-Reinstatement Deadline ”), the applicable L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Majority Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause (iv) ) and, in each case, directing the applicable L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.

(v) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. On a monthly basis, each L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) a complete list of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer.

 

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(d) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations .

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day immediately following the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrower shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to (A) the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans and (B) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 , but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion (calculated after giving effect to the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds of such Committed Borrowing) of the Aggregate Commitments. Any notice given by the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(d)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(d)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(d)(iii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable L/C Issuer.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(d)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03 .

(iv) Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(d) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer.

 

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(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuers for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(d) , shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender may have against the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(d) shall not be subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(d) by the time specified in Section 2.03(d)(ii) , the applicable L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the applicable L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the applicable L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the applicable L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi)  shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(vii) In the event the Borrower or any Lender shall have entered into the arrangements contemplated pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii)(E) with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to another Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall be entitled immediately to exercise its rights under any such arrangement and apply any funds received by it as a result thereof to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Unreimbursed Amount with respect to such Letter of Credit.

(e) Repayment of Participations .

(i) At any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(d) , if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(d)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account

 

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of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (ii)  shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(f) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuers for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the applicable L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by an L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by an L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the applicable L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the applicable L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(g) Role of L/C Issuer . Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document

 

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or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuers shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Majority Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, each as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided , however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the applicable L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i)  through (v)  of Section 2.03(f) ; provided , however , that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the applicable L/C Issuer, and the applicable L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower that the Borrower proves were caused by the applicable L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful failure, in each case as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuers may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuers shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

(h) Cash Collateral . Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if an L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. Sections 2.06 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.03 and Section 2.06 and Section 8.02(c) , “ Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Such cash and deposit account balances are referred to herein, collectively, as the “ Cash Collateral ”. Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at the Administrative Agent.

 

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(i) Applicability of ISP and UCP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

(j) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided that, in the event the Borrower has entered into an arrangement with the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to any Lender’s obligation to fund its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount with respect to such Letter of Credit as contemplated in Section 2.03(a)(iii)(E) hereof, no such Letter of Credit Fee shall accrue or be deemed to have accrued, or be owing or payable by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender with respect to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Letter of Credit Fee until such time as the applicable L/C Issuer determines in its reasonable discretion that such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07 . Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the fifth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) upon the request of the Majority Lenders, while any Event of Default exists and (B) automatically, upon any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) , all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(k) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers . The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate of 0.125%  per annum (but in no event less than $500.00 per annum or $125.00 per quarter) with respect to each Letter of Credit, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears, and due and payable on the fifth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07 . In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(l) Conflict with Issuer Documents . In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

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Section 2.04 Increases of Aggregate Commitments .

(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.04(b) , the Borrower may increase the Aggregate Commitments then in effect by increasing the Commitment of a Lender or by causing a Person that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) that at such time is not a Lender to become a Lender (any such Person that is not at such time a Lender and becomes a Lender, an “ Additional Lender ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in no case shall an Additional Lender be the Public Parent, an Intermediate Parent, the Parent, an Affiliate of the Parent, any Permitted Holder or a natural person.

(b) Any increase in the Aggregate Commitments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(i) such increase shall not be less than $25,000,000 unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, and no such increase shall be permitted if after giving effect thereto the Aggregate Commitments exceed the lesser of (x) the Borrowing Base then in effect and (y) $1,000,000,000;

(ii) following any Scheduled Determination, the Borrower may not increase the Aggregate Commitments more than once before the next Scheduled Determination (for the sake of clarity, all increases in the Aggregate Commitments effective on a single date shall be deemed a single increase in the Aggregate Commitments for purposes of this Section 2.04(b)(ii) );

(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the effective date of such increase;

(iv) on the effective date of such increase, either no Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be outstanding or if any Eurodollar Rate Loans are outstanding, then the effective date of such increase shall be the last day of the Interest Period in respect of such Eurodollar Rate Loans unless the Borrower pays compensation required by Section 3.05 ;

(v) no Lender’s Commitment may be increased without the consent of such Lender;

(vi) if the Borrower elects to increase the Aggregate Commitments by increasing the Commitment of a Lender, the Borrower and such Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit L (a “ Commitment Increase Agreement ”); and

(vii) if the Borrower elects to increase the Aggregate Commitments by causing an Additional Lender to become a party to this Agreement, then the Borrower and such Additional Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit M (an “ Additional Lender Agreement ”), together with an Administrative Questionnaire and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the Borrower shall (1) if requested by the Additional Lender, deliver a Note payable to the order of such Additional Lender in a principal amount equal to its Commitment, and otherwise duly completed and (2) pay any applicable fees as may have been agreed to between the Borrower, the Additional Lender and/or the Administrative Agent.

 

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(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 2.04(d) , from and after the effective date specified in the Commitment Increase Agreement or the Additional Lender Agreement: (A) the amount of the Aggregate Commitments shall be increased as set forth therein, and (B) in the case of an Additional Lender Agreement, any Additional Lender party thereto shall be a party to this Agreement and have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In addition, the Lender or the Additional Lender, as applicable, shall purchase a pro rata portion of the outstanding Loans (and participation interests in Letters of Credit) of each of the other Lenders (and such Lenders hereby agree to sell and to take all such further action to effectuate such sale) such that each Lender (including any Additional Lender, if applicable) shall hold its Applicable Percentage of the outstanding Committed Loans (and participation interests) after giving effect to the increase in the Aggregate Commitments (and the resulting modifications of each Lender’s Commitment pursuant to Section 2.04(e) ).

(d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Commitment Increase Agreement or an Additional Lender Agreement, executed by the Borrower and the Lender or by the Borrower and the Additional Lender party thereto, as applicable, the processing and recording fee referred to in Section 2.04(b) , the Administrative Questionnaire referred to in Section 2.04(b) and the break-funding payments from the Borrower, if any, required by Section 3.05 , if applicable, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Commitment Increase Agreement or Additional Lender Agreement and record the information contained therein in the Register required to be maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.06(c) . No increase in the Aggregate Commitments shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this Section 2.04(d) .

(e) Upon any increase in the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.04 , (A) each Lender’s Commitment shall be automatically deemed amended to the extent necessary so that each such Lender’s Applicable Percentage equals the percentage of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment, in each case after giving effect to such increase, and (B)  Schedule 2.01 to this Agreement shall be deemed amended to reflect the Commitment of each Lender (including any Additional Lender) as thereby increased, any changes in the Lenders’ Commitments pursuant to the foregoing clause (A), and any resulting changes in the Lenders’ Applicable Percentages.

Section 2.05 Borrowing Base .

(a) Initial Borrowing Base . During the period from the Closing Date until the next Determination Date the Borrowing Base shall be $425,000,000, subject to adjustment or reduction, as applicable, as set forth in Sections 2.05(c) and 2.05(d) .

(b) Subsequent Determinations of the Borrowing Base . Upon each designation of a new Borrowing Base on a Scheduled Determination or a Special Determination, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the new Borrowing Base which designation shall take effect immediately on the date such notice is sent (each such date (including the Closing Date), a “ Determination Date ”) and shall remain in effect until, but not including, the next Determination Date. The Borrowing Base shall be determined in accordance with the following methodology:

 

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(i) By March 1 and September 1 of each year beginning March 1, 2019, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (with sufficient copies for each Lender of any information provided on paper, computer disks, or other tangible media) the Engineering Report then required under Section 6.01(e) or Section 6.01(f) , together with all information, reports and data that the Administrative Agent requests concerning the businesses and properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties (including their Oil and Gas Properties and the reserves and production relating thereto). As promptly as reasonably practicable after receiving such Engineering Report, information, reports and data, the Administrative Agent shall propose a Borrowing Base following the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(b)(iii) below. Each such determination of the Borrowing Base is herein called a “ Scheduled Determination ”. If the Borrower does not furnish all such information, reports and data by the date specified in the first sentence of this clause (i) , the Administrative Agent may nonetheless designate the Borrowing Base at any amount that Required Lenders determine (or, in the case of an increase, that all the Lenders determine) and the Borrowing Base may similarly be designated from time to time thereafter until each Lender receives all such information, reports and data, whereupon the Lenders shall designate a new Borrowing Base as described above.

(ii) In addition to Scheduled Determinations, the Borrower may request the Lenders to make additional determinations of the Borrowing Base once between consecutive Scheduled Determinations, and the Administrative Agent also may (and at the request of the Required Lenders must) request the Lenders to make an additional determination of the Borrowing Base once between consecutive Scheduled Determinations; provided that the South Texas Properties will not be reevaluated prior to the first Scheduled Determination. The Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Borrower of any such request made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders. The Borrower shall submit any such request made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and each Lender and, at the time of such request, the Borrower shall (A) deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender an updated Engineering Report prepared either by the Borrower or any Approved Petroleum Engineer and (B) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the Borrowing Base requested by the Borrower. Any determination of the Borrowing Base made pursuant to a request under this clause (ii)  is herein called a “ Special Determination ”. Any Special Determination shall be made by Lenders in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(b)(iii) ; provided , however , that the Borrower shall not be required to deliver an updated Engineering Report to the Administrative Agent and Lenders in connection with any Special Determination requested by the Administrative Agent. In addition to, and not including and/or limited by the foregoing provisions of this clause (ii) , the Borrower may, by notifying the Administrative Agent thereof, at any time between Scheduled Determinations, request additional Special Determinations of the Borrowing Base in the event the Borrower or any other Loan Party acquires Oil and Gas Properties with Proved Reserves that are to be included in the Borrowing Base having a PV9 Value (calculated at the time of acquisition) in excess of 5% of the Borrowing Base in effect immediately prior to such acquisition.

 

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(iii) The Administrative Agent shall propose to the Lenders a specific Borrowing Base amount for the Lenders to approve or disapprove, (x) in the case of a Scheduled Determination, (A) if the Administrative Agent shall have received the Engineering Report and all information, reports and data requested by it in connection therewith in a timely manner, then on or before March 15th and September 15th of such year following the date of delivery or (B) if the Administrative Agent shall not have received the Engineering Report and all information, reports and data requested by it in connection therewith in a timely manner, then promptly after the Administrative Agent has received such Engineering Report and all information, reports and data requested by it in connection therewith and has had a reasonable opportunity to determine the Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(i) ; and (y) in the case of a Special Determination, promptly, and in any event, within 15 days after the Administrative Agent shall have received the Engineering Report and all information, reports and data requested by it in connection therewith. So long as the Loan Parties own all or substantially all of the South Texas Properties, the proposed Borrowing Base amount may also specify the portion of the Borrowing Base amount attributable to the South Texas Properties. Within 15 days after the date referred to in the foregoing clause (iii)(x) or (iii)(y) , as applicable, each Lender shall respond to the Administrative Agent in writing, either approving such proposed amount or setting out a reasonable alternative amount (based on the criteria described in clause (iv)  below), and any Lender’s failure to respond to such proposal within such time will be deemed (x) with respect to any proposed Borrowing Base amount that would constitute an increase in the Borrowing Base then in effect, a rejection of such proposed Borrowing Base amount, and (y) with respect to any proposed Borrowing Base amount that would constitute a decrease or reaffirmation of the Borrowing Base then in effect, an approval of the proposed amount. After receiving such responses or deemed responses from all Lenders, the Administrative Agent will designate the new Borrowing Base at the highest amount approved (I) by all Lenders, in the case of an increase to the then current Borrowing Base, or (II) at the highest amount approved by the Required Lenders, in the case of a reduction to or continuation of the then current Borrowing Base.

(iv) Each redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be made in good faith by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, in the exercise of their reasonable discretion and in accordance with their respective customary and prudent standards for oil and gas lending and credit transactions as they exist at such time and taking into account any Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions that are in place with respect to the production of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Without limiting such discretion, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (A) may make such assumptions regarding appropriate existing and projected pricing for Hydrocarbons as they deem appropriate in their discretion, (B) may make such assumptions regarding projected rates and quantities of future production of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties as they deem appropriate in their discretion, (C) may consider the projected cash requirements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (D) are not required to consider any asset other than Proved Reserves owned by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and (E) may make such other assumptions, considerations and exclusions as they deem appropriate in the exercise of their discretion. It is further acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may consider such other credit factors as they deem appropriate in the exercise of their discretion (including, without limitation, the status of title information with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties described in the Engineering Reports, the existence of any other Indebtedness and the quality and sufficiency of the assets and other credit support securing anticipated decommissioning costs, expenses and other liabilities associated with the Beta Properties (including the aggregate cash balance in the Beta Decommissioning Trust accounts)).

 

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(c) Reduction of Borrowing Base Upon Incurrence of Junior Lien Debt and Unsecured Indebtedness . Upon the issuance or incurrence by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Junior Lien Debt and/or unsecured Indebtedness in accordance with Section 7.03(l) (other than to the extent constituting Refinanced Indebtedness incurred to refinance such Indebtedness, but only to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Refinanced Indebtedness incurred to refinance such Indebtedness does not result in beyond any amounts permitted pursuant to clause (i)  of the proviso to the definition of “Refinanced Indebtedness”), then, in each case, the Borrowing Base then in effect shall immediately and automatically be reduced by an amount equal to the product of 0.25 multiplied by the aggregate principal face amount of such Junior Lien Debt or unsecured Indebtedness, as applicable.

(d) Reduction of Borrowing Base Upon Dispositions, Casualty Events and Hedge Terminations . Upon the completion of (i) any Disposition of, or Casualty Event with respect to, any assets included in the current Borrowing Base on the immediately preceding Determination Date or (ii) any early termination or unwinding of, or the creation of any off-setting position in respect of, any Hedge Transaction used in determining the current Borrowing Base on the immediately preceding Determination Date, the PV9 Value of which Disposition, Casualty Event or termination, unwinding or off-setting position, when combined with the aggregate PV9 Value of (x) each other Disposition and/or Casualty Event any assets included in the Borrowing Base that has occurred since the immediately preceding Determination Date and (y) each other such termination, unwinding and/or off-setting position that has occurred since the immediately preceding Determination Date, would equal or exceed 7.5% or more on a pro forma basis of the Borrowing Base then in effect (and giving effect to any concurrent acquisitions of assets or new Hedge Transactions for which the Borrower has previously delivered to the Administrative Agent reasonably acceptable reserve information and data), the Borrowing Base then in effect shall immediately and automatically be reduced by the Borrowing Base contribution of such assets or such Hedge Transactions contemporaneously with the consummation of such Disposition, Casualty Event or termination, unwinding or off-setting position transaction; provided that if, at any time after the Closing Date, the Loan Parties Dispose of all or substantially all of the South Texas Properties, then (A) during the period from the Closing Date until the first Scheduled Determination, the amount of the Borrowing Base reduction attributable thereto shall equal $25,000,000 and (B) thereafter, the amount of the Borrowing Base reduction attributable thereto shall equal the amount specified in the Borrowing Base notice for the then-most recently completed Scheduled Determination.

Section 2.06 Prepayments .

(a) Optional . The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) one Business Day prior to the date of any prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans

 

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shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; provided , further , that any such notice may state that such notice is conditioned upon effectiveness of other financing or the occurrence of other events, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date specified therein if such condition is not satisfied. Each such notice shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Committed Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 . Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(b) Mandatory .

(i) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately (x) prepay Committed Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess and (y) if any excess remains after prepaying all Committed Loans as a result of outstanding L/C Obligations, pay to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, an aggregate amount equal to such excess in order to Cash Collateralize such outstanding L/C Obligations.

(ii) Upon any determination of or adjustment to the amount of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.05 (other than pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or 2.05(d) ), if a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists, the Borrower shall, within ten (10) days after being notified of such Borrowing Base Deficiency, provide an irrevocable written notice (the “ Election Notice ”) to Lender stating the action that Borrower proposes to take to remedy such Borrowing Base Deficiency, and the Borrower shall thereafter do one or a combination of the following (as elected by the Borrower pursuant to the Election Notice) in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency:

(A) within thirty (30) days following the delivery (or required delivery) of such Election Notice, make a prepayment of the Committed Loans (and, if a Borrowing Base Deficiency remains after prepaying all of the Committed Loans as a result of outstanding L/C Obligations, pay to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, an aggregate amount equal to such remaining deficiency in order to Cash Collateralize such outstanding L/C Obligations);

(B) pay in six equal monthly installments of the Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans (and, if a Borrowing Base Deficiency remains after prepaying all of the Committed Loans as a result of outstanding L/C Obligations, pay to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, an aggregate amount equal to such remaining deficiency in order to Cash Collateralize such outstanding L/C Obligations) over a term and in an amount satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (but in any event, with the first such monthly

 

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installment to be due on the thirtieth day following delivery of the Election Notice and each subsequent installment being equal to 1/6 of the aggregate amount of such Borrowing Base Deficiency due and payable on the dame date in each applicable subsequent calendar month), by immediately dedicating a sufficient amount of monthly cash flow from the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties; and/or

(C) within thirty (30) days following the delivery of the Election Notice, grant the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, a first-priority Lien, pursuant to Collateral in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, on additional Oil and Gas Properties not evaluated in the most recently delivered Engineering Report to the Administrative Agent and with an aggregate PV9 Value attributable thereto sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all payments required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(ii) must, in any event, be made on or prior to the Maturity Date. In the event the Borrower fails to provide an Election Notice to the Administrative Agent within the ten (10) day period referred to above, the Borrower shall be deemed to have irrevocably elected the option set forth in clause (ii)(B) . The failure of the Borrower to comply with any of the options elected (including any deemed election) pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06(b)(ii) and specified in such Election Notice (or relating to such deemed election) shall constitute an immediate Event of Default.

(iii) Upon any adjustment to the amount of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or 2.05(d) , if a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists, then the Borrower shall, in each case, within two (2) Business Days after the consummation or occurrence of the event or events giving rise to such Borrowing Base adjustment, prepay Committed Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such deficiency and (y) if any deficiency remains after prepaying all Committed Loans as a result of outstanding L/C Obligations, pay to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, an aggregate amount equal to such excess in order to Cash Collateralize such outstanding L/C Obligations; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all payments required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(iii) must, in any event, be made on or prior to the Maturity Date.

Section 2.07 Termination or Reduction of Commitments .

(a) Voluntary . The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess; provided , further , that any such notice may state that such notice is conditioned upon effectiveness of other financing or the occurrence of other events, in which case

 

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such notice may be revoked by the Borrower by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date specified therein if such condition is not satisfied. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

(b) Mandatory . If any reduction in the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.05 would result in the Borrowing Base being less than the Aggregate Commitments, the Aggregate Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced (subject to any increases in the Aggregate Commitments in accordance with Section 2.04 ), without premium or penalty, contemporaneously with such reduction in the Borrowing Base so that the Aggregate Commitments equal the Borrowing Base as reduced. Concurrently with, and effective on, the effective date of any such reduction in the Borrowing Base, (i)  Schedule 2.01 and the Register shall each be amended to reflect the decrease in the Aggregate Commitments and the Commitment of each Lender and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and each Lender the revised Schedule 2.01 .

Section 2.08 Repayment of Loans . The Borrower hereby promises to repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.

Section 2.09 Interest .

(a) Subject to the provisions of clause (b)  below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate, (ii) each LIBOR Market Index Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof at rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus the Applicable Rate and (iii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Committed Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Committed Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Majority Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii) (A) Upon the request of the Majority Lenders, while any Event of Default exists or (B) automatically, while any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Committed Loans hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

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(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Committed Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, at the Default Rate) shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 2.10 Fees . In addition to certain fees described in clauses (j)  and (k)  of Section 2.03 :

(a) Commitment Fee . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “ Commitment Fee ”) equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount of the Available Commitment. The Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Section 4.02 is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees . (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Administrative Agent Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

Section 2.11 Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (if the Base Rate is determined in reliance on clause (ii)  of the definition thereof) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Committed Loan for the day on which the Committed Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Committed Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Committed Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Committed Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.13(a) , bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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Section 2.12 Evidence of Debt .

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Committed Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Committed Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in clause (a) , each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

Section 2.13 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback .

(a) General . All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such

 

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Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02 ) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, 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 Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuers, 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 the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this clause (b)  shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent . If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Committed Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II , and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Section 4.02 are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

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(d) Obligations of Lenders Several . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(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 Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c) .

(e) Funding Source . Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Committed Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Committed Loan in any particular place or manner.

Section 2.14 Sharing of Payments by Lenders . 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 the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, 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 Committed Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii) the provisions of this Section 2.14 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.14 shall apply).

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of 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.

Section 2.15 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

 

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(a) Defaulting Lender Waterfall . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender; fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Committed Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Committed Borrowings under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders or the L/C Issuers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or any L/C Issuer against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Committed Loan or L/C Advance in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Committed Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Committed Loans of, and L/C Advance owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Committed Loans of, or L/C Advances owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments under the facility without giving effect to Section 2.15(d) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.15(a) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(b) Certain Fees .

(i) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee 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).

(ii) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.15(e) .

 

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(iii) With respect to any fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (i)  or (ii)  above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (c)  below, (y) pay to each L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(c) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure . All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the Aggregate Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed the lesser of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s (i) Commitment and (ii) Applicable Percentage of the Facility Limit. Subject to Section 2.15(g) below, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(d) Cash Collateral . If the reallocation described in clause (c)  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 L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(h) .

(e) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the 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), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Committed Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable facility (without giving effect to Section 2.15(c) ), whereupon such 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; 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.

(f) New Letters of Credit . So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

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(g) Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(i) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder that may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(ii) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(A) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(B) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(C) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

Section 3.01 Taxes .

(a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable Law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01 ) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . Without limiting the provisions of clause (a)  above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law.

 

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(c) Indemnification by the Borrower . Without duplication of amounts paid under Section 3.01(a) or 3.01(b) , the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuers, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01 ) payable or paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (d) .

(e) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(f) Status of Lenders . Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or applicable W-8 claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI;

(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or applicable W-8; or

(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

Any Lender that is a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying its exemption from U.S. federal backup withholding on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement.

 

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(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or an L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01 , it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This clause (g)  shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (g) , in no event will the Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this clause (g) , the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent or such Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.

(h) Status of Administrative Agent . On or prior to the date on which the Administrative Agent becomes the Administrative Agent under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower), if the Administrative Agent is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30), the Administrative Agent will deliver to the Borrower, with respect to any amounts received for or on account of any Lender, an executed copy of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY certifying that the Administrative Agent is entitled to receive payments of such amounts without deduction or withholding for any U.S. federal withholding Taxes.

Section 3.02 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 or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all

 

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Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

Section 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates .

(a) If the Majority Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (i) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Committed Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

(b) If the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(ii) of this Section 3.03 have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (b)  above have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the Eurodollar Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the Eurodollar Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the Eurodollar Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01 , such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Majority Lenders stating that such Majority Lenders object to such amendment. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this clause (b)  (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (a)(ii) of this Section 3.03 , only to the extent the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis) then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or (if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent) electronic communication as promptly as practicable thereafter that (x) any Election Notice that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Rate

 

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Borrowing with an Interest Period having the duration of such Interest Period shall be ineffective and (y) if any Committed Loan Notice requests a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period having the duration of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Loans.

Section 3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(a) Increased Costs Generally . 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 or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) ) or any L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject any Lender or any L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves or other liabilities attributable thereto (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or L/C Issuer); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate 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, continuing, converting to or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Committed Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital or Liquidity Requirements . If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s capital or liquidity, or on the capital or liquidity of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Committed Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in clause (a)  or (b)  of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except 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).

(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans . The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Committed Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Committed Loan; provided that the Borrower shall have received at least 10 Business Days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 Business Days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 Business Days from receipt of such notice.

Section 3.05 Compensation for Losses . Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Committed Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Committed Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise) (including, for avoidance of doubt, any payments pursuant to Section 2.04 or clause (b)  of Section 2.06 );

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Committed Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Committed Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower (including by reason of a revocation of notice of prepayment pursuant to the further proviso in the first sentence of Section 2.06(a) ); or

 

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(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13 ; including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Committed Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Committed Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

Section 3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or 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 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Committed Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.04 , as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , as applicable and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , 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 3.01 , the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13 .

Section 3.07 Survival . All of the Borrower’s obligations, and any corresponding Lenders’ obligations, under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, and any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender.

Section 3.08 Availability of LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any Lender determines in its sole discretion that LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans are not available to be made by it for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of such Loans becoming illegal or such Lender determining that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBOR Market Index Rate), then (a) such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof, (b) no

 

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Lender shall be required to make LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans (and the Borrower shall not be entitled to request LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans or convert any other Loans into LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans) until such Lender notifies the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans are again available to be made by such Lender, and (c) if such Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, all LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans of such Lender then outstanding shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the date specified by such Lender in such notice.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

Section 4.01 Conditions to Initial Credit Extension . The initial Credit Extension under this Agreement shall become available and this Agreement shall become effective on the date that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived by each Lender party hereto on the Closing Date):

(a) Loan Documents . The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party or, with respect to the Public Parent Pledge Agreement, the Public Parent, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders: (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Guaranty, (iii) the Security Agreement, (iv) the Public Parent Pledge Agreement and (v) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note, in each case, executed by the relevant parties.

(b) Collateral Matters; Title . The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) all certificates, agreements or instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Equity, if any, accompanied by instruments of transfer and undated stock powers endorsed in blank;

(ii) UCC financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the UCC;

(iii) certified copies of UCC, tax and judgment lien searches, bankruptcy and pending lawsuit searches or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name any Loan Party or the Public Parent as debtor and that are filed in those states in which any Loan Party or the Public Parent is organized and such other searches that are required by the Security Agreement or that the Administrative Agent deems necessary or appropriate, none of which encumber the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the Security Instruments (other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 );

 

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(iv) duly authorized and executed Mortgages, supplements or assignments of mortgages, in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent sufficient to grant, evidence and perfect first-priority Liens with respect to at least 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case, attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties included in the Initial Engineering Report (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging, together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings each duly authorized and executed) and all or substantially all of the midstream assets held by the Borrower’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, and such certificates and opinions of counsel with respect thereto, in each case as the Administrative Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate;

(v) title information consistent with usual and customary standards for the geographic regions in which the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties are located, taking into account the size, scope and number of leases and wells of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties; provided that after giving effect to its receipt of the title information to be provided pursuant to this clause (b)(v) , the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the title information covering Engineered Oil and Gas Properties comprising at least 50% of the total PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and 50% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case, attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties included in the Initial Engineering Report (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging, together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings each duly authorized and executed); and

(vi) duly authorized and executed counterparts of an Environmental Undertaking and Indemnity with respect to the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any midstream assets) located in or offshore adjacent to the State of California.

(c) Corporate Documents; Certificates . The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(i) a duly authorized and executed certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party and the Public Parent dated the Closing Date, certifying (x) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of each Organization Document of such Loan Party or the Public Parent, as applicable, certified (to the extent applicable) as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization, (y) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by such Loan Party or the Public Parent, as applicable, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party or the Public Parent is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect and (z) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing any Loan Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Loan Party or the Public Parent (together with a certificate of another Responsible Officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Responsible Officer executing the certificate in this clause (c)(i) );

(ii) a certificate as to the good standing of each Loan Party and the Public Parent (in so-called “long-form” (if available)) as of a recent date, from the applicable Secretary of State (or other applicable Governmental Authority) for the jurisdiction of each such Loan Party’s or the Public Parent’s incorporation or organization;

 

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(iii) a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 4.01(h) , (i) , (j)  and (k) ; and

(iv) a solvency certificate in the form of Exhibit F , dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Parent.

(d) Financial Statements; Pro Forma Balance Sheet; Projections . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received and shall be satisfied with the form and substance of the Initial Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received a financial model and budget provided by the Parent and the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory of the Administrative Agent, that sets forth a pro forma consolidated balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement of the Parent and the Borrower as at the Closing Date, adjusted to give effect to this Agreement, consistent in all material respects with the sources and uses of cash as previously described to the Lenders and the forecasts previously provided to the Lenders.

(e) Initial Engineering Report . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received the Initial Engineering Report accompanied by a certificate from an Responsible Officer of the Parent and the Borrower certifying on behalf of the Parent and the Borrower that in all material respects: (i) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments exceeding 2% of the annual production of natural gas of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent calendar year of gas (on an mcf equivalent basis) in the aggregate with respect to its oil and gas properties evaluated in the Initial Engineering Report that would require the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to deliver Hydrocarbons either generally or produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (ii) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, there are no material agreements that are not cancelable on ninety (90) days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment for the sale of production from the Borrower’s or the Restricted Subsidiaries’ Hydrocarbons (including calls on or other rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same are currently being, or are expected to be, exercised) that pertain to the sale of production at a fixed price and (iii) attached thereto is a schedule of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by the Initial Engineering Report that will be mortgaged properties as of the Closing Date and demonstrating the percentage of the PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and Proved Developed Producing Reserves evaluated in the Initial Engineering Report that the value of such mortgaged properties represent in compliance with clause (b)(iv) above.

(f) Opinions of Counsel . The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, customary written opinions of (i) Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties and (ii) local counsel for the Loan Parties in the States of California, Texas and Wyoming, in each case, (x) dated the Closing Date, (y) addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (z) covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents and the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

(g) Evidence of Insurance . The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect, together with the certificates of insurance, naming the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as an additional insured or lender loss payee, as the case may be, under all insurance policies maintained with respect to the assets and properties of the Loan Parties that constitutes Collateral.

 

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(h) Repayment of Existing Credit Facility; Other Indebtedness . The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed mortgage releases and terminations, terminations of any financing statements and terminations of control agreements, with respect to any and all Liens, in each case, encumbering the properties or assets (including Oil and Gas Properties) of the Public Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, any mortgages, financing statements, control agreements and other security documents securing the Existing Credit Agreement, except to the extent any such Lien are permitted to remain in effect pursuant to Section 7.01 . After giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not have any outstanding Indebtedness other than (i) the Obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents and (ii) other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred and remain outstanding pursuant to Section 7.03 .

(i) Representations and Warranties . Each of the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V of this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by or subject to a “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or any similar term or qualification, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of the Closing Date (and immediately after giving effect to the Transactions), except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct, in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by or subject to a “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or any similar term or qualification, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects), as of such earlier date.

(j) No Default . At the time of, and immediately after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date and the application of the proceeds of any Credit Extension pursuant to this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date.

(k) Minimum Committed Availability . On the Closing Date and after giving effect to the initial Borrowing and the other transactions to occur on or before the initial Borrowing, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries will have an Available Commitment under this Agreement of at least $100,000,000.

(l) Payment of Fees . The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders shall have received payment of all commitment, arrangement, upfront and agency fees and all other fees and amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including under any fee letters, and to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Parent or the Borrower under this Agreement or other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent), which amounts may be netted in whole or in part from or otherwise funded by any Loans made on the Closing Date.

 

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(m) Beneficial Ownership Certificate . To the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrower at least three (3) days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (ii)  shall be deemed to be satisfied).

(n) Know Your Customer; USA PATRIOT Act; Etc . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the documentation and information required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the information required under Section 10.17 ; provided that the Administrative Agent or any such Lender shall have requested such documentation and information at least seven days prior to the Closing Date.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 , each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

Section 4.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions . The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) After giving effect to such Credit Extension and the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds thereof, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit, (ii) the Aggregate Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed the lesser of such Lender’s (x) Commitment and (y) Applicable Percentage of the Facility Limit and (iii) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

(b) The representations and warranties of the Parent, the Borrower, each other Loan Party , each Intermediate Parent and the Public Parent contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by qualified by or subject to a “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or any similar term or qualification, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct, in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by or subject to a “materiality”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or any similar term or qualification, such representation or warranty shall be true and

 

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correct in all respects), as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02 , the representations and warranties contained in clause (a)  of Section 5.05 shall be deemed, from and after the first delivery of financial statements pursuant thereto, to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clause (a)  of Section 6.01 .

(c) No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(d) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuers shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Section 4.02(a) , Section 4.02(b) , Section 4.02(c) and Section 4.02(d) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each of the Parent and the Borrower, on behalf of itself and each Restricted Subsidiary, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

Section 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power . Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and consummate the Transactions, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i ) or (c) , to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is or is to be a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation that is material to the Loan Parties to which such Person is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents . No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other

 

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Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Security Instruments, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Security Instruments (including the first-priority nature thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of their rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments, except for (i) the authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings listed on Schedule 5.03 , all of which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings in connection with the enforcement of pledges of, and the sale of, the Pledged Equity in connection therewith, (iii) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings required in connection with the additional mortgage and security interests required to be granted under this Agreement; (iv) routine authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings in the ordinary course of business (e.g. tax filings, annual reports, environmental filings, etc.); (v) the periodic filing of continuation statements under the UCC, and (vi) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings the failure of which to obtain, take or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.04 Binding Effect . This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

Section 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect . (a) The Initial Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date 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; and (iii) show, in accordance with and as required by GAAP, all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including material liabilities for taxes, material commitments and material Indebtedness. As of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, the Public Parent does not have any material Indebtedness (including Disqualified Stock) or any material contingent liabilities, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the Initial Financial Statements

(b) The unaudited pro forma financial statements delivered by the Parent and the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.01(d) have, in each case, been prepared in good faith by the Parent and the Borrower, based on the assumptions stated therein (which assumptions are believed by the Parent and the Borrower on the Closing Date to be reasonable in light of current conditions and facts then known to the Parent or the Borrower), are based on the information available to the Parent or the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof, accurately reflect all adjustments required to be made to give effect to the Transactions, and present fairly in all material respects the pro forma consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods, assuming that the Transactions had occurred on such date or as of the beginning of such period, as the case may be.

 

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(c) The forecasts of financial performance of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.01(d) have, in each case, been prepared in good faith by the Parent and the Borrower and based on assumptions believed by the Parent and the Borrower to be reasonable at the time such forecasts were provided (and on the Closing Date in the case of forecasts provided prior to the Closing Date) (it being recognized, however, that projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period(s) covered by such projections may differ from the projected results and that such differences may be material and that the Loan Parties make no representation that such projections will be realized).

(d) Since December 31, 2017, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.06 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent or the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Parent, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation of the Transactions or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06 , either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no change in the status, or financial effect on any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, of the matters described in Schedule 5.06 that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.07 No Default . Neither any Loan Party nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Section 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens . (a) Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The property of each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 .

Section 5.09 Environmental Compliance . (a) The Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries are in compliance with all existing Environmental Laws and have not received any claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09 , such Environmental Laws and except for such non-compliance or claims that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) As of the Closing Date and except (i) as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09 or (ii) to the extent the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: none of the properties currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under 42 USC § 9605(a)(8)(B) or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; and Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in quantities or in a manner as to create Environmental Liability.

(c) As of the Closing Date and except (i) as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09 or (ii) to the extent the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law that is reasonably expected to result in material Environmental Liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material Environmental Liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.10 Insurance . The properties of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are insured (a) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and/or (b) through a system or systems of self-insurance that are in accord with sound practices of similarly situated corporations of established reputation maintaining such systems and with respect to which the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries maintain adequate insurance reserves in accordance with GAAP and in accordance with sound actuarial and insurance principles. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders have been named as additional insureds in respect of such liability insurance policies and the Administrative Agent has been named as lender loss payee with respect to Property loss insurance. No Loan Party owns any material Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or material Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) located on a Mortgaged Property for which such Loan Party has not delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that (a) such Loan Party maintains Flood Insurance for such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home, or (b) such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home is not located in a special flood hazard area, unless such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home has been excluded from the property that is subject to the mortgage on such Mortgaged Property.

Section 5.11 Taxes . Expect as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Parent, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, the Public Parent and each Intermediate Parent have filed all tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all

 

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Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. None of the Parent, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Parent and the Borrower, the Public Parent has and any Intermediate Parent have received written notice of any proposed tax assessment against it that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.12 ERISA Compliance . (a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws except for such events of noncompliance that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except to the extent the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred that, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Parent or the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could reasonably be expected to be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

(d) Each Loan Party satisfies an exception set forth in 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101 (as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) so that its underlying assets do not constitute assets of a Benefit Plan and the Transactions are not in violation of any state statutes, applicable to a Loan Party that regulate investments of, and fiduciary obligations with respect to, governmental plans, that are similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Section 5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties . As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are (in the case of corporate securities) fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Security Instruments or permitted by Section 7.01 . As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party has any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13 . Set forth on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties as of the Closing Date, showing as of the Closing Date (as to each Loan Party) the jurisdiction of its incorporation, the address of its principal place of business and its U.S. taxpayer identification number. As of the Closing Date, the Parent has no foreign Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act . (a) Neither the making of any Credit Extension hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X. None of the Parent, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries 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 T, Regulation U or Regulation X) or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock.”

(b) No Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 5.15 Disclosure . No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken together with all other information previously furnished or that is publicly available, contains as of the date so furnished any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, each of the Parent and the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by it to be reasonable at the time. There are no statements or conclusions in any Engineering Report that are based upon or include, as of the date of such Engineering Report, misleading information or fail to take into account, as of the date of such Engineering Report, material information regarding the matters reported therein, it being understood that projections concerning volumes attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties and production and cost estimates contained in each Engineering Report are necessarily based upon professional opinions, estimates and projections and that neither the Parent nor the Borrower warrants that such opinions, estimates and projections will ultimately prove to have been accurate. As of the Closing Date, all of the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct.

Section 5.16 Compliance with Laws . Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.17 Solvency . The Loan Parties are, together with their Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, Solvent.

 

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Section 5.18 Casualty, Etc . Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.19 Labor Matters . There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date and none of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.20 Security Instruments . The provisions of the Security Instruments are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first-priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 ) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein.

Section 5.21 Engineered Oil and Gas Properties .

(a) The Parent, the Borrower or another Loan Party has good and defensible title to all Engineered Oil and Gas Properties, free and clear of all Liens except as permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 and Immaterial Title Deficiencies. With the exception of Immaterial Title Deficiencies, all such Oil and Gas Properties are valid, subsisting, and in full force and effect, and all material rentals, royalties, and other amounts due and payable in respect thereof have been duly paid. Without regard to any consent or non-consent provisions of any joint operating agreement covering any of the Loan Parties’ Proved Reserves, and with the exception of Immaterial Title Deficiencies, the Loan Parties’ share of (a) the costs for each Engineered Oil and Gas Property is not greater than the decimal fraction set forth in the most recent Engineering Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the respective designations “working interests”, “WI”, “gross working interest”, “GWI” or similar terms and (b) production from, allocated to, or attributed to each Engineered Oil and Gas Property is not less than the decimal fraction set forth in the most recent Engineering Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the designations “net revenue interest”, “NRI” or similar terms. Except to the extent constituting an Immaterial Title Deficiency, each well drilled in respect of each Engineered Oil and Gas Property described in the Engineering Report (y) is capable of, and is presently, producing Hydrocarbons in commercial quantities, and the applicable Loan Party is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no material funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders and other usual and customary suspense accounts, and (z) has been drilled, bottomed, completed, and operated in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and no such well that is currently producing hydrocarbons is subject to any penalty in production by reason of such well having produced in excess of its allowable production.

(b) The Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (and all properties unitized therewith) are, in all material respects, being (and, to the extent the same could materially and adversely affect the ownership or operation of the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties after the date hereof, to the applicable Loan Party’s knowledge, have in the past been) maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with prudent industry standards and

 

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in conformity with all applicable Laws and in conformity with all oil, gas or other mineral leases and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Engineered Oil and Gas Property and in conformity with the Permitted Encumbrances. No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to having allowable production after the date hereof reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) prior to the date hereof and none of the wells located on the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized therewith) are or will be deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by applicable Laws, regulations, rules and orders, and such wells are bottomed under and producing from, with the well bores wholly within, the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (or, in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties). There are no dry holes, or otherwise inactive wells, located on the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties or on lands pooled or unitized therewith, except for wells that have been properly plugged and abandoned or for which appropriate plugging and abandonment has been scheduled. Each Loan Party has all material governmental licenses and permits reasonably necessary or appropriate to own and operate its Engineered Oil and Gas Properties, and no Loan Party has received notice in writing of any material violations in respect of any such licenses or permits, except for the absence of such licenses and permits as could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.22 Sale of Production . Except (x) as of the Closing Date, as set forth in Schedule 5.22 , or (y) thereafter, as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and reflected in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base, or (z) for matters that constitute Immaterial Title Deficiencies:

(a) No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to any material contractual or other arrangement (i) whereby payment for production is or can be deferred for a substantial period after the month in which such production is delivered (in the case of oil, not in excess of 60 days, and in the case of gas, not in excess of ninety (90) days) or (ii) whereby payments are made to a Loan Party other than by checks, drafts, wire transfer advises or other similar writings, instruments or communications for the immediate payment of money;

(b) No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to any material contractual or other arrangement that are not cancelable on ninety (90) days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment for the sale of production from the Borrower’s or the other Loan Parties’ Hydrocarbons (including, without limitation, calls on or other rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same are currently being exercised) that (a) pertain to the sale of Hydrocarbons at a fixed price and (b) have a maturity or expiry date of longer than six (6) months from the date hereof;

(c) On a net basis there are no gas imbalances that would require the Borrower’s or the other Loan Parties to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from their Engineered Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor exceeding one-half bcf of gas (on an mcf equivalent basis) in the aggregate;

(d) No Loan Party, nor, to such Loan Party’s knowledge, any Loan Party’s predecessors in title, has received prepayments (including payments for gas not taken pursuant to “take or pay” or other similar arrangements) for any oil, gas or other hydrocarbons produced or to be produced from any Engineered Oil and Gas Properties after the date hereof; and

 

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(e) No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to any “take or pay” or other similar arrangement (i) that can be satisfied in whole or in part by the production or transportation of gas from other properties or (ii) as a result of which production from any Engineered Oil and Gas Property may be required to be delivered to one or more third parties without payment (or without full payment) therefor as a result of payments made, or other actions taken, with respect to other properties.

Section 5.23 OFAC; Sanctions .

(a) None of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or to its knowledge, the Public Parent or any Intermediate Parent or any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of any thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions or (ii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

(b) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with Sanctions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions or any Laws related thereto.

Section 5.24 Anti-Corruption Laws . The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws (including FCPA) and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Laws.

Section 5.25 PATRIOT Act . The Parent, the Borrower or each Restricted Subsidiary are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable anti-money laundering Laws and regulations, including without limitation the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act (the “ PATRIOT Act ”).

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Committed Loan or other Obligation owing to any Lender or to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding and not fully Cash Collateralized, each of the Parent and the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01 , 6.02 , and 6.03 ) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:

Section 6.01 Financial Statements . Deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 6.02 :

(a) as soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, the Parent’s (or, if the Public Parent is a Passive Holding Company, the Public Parent’s) audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than any

 

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exception or qualification resulting from an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness occurring within one year from the date of delivery of such report or any potential inability to satisfy a financial covenant on a future date or in a future period) and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent (or, if the Public Parent is a Passive Holding Company, the Public Parent) and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; provided that, if the Public Parent is a Passive Holding Company, the timely filing with the SEC of the Public Parent’s annual report on Form 10-K will satisfy the reporting requirements of this Section 6.01(a) ; provided , however, for any period in which such financial statements were prepared for both the Parent and the Public Parent, the Parent, at the request of the Administrative Agent, shall provide to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a written reconciliation between the financial statements of the Parent and the Public Parent in form and with detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,

(b) For each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Parent’s fiscal year, as soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than 45 days after the end of each such fiscal quarter of the Parent, the Parent’s (or, if the Public Parent is a Passive Holding Company, the Public Parent’s) consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ 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, all certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent (or, if the Public Parent is a Passive Holding Company, the Public Parent) and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; provided that, if the Public Parent is a Passive Holding Company, the timely filing with the SEC of the Public Parent’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q will satisfy the reporting requirements of this Section 6.01(b) ; provided, however, for any period in which such financial statements were prepared for both the Parent and the Public Parent, the Parent, at the request of the Administrative Agent, shall provide to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a written reconciliation between the financial statements of the Parent and the Public Parent in form and with detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(c) if there shall be any Unrestricted Subsidiaries at the end of any fiscal period in respect of which any consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b)  above is delivered, concurrently with such delivery, the related consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries from such consolidated financial statements certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(d) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, an annual business plan and budget of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, including forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders, of consolidated balance sheets, statements of income or operations, statements of cash flows and projected capital expenditures, in each case, of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a monthly basis for the immediately following fiscal year;

(e) by March 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2019, an Engineering Report prepared as of the preceding January 1 (or December 31) by, at the option of the Parent and the Borrower, (x) petroleum engineers who are employees of the Parent or the Borrower and audited by Approved Petroleum Engineers or (y) Approved Petroleum Engineers, concerning all Oil and Gas Properties owned by any Loan Party that are located within the geographic boundaries of the United States and that have attributable to them Proved Reserves, which report shall (i) be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) be prepared in a manner that presents the PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves, (iii) take into account any “overproduced” status under gas balancing arrangements, (iv) contain information and analysis consistent in form and scope in all material respects to that contained in the Initial Engineering Report, (v) distinguish (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Parent or the Borrower that distinguishes) (A) the Oil and Gas Properties owned by each Loan Party and (B) those properties treated in the report that are Collateral from those properties treated in the report that are not Collateral, (vi) sets forth in reasonable detail the Parent’s and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of the plugging, abandonment and other decommissioning costs attributable to the Beta Properties in accordance with GAAP, and (vii) sets forth the aggregate balance of cash and Cash Equivalents on deposit as of the date of such report in the Beta Decommissioning Trust accounts and information concerning any surety bonds securing the plugging, abandonment and other decommissioning costs attributable to the Beta Properties;

(f) by September 1 of each year, commencing September 1, 2019, an Engineering Report prepared as of the preceding July 1 (or June 30) (or the last day of the preceding calendar month in the case of a Special Determination) by petroleum engineers who are employees of the Parent or the Borrower (or, at the option of the Parent and the Borrower, by the independent engineers named above or selected in accordance with clause (e)  above), together with an accompanying report on property sales, property purchases and changes in categories that have occurred since the date of the prior Engineering Report, both in the same form and scope as the reports in clause (e)  above.

Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information . Deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as contemplated by the last paragraph of this Section 6.02 :

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) , a duly completed certificate signed by the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Parent in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto (i) certifying as to whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 7.11 , (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) (or the Initial Financial Statements in the case of the first such certificate) and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the

 

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financial statements accompanying such certificate, and (iv) certifying whether the Public Parent is or is not a Passive Holding Company. Each such certificate shall include reasonably detailed information regarding any Material Disposition or (at the Parent’s election) any Material Acquisition consummated during the period covered by such certificate and give effect to such Material Disposition or Material Acquisition in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAX for the purpose of the financial covenants and other financial metrics required under this Agreement;

(b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent or the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports, registration statements and proxy statements that the Public Parent , any Intermediate Parent or any Loan Party may file or be required to file with the SEC under Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; provided that the timely filing with the SEC of any such materials or the posting of such documents (or providing a link thereto) on the Public Parent’s , any Intermediate Parent’s or such Loan Party’s website on the Internet at the Public Parent ’s, any Intermediate Parent ’s or such Loan Party’s website address will satisfy the reporting requirements of this clause (c) ;

(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement relating to Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02 ;

(e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by the Public Parent , any Intermediate Parent or any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC concerning any investigation or possible investigation by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of the Public Parent , any Intermediate Parent or any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof;

(f) not later than five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, copies of all notices, requests and other documents (including amendments, waivers and other modifications) so received under or pursuant to any instrument, indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement relating to Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and regarding or related to any breach or default by any party thereto or any other event that could reasonably be expected to materially impair the value of the interests or the rights of any Loan Party or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect and, from time to time upon request by the Administrative Agent, such information and reports regarding such instruments, indentures and loan and credit and similar agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

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(g) promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could (i) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) cause any property described in the Mortgages to be subject to any materially adverse restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law;

(h) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request; and

(i) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b)  or Section 6.02(c) (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 Public Parent , any Intermediate Parent , the Parent or the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Public Parent’s, any Intermediate Parent’s, the Parent’s or the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Public Parent’s, any Intermediate Parent’s, the Parent’s or the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (A) the Parent or the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Parent or the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (B) the Parent or the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier, facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Parent or the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Parent or the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Parent and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent or the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on SyndTrak, Intralinks or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”).

 

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Section 6.03 Notices . Notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) Promptly of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default known to any Responsible Officer, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Parent and the Borrower proposed to take with respect thereto;

(b) Promptly of any matter (other than matters of a general economic or industry-specific nature) that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

(c) Promptly of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) Promptly of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(e) Promptly of the (i) incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness that would require an adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.05(c) and (ii) occurrence of any Disposition of, or Casualty Event with respect to, property or assets or early termination or unwinding of, or the creation of any off-setting position in respect of, any Hedge Transaction, in each case, that would require, or could reasonably be expected to require, an adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.05(d) ; and

(f) (i) Within three (3) Business Days after any amount of cash or Cash Equivalents is withdrawn or disbursed from the Beta Decommissioning Trust account, or the Borrower, the Parent, or any other Loan Party receives notice that an order or instruction directing the withdrawal or disbursement of cash or Cash Equivalents from such account has been issued, written notice of such withdrawal, disbursement, order or instruction, together with the Parent’s and the Borrower’s then-current good faith estimate of the plugging, abandonment and other decommissioning costs attributable to the Beta Properties in accordance with GAAP, the aggregate balance of cash and Cash Equivalents remaining on deposit in the Beta Decommissioning Trust accounts after giving effect to such withdrawal or disbursement, and information concerning any surety bonds securing the plugging, abandonment and other decommissioning costs attributable to the Beta Properties, and (ii) thereafter, promptly following any request from the Administrative Agent or any Lender, such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender with respect to any of the foregoing.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(e) and (f) ) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Parent or the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Parent and the Borrower have taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

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Section 6.04 Payment of Obligations . Pay and discharge, and to the extent that any Loan Party would be liable therefor, procure the payment and discharge by the Public Parent and any Intermediate Parent of, as the same shall become due and payable, (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except for such amounts that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien (other than any Lien permitted exist in accordance with Section 7.01 ) upon its property.

Section 6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc . (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05 ; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.06 Maintenance of Properties . (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

Section 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance . (a) Maintain (at its own expense) insurance for its property with financially sound and reputable insurance companies in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations; provided , however , that in lieu of any such insurance, the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may maintain a system or systems of self-insurance that are in accord with sound practices of similarly situated corporations of established reputation maintaining such systems and with respect to which the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall maintain adequate insurance reserves in accordance with GAAP and in accordance with sound actuarial and insurance principles. All insurance policies covering Collateral shall be endorsed (i) to name the Administrative Agent as “lender loss payee” as its interests may appear, (ii) to provide that such policies may not be canceled or reduced or affected in any material manner for any reason without ten (10) days prior notice to the Administrative Agent, and (iii) to provide for any other matters specified in any applicable Security Instrument. Each Loan Party shall at all times maintain insurance against its liability for injury to persons or property with financially sound and reputable insurers in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and such policies shall name the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as “additional insureds”.

 

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(b) Reimbursement under any liability insurance maintained by Loan Parties pursuant to this Section 6.07 may be paid directly to the Person who has incurred the liability covered by such insurance. With respect to any loss involving damage to Collateral, each Loan Party will make or cause to be made the necessary repairs to or replacements of such Collateral, and any proceeds of insurance maintained by each Loan Party pursuant to this Section 6.07 shall be paid to such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent as reimbursement for the costs of such repairs or replacements as such repairs or replacements are made or acquired; provided that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled (but not obligated) to retain and apply such proceeds as Collateral during the continuance of any Event of Default.

Section 6.08 Compliance with Laws . Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.09 Books and Records . (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Parent, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Parent, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

Section 6.10 Inspection Rights . Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided , however , that when an Event of Default exists the 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 without advance notice.

Section 6.11 Use of Proceeds . The Borrower shall apply the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes, including to provide working capital for the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, the issuance of letters of credit, capital expenditures and acquisitions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Oil and Gas Properties and other assets related to the exploration, production and development of Oil and Gas Properties and related midstream activities.

 

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Section 6.12 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security . (a) Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary (excluding (x) any Unrestricted Subsidiary and (y) any Immaterial Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, then the Parent and the Borrower shall, at the Borrower’s expense:

(i) within thirty (30) days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), cause such Restricted Subsidiary, and cause each direct and indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary (if it has not already done so), to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a guaranty or guaranty supplement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, guaranteeing the other Loan Parties’ obligations under the Loan Documents;

(ii) subject in the case of Oil and Gas Properties and material midstream assets to Section 6.12(b) , within thirty (30) days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), cause such Restricted Subsidiary and each direct and indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, leasehold deeds of trust, Security Agreement Supplements and other security and pledge agreements, as specified by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including delivery of all Pledged Equity in and of such Restricted Subsidiary, and other instruments required under the Security Agreement) securing payment of all the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary or such parent, as the case may be, under the Loan Documents and constituting Liens on all such real and personal properties; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to grant a security interest in the Equity Interest of any (i) Immaterial Subsidiary or (ii) Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(iii) subject in the case of Oil and Gas Properties to Section 6.12(b) , within thirty (30) days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), cause such Restricted Subsidiary and each direct and indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) to take whatever action (including the recording of mortgages, the filing of UCC financing statements, the giving of notices and the endorsement of notices on title documents) may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on the properties purported to be subject to the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, leasehold deeds of trust, Security Agreement Supplements and security and pledge agreements delivered pursuant to this Section 6.12 , enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms; and

(iv) within sixty (60) days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), deliver to the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, a signed copy of a favorable opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in clauses (i) , (ii)  and (iii)  above, and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

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(b) If the report or certificate delivered under Section 6.01(e) or Section 6.01(f) does not confirm that the Secured Obligations are secured by first-priority Liens covering and encumbering at least 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and at least 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case, attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging), together with all or substantially all material midstream assets necessary to operate the Oil and Gas Properties comprising Proved Developed Producing Reserves in the manner contemplated in the preparation of the most recently delivered Engineering Report, then (i) within thirty (30) days of the delivery of such report or certificate (or such longer period as may be appropriate in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), the Loan Parties that own Engineered Oil and Gas Properties shall execute and deliver mortgages and deeds of trust (or supplements with respect thereto) in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings (each duly authorized and executed) and together with such certificates and opinions of counsel with respect thereto, in each case as the Administrative Agent shall deem necessary to grant, evidence and perfect the first-priority Liens on such additional properties comprising Proved Reserves and Proved Developed Producing Reserves such that, after giving effect thereto, the Loan Parties shall have mortgaged at least 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and at least 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case, attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging), together with all or substantially all material midstream assets necessary to operate the Oil and Gas Properties comprising Proved Developed Producing Reserves in the manner contemplated in the preparation of the most recently delivered Engineering Report; and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, which request shall not be made more than once per calendar year so long as no Default, Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency is then continuing, evidence of title reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to such additional properties, but only to the extent necessary such that the Parent and the Borrower shall have delivered evidence of title covering Engineered Oil and Gas Properties subject to the Mortgages comprising at least 85% of the total PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and at least 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case, attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties required by this Section 6.12(b) ; provided , however , that the requirements of this Section 6.12(b) shall not apply to any Oil and Gas Properties as to which the Administrative Agent shall determine in its reasonable discretion, after consultation with the Parent or the Borrower, that the costs and burden of obtaining such evidence of title are excessive in relation to the value of the benefits afforded thereby.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.12 , the “Collateral” shall not include any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) included in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” and no Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home shall be encumbered by any Mortgage, other than the Borrower’s CO2 Gas Processing Plant located in Carbon County, Wyoming, unless (i) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders otherwise agree in writing, (ii) the Lenders have been afforded not less than 45 days to conduct any necessary diligence with respect to flood hazard area determinations and other compliance analysis and (iii) if the applicable property is determined to be located in a special flood hazard area, each Lender is reasonably satisfied that the Borrower has complied, or has caused the applicable Restricted Subsidiary to comply, with the applicable Flood Insurance Regulations (including, if applicable, obtaining flood insurance from such providers, on such terms and in such amounts as required by the Flood Insurance Regulations).

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Public Parent shall only be required to pledge its Equity Interests in any Intermediate Parent owned directly by the Public Parent (or Parent, if Public Parent directly owns any Equity Interest in Parent), and each Intermediate Parent shall only be required to pledge its Equity Interests in the Parent (if such Intermediate Parent directly owns any Equity Interest in Parent) or any other Person owned by such Intermediate Parent that indirectly owns an Equity Interest in the Parent.

Section 6.13 Compliance with Environmental Laws . Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (b) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its current operations and properties; and (c) conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws; provided , however , that none of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is (x) not required by applicable Environmental Laws or (y) is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

Section 6.14 Further Assurances . Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject any Loan Party’s or any Restricted Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Security Instruments, (ii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Security Instruments and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder and (iii) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each Restricted Subsidiary to do so.

Section 6.15 Production Proceeds . Notwithstanding that, by the terms of the various Mortgages, certain Guarantors and Borrower are and will be assigning to the Administrative Agent all of the “Production Proceeds” (as defined therein) accruing to the property covered thereby, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing such Loan Parties may continue to receive from the purchasers of production all such Production Proceeds, provided that such Production Proceeds shall continue to be subject to the Liens created under the Mortgages and the other Security Instruments. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may exercise all rights and remedies granted under the Mortgages, including the right to obtain

 

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possession of all Production Proceeds then held by Loan Parties or to receive directly from the purchasers of production all other Production Proceeds. In no case shall any failure, whether purposed or inadvertent, by the Administrative Agent to collect directly any such Production Proceeds constitute in any way a waiver, remission or release of any of their rights under the Mortgages, nor shall any release of any Production Proceeds by the Administrative Agent to Loan Parties constitute a waiver, remission, or release of any other Production Proceeds or of any rights of the Administrative Agent to collect other Production Proceeds thereafter.

Section 6.16 Anti-Corruption, Anti-Terrorism; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; and Sanctions . Comply in all material respects with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable anti-terrorism Laws, applicable anti-money laundering Laws and Sanctions, and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Laws.

Section 6.17 Post-Closing Changes . The Parent or the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent within 30 days of any change made to a Loan Party’s name, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization, organizational identification number or location from those set forth in the schedules to the Security Agreement.

Section 6.18 Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts .

(a) Within 60 days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree), the Loan Parties shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent one or more Control Agreements with respect to each Deposit Account, Securities Account and Commodity Account (other than to the extent constituting an Excluded Account) held or maintained by or for the benefit of a Loan Party on the Closing Date, executed and delivered by a duly authorized Responsible Officer of such Loan Party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b) The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, in connection with any Deposit Account, Securities Account and Commodity Account (other than Excluded Accounts, but only for so long as it is an Excluded Account) established, held, acquired, assumed, or otherwise maintained after the Closing Date, promptly, but in any event within 45 days of the establishment, acquisition, or assumption of such account (or, in the case of a Deposit Account or Securities Account that ceases to be an Excluded Account, within 45 days after cessation of its status as an Excluded Account) or by such later date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree, deliver a Control Agreement executed by a duly authorized Responsible Officer of such Loan Party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary shall be permitted to deposit into or maintain any assets in any Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account (other than Excluded Accounts, but only for so long as it is an Excluded Account) unless such Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account is subject to such a Control Agreement or other satisfactory control arrangement ; provided further that, the foregoing proviso shall not apply to any Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account that is acquired or assumed in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Merger Agreement (or upon the contribution of the Equity Interests of any of the Public Parent’s Subsidiaries to the Parent or the Borrower following the consummation of such transactions), but such accounts shall otherwise be subject to the requirements of this Section 6.18(b) .

 

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Section 6.19 Minimum Hedging Requirements .

(a) The Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent on or before December 31, 2018, evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Borrower has entered into (and thereafter, the Borrower shall maintain in effect) Hedge Transactions with Approved Counterparties for commodity prices with respect to the monthly notional volumes of crude oil and natural gas (calculated on an equivalent basis) such that the notional volumes of all crude oil and natural gas related Hedge Transactions of the Borrower, in the aggregate, equal or exceed (but subject to limitations set forth in Section 7.12 ) fifty percent (50%) of the Loan Parties’ reasonably anticipated projected production of crude oil and natural gas (calculated on an equivalent basis) from Oil and Gas Properties comprising Proved Developed Producing Reserves of the Loan Parties evaluated in the Initial Engineering Report for each remaining calendar month during the period from the Closing Date through the period ending twelve (12) full calendar months after the Closing Date.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing requirements set forth in Section 6.19(a) in any manner (and subject to limitations set forth in S ection 7.12) , from and after December 31, 2018, the Borrower shall enter into from time to time (and thereafter, the Borrower shall maintain in effect) Hedge Transactions with Approved Counterparties in respect of commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas such that the notional aggregate volumes of crude oil and natural gas covered by all Hedge Transactions of the Borrower as of any date of determination equal or exceed (i) fifty percent (50%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production of natural gas and crude oil (calculated on an equivalent basis) from Oil and Gas Properties comprising Proved Developed Producing Reserves of the Loan Parties evaluated in the Initial Engineering Report or the then most recently delivered Engineering Report, for each month during the period of twelve consecutive full calendar months immediately following any such date of determination and (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production of natural gas and crude oil (calculated on an equivalent basis) from Oil and Gas Properties comprising Proved Developed Producing Reserves of the Loan Parties evaluated in the Initial Engineering Report or the then most recently delivered Engineering Report, for each month during the period of twelve (12) consecutive full calendar months immediately following the period described in the foregoing clause (i)  of this Section 6.19(b) (and shall, upon request, provide to the Administrative Agent reasonable evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating the Borrower’s compliance with the foregoing) ; provided that, the forgoing requirements shall not apply for a period of sixty (60) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its reasonable discretion) with respect to any Oil and Gas Properties comprising Proved Develop Producing Reserves of the Loan Parties that are acquired pursuant to transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (or upon the contribution of the Equity Interests of any of the Public Parent’s Subsidiaries to the Parent or the Borrower following the consummation of such transactions) .

Section 6.20 Post-Closing Covenants - Supplemental Title Information . To the extent not delivered at or prior to the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent not later than ninety (90) days following the Closing Date (or such later date

 

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as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its reasonable discretion) additional title information consistent with usual and customary standards for the geographic regions in which the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties are located, taking into account the size, scope and number of leases and wells of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties; provided that after giving effect to its receipt of the additional title information to be provided pursuant to this clause (b)(v), the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the title information covering Engineered Oil and Gas Properties comprising at least 85% of the total PV9 Value of the Proved Reserves and 85% of the PV9 Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case, attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties included in the Initial Engineering Report (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging, together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings each duly authorized and executed).

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Committed Loan or other Obligation owing to any Lender or to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding and not fully Cash Collateralized, the Parent and the Borrower shall not, nor shall they permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

Section 7.01 Liens . Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(c) , (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(c) ;

(c) Liens for taxes and other governmental charges not yet due 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;

(d) operators’, carriers’, landlords’, suppliers’, workers’, construction, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 90 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;

(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation or other liabilities of a like nature, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

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(f) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), licenses, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, regulatory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) (i) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and that do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person and (ii) Immaterial Title Deficiencies;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) ;

(i) Liens on pipelines and pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business and incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties each of which is in respect of obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness and that are not delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(j) customary contractual Liens under operating lease agreements or that arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out and farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are usual and customary in the Oil and Gas Business and are for obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness and that are not delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; provided that any such Lien referred to in this clause (j)  does not materially impair the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such property subject thereto;

(k) [reserved];

(l) Liens existing on assets at the time of acquisition thereof, or Liens existing on assets of any Person at the time such Person became a Subsidiary, which in each case (i) were not created in contemplation thereof and (ii) do not encumber Oil and Gas Properties to be included in the Borrowing Base;

(m) UCC financing statements filed in connection with an operating lease under which the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is the lessee;

(n) [reserved];

 

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(o) [reserved];

(p) [reserved];

(q) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f) ; provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease, repair, replacement, construction or improvement (as applicable) being financed with such Indebtedness, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness or the assets subject to such Capital Lease, as applicable, and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

(r) Liens in favor of banking and other financial institutions arising by operation of law or otherwise encumbering deposits held by such banking institution or securities and other financial assets held by such financial institution (in each case including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or the securities brokerage industry, as applicable;

(s) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.01 ; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed (as to the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) $5,000,000 at any one time; and

(t) Liens to secure Junior Lien Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(l) ; provided that any such Lien granted on any property is only permitted to the extent that it is junior to a valid and enforceable first-priority Lien granted on such property to secure the Secured Obligations (subject to the applicable Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

Section 7.02 Investments . Make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments held by the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents;

(b) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Parent, the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

(c) Investments of the Parent or the Borrower in any now existing or hereafter acquired wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary and Investments of any Restricted Subsidiary in the Parent, the Borrower or in another now existing or hereafter acquired wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that (i) in the case of any Investment made by a Loan Party in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, the Parent and the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Minimum Required Conditions at the time of such Investment and (ii) in the case of an Investment constituting the acquisition from a third party of a Person that thereby becomes a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment is permitted pursuant to another clause of this Section 7.02 ;

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

 

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(e) Investments comprising asset acquisitions of additional Oil and Gas Properties;

(f) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03 ;

(g) Investments received in connection with bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(h) other Investments (including, without limitation, capital contributions) in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or other Persons made by the Parent, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) any such Unrestricted Subsidiary or other Person is engaged primarily in oil and gas exploration, development, production, processing, services transportation and related activities, (ii) the Investment is made on fair and reasonable terms, (iii) the Parent and the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Minimum Required Conditions at the time of such Investment and (iv) the aggregate amount of all such Investments made in reliance on this clause (h) from and after the Closing Date shall not exceed $10,000,000;

(i) Investments for consideration consisting of common stock of the Public Parent and any Intermediate Parent ;

(j) capital stock, promissory notes, and other similar non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 7.05 ;

(k) Investments expressly permitted by Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(f) ); and

(l) Investments in existence on the Closing Date listed on Schedule 7.02 , and extensions, renewals, modifications, or restatements or replacements thereof; provided that no such extension, renewal, modification, restatement or replacement shall (i) increase the amount of the original Investment or (ii) adversely affect the interest of the Lenders with respect to such original Investment or the interests of the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in any material respect.

(m) other Investments in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding $2,000,000.

Section 7.03 Indebtedness . Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

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(b) accounts payable and accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services, from time to time incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not greater than 90 days past the date of invoice or delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(c) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(d) Guarantees by the Parent, the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Parent, the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(e) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing or arising under any Hedge Transaction; provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view” and (ii) such Hedge Transaction does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party (other than customary netting arrangements);

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(q) ; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (f)  at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $25,000,000;

(g) Unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Parent, the Borrower or any (other) Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (x) such Indebtedness is not held, assigned, transferred, negotiated or pledged to any Person other than a Loan Party (other than pursuant to the Junior Lien Financing Documentation); (y) any such Indebtedness owed by Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms set forth in the Guaranty Agreement and (z) any such Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount equal to or exceeding $5,000,000 owed by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties shall be evidenced an intercompany promissory note pledged to the Administrative Agent under the Security Agreement;

(h) [reserved];

(i) [reserved];

(j) other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(k) Indebtedness in respect of surety bonds obtained by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and supporting other obligations undertaken by the Parent, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business that do not constitute Indebtedness;

 

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(l) Indebtedness that constitutes (x) Junior Lien Debt in an aggregate principal amount for all Junior Lien Debt not to exceed $300,000,000 at any time outstanding and (y) senior unsecured, senior subordinated unsecured or subordinated unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.03 ; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is then continuing or would result therefrom (except, in the case of a Borrowing Base Deficiency, the Parent or the Borrower has confirmed in writing that the proceeds of such Indebtedness will be used to repay in full the amount such Borrowing Base Deficiency), (ii) the Parent’s (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent’s) ratio of Consolidated Net Debt on the day of such transaction to Consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarter period ended most recently ended on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been, or were required to be, delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) , as applicable, as adjusted to give pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds thereof, shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00, (iii) the Borrowing Base shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 2.05(c) , (iv) such Indebtedness does not mature and requires no scheduled amortization prior to the 91st day following the Maturity Date, (v) the terms of such Indebtedness are not materially more onerous, taken as a whole, than the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (vi) if any Person Guarantees such Indebtedness, such Person shall also Guarantee the Secured Obligations by providing a guaranty or guaranty supplement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (vii) such Indebtedness and any guarantees and Liens in respect thereof are otherwise on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(m) Indebtedness of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower, or is merged or consolidated with or into the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, and extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than any increase not exceeding the amount of any fees, premium, if any, and financing costs relating to such refinancing); provided that (i) such Indebtedness (other than any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement) exists at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of such event, (ii) other than Guarantee obligations permitted by clause (d)  of this Section 7.03 , none of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be liable for such Indebtedness, (iii) no Default or Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is then continuing or would result therefrom, and (iv) the Parent’s (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent’s) ratio of Consolidated Net Debt on the day of such transaction to Consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarter period ended most recently ended on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been, or were required to be, delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) , as applicable, as adjusted to give pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00;

(n) Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the seller representing all or part of the purchase price of an Investment or acquisition permitted hereunder, or assumed by the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith, and extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than any increase

 

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not exceeding the amount of any fees, premium, if any, and financing costs relating to such refinancing); provided that (i) as to any such assumed Indebtedness, such Indebtedness (other than any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement thereof) exists at the time of such acquisition and is not created in contemplation of such event (ii) no Default or Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is then continuing or would result therefrom, and (iii) the Parent’s (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent’s) ratio of Consolidated Net Debt on the day of such transaction to Consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarter period ended most recently ended on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been, or were required to be, delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) , as applicable, as adjusted to give pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00;

(o) Indebtedness arising from judgments or orders in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) ;

(p) [reserved];

(q) Indebtedness arising from or representing deferred compensation to employees of the Parent, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries that constitute or are deemed to be Indebtedness under GAAP and that are incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Indebtedness arising pursuant to clause (e)  of the definition thereof as a result of Liens permitted under Sections 7.01(c) , (d) , (e) , (f)  and (j) ; and

(s) obligations of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing or arising under any Treasury Management Services Agreement.

Section 7.04 Fundamental Changes . Merge, dissolve, liquidate, amalgamate, consolidate with or into another Person, or divide into two or more Persons pursuant to a plan of division, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (ii) the Parent or any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary is merging with the Parent or another Restricted Subsidiary, the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Parent or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided , further , that when any Loan Party is merging with a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Loan Party;

(b) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary (and thereafter dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs); provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided , further , that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or another Loan Party;

 

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(c) any Disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary expressly permitted by Section 7.05 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation to which such Restricted Subsidiary is a party and as a result of which such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(d) any Investment expressly permitted by Section 7.02 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation; provided that if the Parent or the Borrower is a party thereto, the Parent or the Borrower (as applicable) shall be the continuing or surviving Person; provided , further , that the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or a Guarantor to the extent required by Section 6.12 ; and

(e) any existing wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary may divide into two or more new wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that if such existing Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party, each new Restricted Subsidiary shall also be an Loan Party immediately following such division ; and

(f) the Parent may merge with a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Public Parent or any Intermediate Parent, change its name, or convert its type of organization in connection with tax planning activities; provided that the continuing or surviving Person of such merger is a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Public Parent or any Intermediate Parent .

Section 7.05 Dispositions . Make any Disposition except:

(a) Dispositions of (i) obsolete or worn out property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business or (ii) equipment that is no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of inventory (including Hydrocarbons sold after severance) in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Dispositions of equipment or real property or other assets (other than (x) Oil and Gas Properties or (y) Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries) to the extent that (i) such equipment, property or other asset is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement equipment, property or other asset or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement equipment, property, or other assets;

(d) Dispositions of property or assets by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary or by the Parent or the Borrower to any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property or assets is a Loan Party, the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party;

(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04(a) or Section 7.04(b) ;

 

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(f) so long as no Default, Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is continuing, Dispositions of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(g) (1) Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties that are sold or otherwise transferred for fair market value to Persons who are not Affiliates of the Parent or the Borrower and (2) farm-outs of undeveloped acreage and assignments in connection with such farm-outs or the abandonment, farm-out, exchange or Disposition of Oil and Gas Properties not containing Proved Reserves; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists at the time of and after giving effect to any such sale or transfer (other than Defaults that will be cured upon the application of the proceeds of such sale or other transfer), (ii) the Borrower must first give at least five Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent of any such sale, (iii) no Borrowing Base Deficiency shall exist and be continuing immediately prior to the consummation of such sale or other transfer, (iv) concurrently with such sale or other transfer the Borrower must pay in full any Borrowing Base Deficiency that results from the adjustment to the Borrowing Base in connection with such Disposition pursuant to Section 2.05(d) , (v) at least 75% of the consideration received in respect of such Disposition shall be cash or Cash Equivalents and (vi) for the avoidance of doubt, any Disposition of Oil and Gas Properties pursuant to this Section 7.05(g) may be structured as a Disposition of Equity Interests in a Person, substantially all of whose assets consist of Oil and Gas Properties;

(h) Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties to which no Proved Reserves are attributable or to which no lending value has been assigned by the Administrative Agent in the then current Borrowing Base;

(i) Dispositions of interests in Oil and Gas Properties in respect of Immaterial Title Deficiencies in order to discharge such Immaterial Title Deficiencies or an obligation giving rise thereto;

(j) Dispositions of overdue accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

(k) Dispositions of Investments made pursuant to Sections 7.02(a) , (d)  and (g) ;

(l) Dispositions in the form of contributions of Oil and Gas Properties not included in the most recently delivered Engineering Report or to which no value was attributed in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or other Person pursuant to Section 7.02(h) ; and

(m) other Dispositions not exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Parent provided that such Dispositions shall not include any Proved Reserves included in the Borrowing Base.

Section 7.06 Restricted Payments . Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

 

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(b) the Parent and the Borrower shall be permitted to make Restricted Payments to the Public Parent and any Intermediate Parent for the purpose of permitting the Public Parent , any Intermediate Parent , the Parent and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are required to include in income any income or gain from the operations, business or assets of the Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, to pay federal, state and local income Taxes, franchise Taxes, and similar Taxes to the extent attributable to such operations, business or assets; provided that the amount of payments pursuant to this clause (b)  at any time shall not exceed the Tax liabilities that would have been imposed on the Parent, the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries had such entity(ies) filed on a stand-alone group basis at such time for the respective period and the Parent had been classified as a corporation for federal income Tax purposes;

(c) the Parent or the Borrower may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issuance of new shares of its Qualified Stock (provided that any such issuance shall not constitute a Change of Control);

(d) the Parent and the Borrower may make Restricted Payments in respect of, and in the amount of, any withholding tax obligation related to the issuance, vesting, repurchase, forfeiture, transfer, liquidation, or distributions with respect to any equity compensation held by or for the benefit of the employees, officers or directors of the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate amount of payments under this clause (d)  in any fiscal year of the Parent shall not exceed $2,500,000;

(e) in the ordinary course of its business, the Parent and the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to fund amounts payable pursuant to and in connection with stock option plans or other benefit plans or arrangements for directors, management, employees or consultants of the Public Parent , any Intermediate Parent , the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(f) the Parent and the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the Public Parent and any Intermediate Parent in an amount actually received directly or indirectly from any Unrestricted Subsidiary in cash or Cash Equivalents (or, if received in kind, in the same form received);

(g) subject to satisfaction of the Minimum Required Conditions, the Parent, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.06 ; and

(h) so long as no Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Parent and the Borrower may make payments of cash in lieu of the issuance by the Public Parent and any Intermediate Parent of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests or debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, Equity Interests of the Public Parent and such Intermediate Parent in accordance with their terms . ;

 

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(i) Restricted Payments substantially concurrent with the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement in an amount equal to the aggregate amount necessary to repay in full and terminate the reserve based credit facility of the Public Parent or its Subsidiaries as in effect on May 5, 2019.

Section 7.07 Change in Nature of Business . Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Parent, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

Section 7.08 Transactions with Affiliates . Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Parent or the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Parent, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Parent, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (i) transactions between or among (x) the Parent, the Borrower and any other Loan Party, (y) a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party or (z) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (ii , (ii) transactions between or among the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent and the Parent in connection with the activities contemplated by Section 7.04(f), (iii) transactions between or among the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries related to the disposition or transferring of assets in connection with the Merger Agreement or (iv ) payment of customary cash and non-cash compensation, including stock option and similar employee benefit plans, to directors and officers on an arm’s length basis.

Section 7.09 Burdensome Agreements . After the date of this Agreement, enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than (x) this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) Permitted Debt Restrictions) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Restricted Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person to secure any of the Loan Documents or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person, or amend any Contractual Obligation existing on the date of this Agreement so as to impose or make more restrictive such a limitation, in each case other than the following: (A) any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b) and Section 7.03(f) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness or property subject to a Lien permitted hereunder that secures such Indebtedness; (B) [reserved]; (C) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by reason of customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, joint ventures agreements and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; (D) any encumbrances or restrictions that are or were created by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer or option or right with respect to any property, assets or capital stock not otherwise

 

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prohibited by this Agreement; (E) any restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business; (F) any restrictions in a Contractual Obligation incurred in the ordinary course of business and on customary terms that prohibit transfer of assets subject of the applicable Contractual Obligation; (G) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or, in the ordinary course of business, other third parties; and (H) any restrictions contained in agreements related to Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(e) , (m)  or (n) .

Section 7.10 Use of Proceeds . Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, in violation of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X.

Section 7.11 Financial Covenants .

(a) Maximum Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio . Commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, permit the Parent’s (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent’s) ratio of Consolidated Net Debt as of such day to Consolidated EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such day to exceed 4.00 to 1.00.

(b) Minimum Current Ratio . Commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, permit the Parent’s (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent’s) ratio of (i) consolidated current assets (including the unused amount of the total Commitments (but only to the extent that the Borrower is permitted to borrow such amount under the terms of this Agreement including, without limitation, Section 4.02 and Section 7.11(a) hereof), and excluding non-cash assets under ASC 815) to (ii) consolidated current liabilities (excluding non-cash obligations under ASC 815 and current maturities under this Agreement) of the Parent (or, if the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) for such fiscal quarter is in respect of the Public Parent, the Public Parent) to be less than 1.00 to 1.00.

Section 7.12 Hedge Transactions .

(a) Enter into any Hedge Transaction other than Hedge Transactions entered into on any date with an Approved Counterparty related to bona fide (and not speculative) hedging activities of the Borrower or other Loan Parties with respect to which the aggregate notional volumes covered thereby do not exceed, when aggregated and netted with all other Hedge Transactions (other than “put” options) of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties then in effect, (i) for any calendar month during the period from the then-current date until thirty-six full calendar months after the then-current date, 85% of the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ reasonably anticipated projected production of crude oil (for crude oil related Hedge Transactions), and 85% of the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ reasonably anticipated projected production of natural gas (for natural gas related Hedge Transactions), and (ii) for any calendar month during the period from the date that is thirty-seven full calendar months after the then-current date to the date that is sixty (60) full calendar months after the then-current date, 75% of the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ reasonably anticipated projected production of crude oil (for crude oil related Hedge Transactions), and 75% of the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ reasonably

 

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anticipated projected production of natural gas (for natural gas related Hedge Transactions), in each case, for such calendar month, from the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Developed Producing Reserves. It is understood that commodity Hedge Transaction that may, from time to time, “hedge” the same volumes, but different elements of commodity risk thereof (e.g., commodity price risk versus basis risk), shall not be aggregated together when calculating the foregoing limitations on notional volumes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.12 , there shall be no prohibition under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or any other Loan Party entering into “put” options not otherwise prohibited hereunder, in each case, so long as such agreements are entered into with an Approved Counterparty in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations of commodity prices. In no event shall any Hedge Transaction contain any requirement, agreement or covenant for a Loan Party to post collateral or margin to secure their obligations under such Hedge Transaction or to cover market exposures except to the extent provided pursuant to the Loan Documents.

(b) If, after the end of any calendar month, the Borrower determines that the aggregate volume of all commodity Hedge Transactions for which settlement payments were calculated in such calendar month exceeded 100% of actual production of crude oil and natural gas, calculated separately, in such calendar month, then the Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more other Loan Parties to, within thirty (30) days of such determinations, and following the written request of the Administrative Agent, terminate, create off-setting positions, allocate volumes to other production for which the Borrower and the other Loan Parties are marketing, or otherwise unwind existing Hedge Transactions such that, at such time, future hedging volumes do not exceed 100% of reasonably anticipated projected production for the then-current and any succeeding calendar months.

(c) For purposes of clauses (a) , and (b)  of this Section 7.12 , forecasts of projected production shall equal the projections for Proved Developed Producing Reserves of each crude oil and natural gas set out in the most recent Engineering Report delivered to the Administrative Agent, as revised in good faith to account for any increase or reductions therein anticipated based on information obtained by the Borrower subsequent to the publication of the such Engineering Report, including the Parent’s or the Borrower’s internal forecasts of production decline rates for existing wells and additions to or deletions from anticipated future production from new wells and acquisitions coming on stream or failing to come on stream and Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties, each as reflected in a separate or supplemental Engineering Report delivered to the Administrative Agent and otherwise satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) Hedge Transactions in respect of interest rates with an Approved Counterparty, as follows: (i) Hedge Transactions effectively converting interest rates from fixed to floating, the notional amounts of which (when aggregated with all other Hedge Transactions of the Parent, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties then in effect effectively converting interest rates from fixed to floating) do not exceed 100% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Loan Parties’ Indebtedness for borrowed money that bears interest at a fixed rate and (ii) Hedge Transactions effectively converting interest rates from floating to fixed, the notional amounts of which (when aggregated with all other Hedge Transactions of the Parent, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties then in effect effectively converting interest rates from floating to fixed) do not exceed 100% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Loan Parties’ Indebtedness for borrowed money that bears interest at a floating rate.

 

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Section 7.13 Sanctions . Request a Committed Loan or Letter of Credit or directly or, to the Parent’s and the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or with or in any country that, at the time of such funding, is a Designated Jurisdiction, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

Section 7.14 Anti-Corruption Laws . Request a Committed Loan or Letter of Credit or directly or, to the Parent’s or the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose that would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

Section 7.15 Prepayment of Restricted Debt .

(a) Optionally prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that mandatory payments shall be permitted to the extent permitted by the applicable provisions of the intercreditor agreement applicable thereto; provided that no such mandatory payments shall be made using any funds or proceeds that may otherwise be reinvested by the Borrower), any Principal Debt Obligations or any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(l) (collectively, “ Restricted Debt ”) or make any payment in violation of any terms of any Restricted Debt Documentation, except (i) with the proceeds of, or in exchange for, any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, (ii) the conversion of any Restricted Debt to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Public Parent or any Intermediate Parent , (iii) the redemption of any Restricted Debt with the net cash proceeds of any offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Public Parent or any Intermediate Parent , (iv) subject to the satisfaction of the Minimum Required Conditions, other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Restricted Debt.

(b) Amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Restricted Debt Documentation in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the consent of the Majority Lenders.

Section 7.16 Limitation on Leases . Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any obligation for the payment of rent or hire of property of any kind whatsoever (real or personal but excluding Capital Leases to the extent such Capital Leases do not go beyond the value and terms of the leased property and leases of Oil and Gas Properties), under leases or lease agreements that would cause the aggregate amount of all payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to all such leases or lease agreements, including, without limitation, any residual payments at the end of any lease, to exceed $15,000,000 in any period of twelve consecutive calendar months during the life of such leases.

 

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Section 7.17 Take-or-Pay or Other Prepayments . Allow arrangements with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that would require the Parent, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to deliver Hydrocarbons at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor to exceed three (3) bcf of gas (on an mcf equivalent basis) in the aggregate.

Section 7.18 Marketing Activities . Engage in marketing activities for any Hydrocarbons or enter into any contracts related thereto other than (i) contracts for the sale of Hydrocarbons scheduled or reasonably estimated to be produced from their proved Oil and Gas Properties during the period of such contract, (ii) contracts for the sale of Hydrocarbons scheduled or reasonably estimated to be produced from proved Oil and Gas Properties of third parties during the period of such contract associated with the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Party that the Borrower or one of the other Loan Party has the right to market pursuant to joint operating agreements, joint development agreements, unitization agreements or other similar contracts that are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and (iii) other contracts for the purchase and/or sale of Hydrocarbons of third parties (A) which have generally offsetting provisions (i.e., corresponding pricing mechanics, delivery dates and points and volumes) such that no “position” is taken, and (B) for which appropriate credit support has been taken to alleviate the material credit risks of the counterparty thereto.

Section 7.19 No Foreign Subsidiaries or Foreign Operations . Create or acquire, directly or indirectly, on or after the Closing Date any Subsidiary that is not organized under the laws of the United States or a state thereof, or the District of Columbia, or engage in operations or acquire or own assets or make any expenditure (whether such expenditure is capital, operating or otherwise) in or related to, any Oil and Gas Properties not located within the geographical boundaries of the United States of America.

Section 7.20 Amendments to Organization Documents . Amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) its Organization Documents in any manner that would be materially adverse to the Lenders.

Section 7.21 Holding Company . Solely with respect to the Parent, own any Oil and Gas Properties, real property, immovable property or material assets, incur Indebtedness, Liens or liabilities, make Restricted Payments or engage in any operations or business (other than (a) its direct or indirect ownership of the Borrower or the Parent’s Subsidiaries, (b) providing employees and related services to the Borrower or the Parent’s Subsidiaries, (c) making or holding Investments permitted under Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(d) , (e)  and (h) ), (d) incurring Junior Lien Debt or other unsecured Indebtedness under Section 7.03(l) , and providing guarantees of the Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(a) and , (e) making Restricted Payments permitted under Section  7.06). 7.06, (f) transactions between or among the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent and the Parent in connection with the activities contemplated by Section 7.04(f), (g) the transactions related to the Merger Agreement, and (h) Liens permitted under Section 7.01(a), (c) and (t)).

 

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ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

Section 8.01 Events of Default . Any of the following shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) Non-Payment . The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Committed Loan or any L/C Obligation; (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Committed Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder; or (iii) within five Business Days that the same has come due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants . The Parent or the Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a) , Section 6.05(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 6.11 , Section 6.12 , Section 6.18 or Article VII ; or

(c) Other Defaults . Any Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in clause (a)  or (b)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of such failure; or

(d) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, or certification made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower, any other Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent, or the Public Parent herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect (or, to the extent that any such representation, warranty or certification is qualified by materiality, such representation, warranty or certification shall be incorrect in any respect) when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default . (i) The Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Hedge Transactions) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Hedge Transaction an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Hedge Transaction) resulting

 

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from any event of default under such Hedge Transaction as to which the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Hedge Transaction) and the Hedge Termination Value owed by the Parent, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment . (i) Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments . There is entered against the Parent, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA . (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) a Loan Party’s assets constitute assets of a Benefit Plan or the Transactions would violate any state statutes, applicable to a Loan Party that regulate investments of, and fiduciary obligations with respect to, governmental plans, that are similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code; or

 

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(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents . Any material provision of the Loan Documents, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party, any Intermediate Parent, the Public Parent or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any material provision of the Loan Documents; or any Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent denies that it has any material or further liability or obligation under any material provision of the Loan Documents, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any material provision of the Loan Documents; or

(k) Change of Control . There occurs any Change of Control;

(l) Security Instruments . Any Security Instrument after delivery thereof pursuant to the Security Agreement or Section 4.01 , Section 6.12 or Section 6.14 hereof shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof) cease to create a valid and perfected first-priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 ) on any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered by the Security Instruments; or

(m) Junior Lien Financing Documentation . Any of the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents or any other Secured Obligation for any reason shall cease to be “First Lien Obligations” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement under, and as defined in any Junior Lien Financing Documentation or the lien subordination provisions set forth in any Junior Lien Financing Documentation shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Junior Lien Debt, if applicable.

Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default . If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of Majority Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Committed Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Committed Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents;

provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, the obligation of each Lender to make Committed Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Committed Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of, and without the need for notice from, the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

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Section 8.03 Application of Funds . After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Committed Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Secured Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

(a) First , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

(b) Second , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or any L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

(c) Third , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Committed Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Secured Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

(d) Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Committed Loans and L/C Borrowings, amounts payable under Hedge Transactions, amounts payable under Treasury Management Services Agreements, and to the Administrative Agent for the account of each L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Lender Counterparties, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

(e) Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(d) , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Secured Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

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ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 9.01 Appointment and Authority .

(a) Each of the Lenders and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of Montreal to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Except to the extent Sections 9.01(b) and 9.06 expressly contemplate rights of others, the provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender and potential Lender Counterparty) and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and such L/C Issuer 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 Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Instruments, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X (including Section 10.04(c) , as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

Section 9.02 Rights as a Lender . The Person serving as the 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 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 Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, 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 Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

Section 9.03 Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the 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 Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law; and

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 8.02 and 10.01 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, in each case as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

The Administrative Agent 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 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 Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Instruments, (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 Administrative Agent.

Section 9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent .

The 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 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 Committed Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative

 

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Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Committed Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The 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 9.05 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The 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 IX shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the 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 the Administrative Agent.

Section 9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, 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 Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may (in consultation with the Borrower) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Majority Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06 . Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.06 ). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

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Any resignation by Bank of Montreal as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.06 shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

Section 9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the 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 each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the 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 Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Section 9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Arranger shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement, except in its capacity (and solely in such capacity), as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

Section 9.09 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 Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Committed Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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 Committed Loans, L/C Obligations 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 L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(j) and (k) , 2.09 and 10.04 ) 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;

 

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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04 .

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Secured Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

Section 9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters . The Lenders and the L/C Issuers irrevocably authorize:

(a) and instruct the Administrative Agent to release (and the following shall automatically be released without any further action on the part of any Person): any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations and, for the avoidance of doubt, without regard to whether any obligations with respect to Hedge Transactions and obligations with respect to Treasury Management Services Agreements have been paid or remain outstanding) and the expiration, termination or Cash Collateralization in full of all Letters of Credit, (ii) which property is Disposed of or to be Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (iii) which property is owned by a Subsidiary at the time it is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or (iv) subject to Section 10.01 , if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders;

(b) and instruct the Administrative Agent to release (and the following Guarantors shall automatically be released without any further action on the part of any Person): (i) any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty or any Security Instruments if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder and (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary from its obligations under any Security Instrument upon its designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(c) the Administrative Agent to subordinate or release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(i) or Section 7.01(j) .

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Majority Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10 . In each case as specified in this Section 9.10 , the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Instruments or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10 .

 

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The benefit of the Security Documents and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral shall also extend to, secure and be available on a pro rata basis (as set forth in Section 8.03 of this Agreement) to each Lender Counterparty to a Hedge Transaction with respect to any obligations of the Borrower or any Loan Party arising under such Hedge Transaction, but only with respect to any Hedge Transaction, and the transactions thereunder, that were entered into while such Person or its Affiliate was a Lender or prior to such time, until either (x) such obligations arising under such Hedge Transaction are paid in full or otherwise expire or are terminated or (y) the Security Instruments are otherwise released in accordance with Section 9.10(a) or terminate; provided that with respect to any Hedge Transaction that remains secured after the counterparty thereto is no longer a Lender Counterparty or the outstanding Obligations have been repaid in full and the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, the provisions of this Article IX shall also continue to apply to such counterparty in consideration of its benefits hereunder and each such counterparty shall, if requested by the Administrative Agent, promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such other documents, agreements and instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to evidence the continued applicability of the provisions of this Article IX .

Section 9.11 Flood Insurance . The Administrative Agent has adopted internal policies and procedures that address requirements placed on federally regulated lenders under the Flood Insurance Regulations. The Administrative Agent will post on the Platform (or otherwise distribute to each lender in the syndicate) documents that it receives, if any, in connection with the Flood Insurance Regulations, provided that each Lender and Participant in the facility acknowledges and agrees that each federally regulated lender (whether acting as a Lender or a Participant in the facility) is responsible for assuring its own compliance with the Flood Insurance Regulations.

Section 9.12 Intercreditor Agreements . Each Lender (and each Person that becomes a Lender hereunder pursuant Section 10.06 ) hereby irrevocably authorizes and directors the Administrative Agent to enter into any other Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender, in each case, as needed to effectuate the transactions permitted by this Agreement and agrees that the Administrative Agent may take such actions on its behalf as is contemplated by the terms of such applicable intercreditor agreement. Without limiting the provisions of Sections 9.03 and 10.04 , each Lender hereby consents to the Administrative Agent and any successor serving in such capacity and agrees not to assert any claim (including as a result of any conflict of interest) against the Administrative Agent, or any such successor, arising from the role of the Administrative Agent or such successor under the Loan Documents or any such intercreditor agreement so long as it is either acting in accordance with the terms of such documents and otherwise has not engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction). In addition, the Administrative Agent to, without any further consent of any Lender (other than the consent as to the form of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement contemplated by the definition of “Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement”), enter into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 that is intended to be secured on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations, in each case, where such

 

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Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 . The Administrative Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted. Any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Secured Parties.

Section 9.13 Enforcement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against any Loan Party 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 Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.01 for the benefit of all the Lenders and any L/C Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from enforcing its right to payment when due of the principal of and interest on its Loans, fees and other amounts owing to such Lender under the Loan Documents, (d) any Lender from exercising setoff rights AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ) or (e) 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.

Section 9.14 Credit Bidding . During the continuance of an Event of Default, the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Majority Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Secured Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Secured Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Secured Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Secured Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Majority Lenders on a ratable basis (with Secured Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Secured Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles

 

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(provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any Disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Majority Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Majority Lenders contained in Section 10.01 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Secured Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason, such Secured Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Secured Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Secured Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii)  above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party that will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid. For the avoidance of doubt, Secured Obligations under a Hedge Transaction shall not be subject to a credit bid without the prior written consent of the relevant Lender Counterparty thereto.

Section 9.15 Certain ERISA Matters .

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Committed Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement;

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable, and the conditions of such exemption have been satisfied, with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Committed Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or;

 

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(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Committed Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, and (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Committed Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (a) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14.

(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i)  in the immediately preceding clause (a)  is true with respect to a Lender, such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Parent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Committed Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01 Amendments, Etc . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Majority Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Committed Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii)  of the second proviso to this Section 10.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided , however , that only the consent of the Majority Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;

 

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(d) change Section 2.14 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

(e) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Majority Lenders”, “Required Lenders”, “Applicable Percentage” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) amend, modify or waive this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 8.03 hereof) or the Security Agreement so as to alter the ratable treatment of Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents and Secured Obligations arising under Hedge Transactions or the definition of “Lender Counterparty”, “Hedge Transactions”, “Obligations” or “Secured Obligations” in a manner adverse to any Lender Counterparty except with the written consent of each affected Lender Counterparty;

(g) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty (except as permitted in the Security Instruments or this Agreement) without the written consent of each Lender;

(h) amend any provision of Section 2.05(c) or Section 2.05(d) relating to the automatic reduction of the Borrowing Base set forth therein, in each case without the written consent of the Required Lenders; provided that a Scheduled Determination and the delivery of an Engineering Report may be postponed by the Majority Lenders; or

(i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions (except as permitted in the Security Instruments or this Agreement), without the written consent of each Lender;

provided , further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuers under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iii)  Section 10.06(g) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Committed Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except as provided in clauses (a) , (b) , (c)  and (to the extent such Defaulting Lender’s rights are directly and adversely affected thereby) (e)  above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to the any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding any holders of Junior Lien Debt, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or

 

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such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing; provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders); provided , further , that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

Section 10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication .

(a) Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in clause (b)  below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 ; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier 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 delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in clause (b)  below, shall be effective as provided in such clause (b) .

(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article II by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the 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

 

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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 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 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 Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Parent, the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Parent’s, the Borrower’s or the 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 the Parent, the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer 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 the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier 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 Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of the Parent or 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 Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them 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 Parent or the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

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Section 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure by any Person to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder 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 are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

Section 10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

(a) Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the documented reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Mayer Brown LLP, in its capacity as counsel for the Administrative Agent and one counsel in each appropriate local jurisdiction (which may include a special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by each L/C Issuer 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 out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer and one counsel in each appropriate local jurisdiction (which may include a special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)), and shall pay all fees and time charges for one counsel of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer and one counsel in each appropriate local jurisdiction (which may include a special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), in connection with the enforcement of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.04 , or (B) in connection with the Committed Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Committed Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, 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 related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, by a single firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole (unless there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest in which case, each such Person may, with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) retain its own counsel), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all documented and reasonable out of pocket fees and time charges and disbursements for one counsel for all such Persons, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, by a single

 

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firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction for all such Persons, taken as a whole (unless there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest in which case, each such Person may, with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) retain its own counsel), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower, any other Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Committed Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any L/C Issuer 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) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any Restricted 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, any other Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower, any other Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower, such Loan Party , any Intermediate Parent or the Public Parent has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. No Loan Party will, without the prior written consent of the relevant Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (any of the foregoing, a “ Proceeding ”) against an Indemnitee in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless (i) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to any admission. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.04(b) applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent the Parent, the Borrower, any other Loan Party, any of their respective directors, employees, stockholders or creditors, or an Indemnitee or any other Person.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under clause (a)  or (b)  of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the applicable L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative

 

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Agent (or any such sub-agent), the applicable L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the applicable L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or applicable L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c)  are subject to the provisions of Section 2.13(d) .

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Committed Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b)  above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments . All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival . The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and any L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

Section 10.05 Payments Set Aside . To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b)  of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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Section 10.06 Successors and Assigns .

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Parent nor the Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of clause (b)  of this Section 10.06 , (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of clause (d)  of this Section 10.06 , (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of clause (f)  of this Section 10.06 , or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of clause (g)  of this Section 10.06 (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). 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, Participants to the extent provided in clause (d)  of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Committed Loans (including for purposes of this clause (b) , participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts .

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Committed Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in clause (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06 , the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Committed Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Committed Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if a “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided , however , that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

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(ii) Proportionate Amounts . 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 with respect to the Committed Loans or the Commitment assigned;

(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and the consent of the L/C Issuers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee per assignment payable by the assignor (subject to Section 10.13(a) ) directly to the Administrative Agent in the amount of $3,500; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Parent, Borrower or Affiliates . No such assignment shall be made to the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower, any Permitted Holder, or any of the Parent’s or the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

(vii) No Assignment to Defaulting Lenders . No such assignment shall be made to a Defaulting Lender.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (c)  of this Section 10.06 , from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning

 

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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 Sections 3.01 , 3.04 , 3.05 , and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (b)  shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with clause (d)  of this Section 10.06 .

(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Committed Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Parent, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower, the Parent or any of the Borrower’s or the Parent’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Committed Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to clause (e)  of this Section 10.06 , the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 , and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b)  of this Section 10.06 . To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.14 as though it were a Lender.

 

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Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Committed Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or Section 3.04 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. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(f) as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “ SPC ”) the option to provide all or any part of any Committed Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Committed Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Committed Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Committed Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.13(b)(ii) . Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04 ), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Committed Loan were made by such

 

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Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee to the Administrative Agent in the amount of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Committed Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Committed Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(h) Resignation as an L/C Issuer after Assignment . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time an L/C Issuer assigns all of its Commitment and Committed Loans pursuant to clause (b)  above, such L/C Issuer may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder (and any such appointment shall be subject to the acceptance of such appointed Lender); provided , however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the exiting L/C Issuer as L/C Issuer. If such L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(d) ). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and (ii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the exiting L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of exiting L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

Section 10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.07 , to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower, the Parent , any Intermediate Parent or

 

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the Public Parent and the respective obligations or any of them, (g) to credit rating agencies, the CUSIP Service Bureau and credit insurers, (h) with the consent of the Parent or the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07 or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

For purposes of this Section 10.07 , “ Information ” means all information received from the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as nonpublic and confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 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 confidential information of a similar nature.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Public Parent, any Intermediate Parent, the Parent, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

In addition, the Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the substantive terms of this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Arranger, the Administrative Agent or a Lender, as applicable, in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.

Section 10.08 Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable 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, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Parent or the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Parent or the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Parent or the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. EACH LENDER AND

 

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EACH L/C ISSUER AGREES TO CONSULT WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PRIOR TO EXERCISING ANY SUCH SETOFF AND APPLICATION. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Parent or the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

Section 10.09 Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If the 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 Committed Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the 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 10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. Except as provided in Section 4.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy facsimile, photocopy or by sending a scanned copy by electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. To the extent any inconsistency exists between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed controlling.

Section 10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Committed Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

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Section 10.12 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.13 Replacement of Lenders . If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , (ii) 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 3.01 , (iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or (iv) any Lender is unwilling to approve an increase in the Borrowing Base or any amendment to this Agreement requiring all Lenders approval or consent that, in each case, has been approved by the Required Lenders, but requires approval of such Lender to be effective, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06 ), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b) ;

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Committed Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) 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) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) in the case of an assignment resulting from clause (iv)  above, such assignment will result in effectiveness of such increase or amendment; and

(e) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Each Lender hereby grants to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable power of attorney (which power is coupled with an interest) to execute and deliver, on behalf of such Lender as assignor, any Assignment and Assumption necessary to effectuate any assignment of such Lender’s interests hereunder in the circumstances contemplated by this Section 10.13 .

 

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Section 10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc .

(a) GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS 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 SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT A PARTY HERETO MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANOTHER PARTY HERETO OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (b)  OF THIS SECTION 10.14 . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02 . NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Section 10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED

 

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HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON 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 AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.15 .

Section 10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each of the Parent and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Parent, the Borrower and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Parent and the Borrower are capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Parent, the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any Lender has advised or is currently advising the Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger or any Lender has any obligation to the Parent, the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, each Lender and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Parent, the Borrower and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger or any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Parent and the Borrower have consulted their respective own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of the Parent and the Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with the Transactions.

 

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Section 10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice . Each Lender and each L/C Issuer that is subject to the PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Parent and the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and the Guarantors, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender, L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall promptly provide such additional information and documentation reasonably requested by any Lender, L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for such Lender, L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to comply with its obligations under the PATRIOT Act.

Section 10.18 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents . The words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, “signature” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, 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; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.

Section 10.19 Keepwell . Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally, and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under the Guaranty in respect of any Hedge Obligations ( provided , however , that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 10.19 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 10.19 , or otherwise under this Agreement, voidable under applicable Law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 10.19 shall remain in full force and effect until the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement and the Guaranty. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 10.19 constitute, and this Section 10.19 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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Schedule 2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

Lender

   Commitments      Applicable Percentages  

Bank of Montreal

   $ 65,000,000        15.294117647

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 55,000,000        12.941176471

Citibank, N.A.

   $ 55,000,000        12.941176471

Regions Bank

   $ 55,000,000        12.941176471

U.S. Bank National Association

   $ 55,000,000        12.941176471

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York Branch

   $ 45,000,000        10.588235294

KeyBank, National Association

   $ 36,000,000        8.470588235

Hancock Whitney Bank

   $ 27,500,000        6.470588235

UBS AG, Stamford Branch

   $ 22,500,000        5.294117647

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

   $ 9,000,000        2.117647059
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 425,000,000        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


EXHIBIT K

(See attached)

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


EXHIBIT K

[FORM OF]

NON-RECOURSE PUBLIC PARENT PLEDGE AGREEMENT

THIS NON-RECOURSE PUBLIC PARENT PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Pledge Agreement ”) is entered into as of [            ], 2019 the (“ Effective Date ”), by and between [Mike PubCo] a Delaware corporation, as pledgor (the “ Pledgor ”), and Bank of Montreal, in its capacity as administrative agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Lenders and the other Secured Parties.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Amplify Energy Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “ Borrower ”), the lenders named therein (together with their respective successors and assigns in such capacity, the “ Lenders ”), the Administrative Agent, and the L/C Issuer (as defined in the Credit Agreement);

WHEREAS, the Pledgor acknowledges that it is in the best interests of the Pledgor to execute this Pledge Agreement inasmuch as the Pledgor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the Loans made from time to time to the Borrower by the Lenders and Letters of Credit issued from time to time for the account of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, pursuant to the Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Pledgor has a duly authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this Pledge Agreement;

ACCORDINGLY, the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Terms Defined in Credit Agreement . All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

1.2 Terms Defined in UCC . Terms defined in the UCC that are not otherwise defined in this Pledge Agreement are used herein as defined in Article 8 or 9 of the UCC, as the context may require.

1.3 Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein . As used in this Pledge Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the introductory paragraph hereto and in the Preliminary Statements, the following terms shall have the following meanings:


Article ” means a numbered article of this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced or an article of the UCC is specifically referenced.

Collateral ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.

Control ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-106 of Article 9 of the UCC.

Excepted Lien ” means those Liens permitted under Section  7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

Exhibit ” refers to a specific exhibit to this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

General Intangibles ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

Intermediate Parent ” shall mean, [Alpha LLC], a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors, together with any other Person (if any) that both (i) is owned directly or indirectly by the Pledgor and (ii) directly or indirectly owns any Equity Interests of the Parent.

Investment Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

Parent ” shall mean, [Amplify Acquisitionco LLC], a Delaware limited liability company.

Pledged Collateral ” means, collectively the Pledged Equity and all certificates or similar documents representing any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the Securities and other Investment Property set forth on Exhibit B .

Pledged Equity ” means the shares of Equity Interests of any Intermediate Parent owned by the Pledgor.

Proceeds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC and, in any event shall include, without limitation, Stock Rights.

Record ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

Section ” means a numbered section of this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced or a section of the UCC is specifically referenced.

Security ” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.

Stock Rights ” means all dividends, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property that the Pledgor shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Equity Interest constituting Collateral, any right to receive an Equity Interest and any right to receive earnings, in which the Pledgor now have or hereafter acquire any right, issued by an issuer of such Equity Interest.

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Administrative Agent’s or any Secured Party’s Lien on any Collateral.

 

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The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

ARTICLE II.

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

As security for the payment and performance in full, when due, of the Secured Obligations, the Pledgor hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the following property, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of the Pledgor (including under any trade name or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, the Pledgor, and regardless of where located (all of which will be collectively referred to as the “ Collateral ”), including:

(i) all Pledged Collateral, including any portion of the Pledged Collateral constituting General Intangibles or Investment Property; and

(ii) Proceeds (including Stock Rights), together with all books and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Pledgor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

3.1 Title, Perfection and Priority . The Pledgor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under Section  4.1(e) , and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto. When the Pledged Equity described on Exhibit B is delivered to the Administrative Agent, together with a stock power properly executed in blank with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in that Collateral of the Pledgor, subject only to Liens permitted under Section  4.1(e) .

3.2 Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers . As of the as of the Effective Date, the type of entity of the Pledgor, its state of organization, the organizational number issued to it by its state of organization and its federal employer identification number are set forth on Exhibit A .

3.3 Principal Location . As of the Effective Date, the Pledgor’s mailing address and the location of its principal place of business or its chief executive office, are disclosed in Exhibit A .

 

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3.4 Exact Names . As of the Effective Date, the Pledgor’s name in which it has executed this Pledge Agreement is the exact legal name as it appears in the Pledgor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with the Pledgor’s jurisdiction of organization.

3.5 No Financing Statements, Security Agreements . No effective financing statement or security agreement describing all or any portion of the Collateral that has not lapsed or been terminated, or that will be terminated promptly following the Effective Date, naming the Pledgor as debtor has been filed or is of record in any jurisdiction except (a) for financing statements or security agreements naming the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party and (b) as permitted by Section  4.1(e) .

3.6 Taxes . The Pledgor has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed, and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Pledgor has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Pledgor in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Pledgor, adequate under GAAP. No Tax Lien, other than an Excepted Lien, has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Pledgor, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such Tax or other such governmental charge

3.7 Pledged Collateral .

(a) Exhibit B sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of the Effective Date, of all Pledged Collateral owned by the Pledgor. The Pledgor is the direct, sole beneficial owner and sole holder of record of the Pledged Collateral listed on Exhibit B as being owned by it, free and clear of any Liens, except Liens permitted under Section  4.1(e) . The Pledgor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Collateral owned by it constituting an Equity Interest has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized, validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by, as applicable, Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act) and (ii) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Administrative Agent representing an Equity Interest, such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the UCC as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise.

(b) In addition, (i) none of the Pledged Collateral owned by it has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject, (ii) as of the as of the Effective Date, there are existing no options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to such Pledged Collateral or that obligate the issuer of any Equity Interest included in the Pledged Collateral to issue additional Equity Interests, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, or other action by, and no giving of notice, filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required for the pledge by the Pledgor of such Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Pledge Agreement or for the execution, delivery and performance of this Pledge Agreement by the Pledgor, or for the exercise by the Administrative Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Pledge Agreement or for the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral

 

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pursuant to this Pledge Agreement, except (A) as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally and (B) consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions that have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect.

ARTICLE IV.

COVENANTS

From the date of this Pledge Agreement, and thereafter until this Pledge Agreement is terminated, the Pledgor agrees that:

4.1 General .

(a) [ Reserved ].

(b) Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification . The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file, and if requested will deliver to the Administrative Agent, all financing statements and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to maintain a first priority perfected security interest in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral owned by the Pledgor’s. Any financing statement filed by the Administrative Agent may be filed in any filing office in any relevant UCC jurisdiction and may (i) indicate the Pledgor’s Collateral (A) by describing it in the same manner as described herein, or (B) by any other description that reasonably approximates the description contained in this Pledge Agreement, and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether the Pledgor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to the Pledgor. The Pledgor also agrees to furnish any such information to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request.

(c) Further Assurances . The Pledgor will furnish to the Administrative Agent, as often as the Administrative Agent reasonably requests, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral owned by it and such other reports and information in connection with its Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in such detail as the Administrative Agent may reasonably specify. The Pledgor also agrees to take any and all actions necessary (i) to defend title to the Collateral against all Persons and (ii) to defend the security interest of the Administrative Agent in its Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted hereunder. The Pledgor (i) will deliver to the Administrative Agent concurrently with the formation or acquisition of (or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) any Intermediate Parent after the Effective Date, an amendment or supplement to this Pledge Agreement pursuant to the terms set forth in Section  4.2 , setting forth as Pledged Collateral the additional Equity Interests of such Intermediate Parent(s) that it has formed or acquired, and (ii) shall cause each Intermediate Parent to deliver to the Administrative Agent concurrently with (or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) the formation or acquisition by such Intermediate Parent of Equity Interests in the Parent or another Intermediate Parent, an Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement granting Liens on and a security interest in such Equity Interests in the Parent or other Intermediate Parent.

 

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(d) Disposition of Collateral . Except as permitted herein and by the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor will not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Pledged Collateral owned by it without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.

(e) Liens . The Pledgor will not create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral owned by it except (i) the security interest created by this Pledge Agreement, and (ii) Liens described in clause (c) of Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

(f) Other Financing Statements . The Pledgor will not authorize the filing of any financing statement naming it as debtor covering all or any portion of the Collateral owned by it, except as permitted by Section  4.1(e) . The Pledgor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement naming the Pledgor as debtor without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, subject to the Pledgor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the UCC.

4.2 Delivery of Instruments and Securities . The Pledgor will (a) deliver to the Administrative Agent immediately upon execution of this Pledge Agreement, the originals of all certificated Securities constituting Collateral owned by it (if any then exist), (b) hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and promptly thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent any such certificated Securities constituting Collateral acquired by it after the Effective Date and (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s request, deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed amendment to this Pledge Agreement, in the form of Exhibit D hereto (the “ Amendment ”), pursuant to which the Pledgor will pledge any additional Collateral. The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to attach each Amendment to this Pledge Agreement and agrees that all additional Collateral owned by it set forth in such Amendments shall be considered to be part of the Collateral.

4.3 Pledged Collateral .

(a) Changes in Capital Structure of Issuers. Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor will not permit or suffer any issuer of Pledged Equity owned by it to dissolve, merge, liquidate, sell or encumber all or substantially all of its assets (except for Liens permitted by Section  7.01 of the Credit Agreement, any dissolution, merger or liquidation permitted by Section  7.04 of the Credit Agreement or sales of Property permitted pursuant to Section  7.05 of the Credit Agreement); provided that, for avoidance of doubt, any Intermediate Parent may, subject to the requirements of Section  4.5 , (i) merge with a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Pledgor or any Intermediate Parent, change its name, or convert its type of organization; provided that the continuing or surviving Person of such merger is a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Pledgor or any Intermediate Parent or (ii) dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, so long as, substantially concurrently with such dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, so long as, in each case, after giving effect thereto, (x) the Pledgor directly owns such Intermediate Parent’s previously held Equity Interest of the Parent and (y) the Pledgor substantially concurrently pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in Parent. Notwithstanding

 

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anything to the contrary contained herein, the Pledgor shall only be required to pledge its Equity Interests in any Intermediate Parent owned directly by the Pledgor (or Parent, if Pledgor directly owns any Equity Interest in Parent).

(b) Issuance of Additional Securities . The Pledgor will not permit or suffer the issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral owned by it to issue additional Equity Interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings, except to the Pledgor.

(c) Registration of Pledged Collateral . The Pledgor will permit any registerable Pledged Collateral owned by it to be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default.

(d) Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral .

(i) Until such time thereafter as the Administrative Agent gives written notice of its election to exercise such voting and other consensual rights pursuant to Section  5.1 and without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, the Pledgor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledgor’s Pledged Collateral for all purposes not inconsistent with and not in violation of this Pledge Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided however , that no vote or other right shall be exercised or action taken that would have a material adverse effect on the value of such Pledged Collateral, the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein or the Administrative Agent’s rights and remedies with respect thereto;

(ii) The Pledgor will permit the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, following prior written notice, to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it, including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Equity Interest or Investment Property constituting such Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof;

(iii) The Pledgor shall be entitled to collect and receive for its own use all dividends and distributions paid in respect of the Pledgor’s Pledged Collateral to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement including any of the following distributions and payments (collectively referred to as the “ Excluded Payments ”): dividends and distributions constituting Collateral paid or payable other than in cash in respect of such Pledged Collateral, and instruments and other property constituting Collateral received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; and

(iv) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default following notice from the Administrative Agent, all Excluded Payments and all other non-cash distributions, in each case that constitute Collateral, in respect of any of the Pledgor’s Pledged Collateral, whenever paid or made, shall be

 

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delivered to the Administrative Agent to hold as Collateral and shall, if received by the Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of the Pledgor, and be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

4.4 [ Reserved .]

4.5 Change of Name or Location; Change of Fiscal Year . The Pledgor will furnish to the Administrative Agent written notice (a) not less than ten (10) days prior to (i) any change to its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or organization, (ii) any change to its state of incorporation or organization, and (iii) any change to the type of entity that it is and (b) promptly, but in any event within 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after, (i) any change to its chief executive office or principal place of business ( provided that any new location shall be in the continental U.S.), and (ii) any change to its organization identification number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or other organization. The Pledgor shall not change its fiscal year that currently ends on December 31.

4.6 Payment of Obligations . The Pledgor will pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities of the Pledgor before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Pledgor has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or result in the seizure or levy of any material Property of the Pledgor.

4.7 Organization Documents . Except as permitted herein and in the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify the Organization Documents of any Intermediate Parent, in each case in any manner that would have a material adverse effect to the Lenders.

4.8 [Reserved]

4.9 Designation of Equity Interests as Securities . The Pledgor shall not permit any Equity Interest constituting the Pledgor’s Collateral to at any time constitute a Security or allow the issuer of any such Equity Interest to take any action to have such Equity Interests treated as a Security unless (i) all certificates or other documents constituting such Security have been, or contemporaneously with their issuance will be, delivered to the Administrative Agent and such Security is properly defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise, or (ii) the Administrative Agent has entered into a Securities Account Control Agreement with the issuer of such Security or with a securities intermediary relating to such Security and such Security is defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES

5.1 Remedies .

(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, or at the direction of the Majority Lenders, shall, exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:

(i) those rights and remedies provided in this Pledge Agreement, the Credit Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

(ii) those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a Pledge Agreement;

(iii) concurrently with written notice to the Pledgor, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, to exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Administrative Agent was the outright owner thereof.

(b) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption, which equity redemption the Pledgor hereby expressly releases.

(d) Until the Administrative Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Administrative Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Secured Party shall be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, the Pledgor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights

 

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or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

(f) The Pledgor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (a)  above. The Pledgor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the Pledgor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the Pledgor and the issuer would agree to do so.

5.2 Pledgor’s Obligations Upon Default . Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after the occurrence of an Event of Default and during its continuation, the Pledgor will:

(a) assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Administrative Agent, whether at the Pledgor’s premises or elsewhere; and

(b) permit the Administrative Agent, by the Administrative Agent’s representatives and agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay the Pledgor for such use and occupancy.

The Pledgor shall not have any obligation to register or qualify any Pledged Collateral whether to enable the Administrative Agent to consummate a public sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral or otherwise.

ARTICLE VI.

ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

6.1 Authorization for Secured Party to Take Certain Action .

(a) The Pledgor irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney in fact (i) to execute on behalf of the Pledgor as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (ii) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral, (iii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Pledge Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Collateral as a financing statement and to file any other financing statement or

 

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amendment of a financing statement (that does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (iv) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities that are Pledged Collateral as may be necessary or advisable to give the Administrative Agent Control over such Pledged Collateral, (v) to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Administrative Agent to the Secured Obligations as provided in Section 7.1, (vi) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for such Liens as are specifically permitted hereunder), (vii) to exercise all of the Pledgor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Collateral, and (viii) to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out this Pledge Agreement; and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to seek reimbursement for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with any of the foregoing, to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section  10.04 of the Credit Agreement; provided that, this authorization shall not relieve the Pledgor of any of its obligations under this Pledge Agreement.

(b) All acts of said attorney or designee are hereby ratified and approved. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties, under this Section  6.1 are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent agrees that, except for the powers granted in Section  6.1(a)(i) , (iii) and (iv) , it shall not exercise any power or authority granted to it unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

6.2 Proxy . THE PLEDGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS ITS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.1 ABOVE) WITH RESPECT TO ITS PLEDGED COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND DURING THE CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT.

6.3 Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty . THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE VI IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.12 . NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NEITHER THE

 

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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NOR ANY SECURED PARTY, NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO THEIR OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; PROVIDED THAT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

ARTICLE VII.

COLLECTION AND APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS

7.1 Collection and Application of Collateral Proceeds . If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds of Collateral received by the Pledgor consisting of cash, checks and other near cash items shall be held by the Pledgor in trust for the Secured Parties segregated from other funds of the Pledgor, and shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, forthwith upon receipt by the Pledgor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the Pledgor (duly endorsed by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent, if required). All Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and control. All Proceeds while held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account (or by the Pledgor in trust for the Secured Parties) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided below in this Section. At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the Administrative Agent’s election, the Administrative Agent may apply all or any part of Proceeds of the Pledgor held in any Collateral Account in payment of the Secured Obligations of and in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect in compliance with the Credit Agreement, and any part of such funds that the Administrative Agent elects not so to apply and deems not required as collateral security for such Secured Obligations shall be paid over from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same. Any balance of such Proceeds remaining after the Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full shall be paid over to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

ARTICLE VIII.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1 Waivers . The Pledgor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made. To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to the Pledgor, addressed as set forth in Article IX , at least ten days prior to (a) the date of any such public sale or (b) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Pledgor

 

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waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except to the extent resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Pledgor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party, any valuation, stay, appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing that, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Pledge Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Pledgor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Pledge Agreement or any Collateral.

8.2 Limitation on Administrative Agent’s and any Secured Party’s Duty with Respect to the Collateral . The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Administrative Agent and each Secured Party shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Administrative Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, the Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Administrative Agent (a) to fail to incur material expenses to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (b) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (c) to exercise collection remedies against Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (d) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (e) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as the Pledgor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (f) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (g) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (h) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Administrative Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Administrative Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (i) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Administrative Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. The Pledgor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section  8.2 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Administrative Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section  8.2 ; provided that the provisions of this Section  8.2 shall not be deemed in any manner to waive or vary the rules and requirements of Article 9 of the UCC that may not be waived or varied pursuant to Section 9.602

 

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of the UCC. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section  8.2 shall be construed to grant any rights to the Pledgor or to impose any duties on the Administrative Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Pledge Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section  8.2 .

8.3 Secured Party Performance of Debtor Obligations . Without having any obligation to do so, after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may perform any obligation that the Pledgor has agreed to perform in this Pledge Agreement and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to seek reimbursement for any amounts paid by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section  10.04 of the Credit Agreement.

8.4 Dispositions Not Authorized . Except as permitted herein and in the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor is not authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral and notwithstanding any course of dealing between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent or other conduct of the Administrative Agent, no authorization to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral shall be binding upon the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties unless such authorization is in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the consent or at the direction of the Majority Lenders.

8.5 No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies . No delay or omission of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Pledge Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Except in the case of releases of Collateral in accordance with Section  9.10 of the Credit Agreement, no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Pledge Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the concurrence or at the direction of the Lenders required under Section  10.01 of the Credit Agreement and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All rights and remedies contained in this Pledge Agreement or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties until the termination of the Commitments, the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized (on terms reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank) or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Bank) and payment in cash in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (a) contingent obligations, tax gross-up or yield protection obligations, in each case for which no claim has been made, and (b) obligations and liabilities under Hedge Transactions or Treasury Management Services Agreement as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Lender Counterparty, as applicable, shall have been made).

8.6 Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions . All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Pledge Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Pledge Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Pledge Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. To the extent permitted by law, any provision of this Pledge Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or

 

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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 or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

8.7 Reinstatement . This Pledge Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Pledgor for liquidation or reorganization, should the Pledgor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Pledgor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

8.8 Benefit of Agreement . The terms and provisions of this Pledge Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Pledge Agreement), except that the Pledgor shall not have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Pledge Agreement or any interest herein, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. No sales of participations, assignments, transfers, or other dispositions of any agreement governing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, hereunder.

8.9 Survival of Representations . All representations and warranties of the Pledgor contained in this Pledge Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Pledge Agreement.

8.10 [ Reserved ].

8.11 Titles and Captions . Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in this Pledge Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Pledge Agreement.

8.12 Termination; Releases .

(a) This Pledge Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until (i) the Credit Agreement has terminated pursuant to its express terms and (ii) the termination of the Commitments, the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized (on terms reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank) or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Bank) and payment in full in cash of

 

15


all other Secured Obligations (other than (a) contingent obligations, tax gross-up or yield protection obligations, in each case for which no claim has been made, and (b) obligations and liabilities under Hedge Transactions or Treasury Management Services Agreement as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Lender Counterparty, as applicable, shall have been made).

(b) The Pledgor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interest granted hereby in the Collateral of the Pledgor shall be automatically released in the event that all the Equity Interests in the Pledgor shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders. If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Pledgor pursuant to a sale, transfer or disposition of the Equity Interests in the Pledgor in accordance with this clause (b), the security interest created hereby in any Collateral that is so sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of shall automatically terminate and be released upon the closing of such sale, transfer or other disposition, and such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Lien and security interest created hereby; provided however , that such security interest will continue to attach to all proceeds of such sales or other dispositions. In connection with any of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to the Pledgor or the Pledgor’s designee, at the Pledgor’s expense, all UCC termination statements and similar documents that the Pledgor shall reasonably request from time to time to evidence such termination. Any execution and delivery of termination statements or documents pursuant to this Section  8.12(b) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that the Intermediate Parent shall dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs and after giving effect thereto, the Pledgor directly owns such Intermediate Parent’s previously held Equity Interest of the Parent, the Pledgor shall pledge, assign and grant to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in such Equity Interest of the Parent.

8.13 Entire Agreement . This Pledge Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral.

8.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial . The provisions of Section  10.14 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis .

8.15 Expenses and Indemnification . The provisions of Section  10.04 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis .

8.16 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .

(a) This Pledge Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Pledge Agreement constitutes the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Pledge

 

16


Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Pledge Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Pledge Agreement.

(b) The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assumption Agreement 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.

8.17 Lien Absolute . All obligations of the Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

(a) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any of the Secured Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise, or any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, or any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of the Secured Obligations;

(b) any lack of validity or enforceability relating to or against Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, for any reason related to the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any Secured Obligations, or any Governmental Requirements purporting to prohibit the payment by Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations of the principal of or interest on the Secured Obligations;

(c) any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document;

(d) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any Secured Obligations, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon;

(e) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations, or any of their assets or any resulting release of discharge of any obligation of Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor or any of the Secured Obligations;

(f) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, restructure or otherwise affect any term of any Loan Document or Secured Obligations;

 

17


(g) any other setoff, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) with respect to the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other agreement or instrument or the transactions contemplated thereby that might constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of the Pledgor; or

(h) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever that might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Pledgor’s obligations hereunder.

8.18 Release . The Pledgor consents and agrees that the Administrative Agent may at any time, or from time to time, in its discretion:

(a) renew, extend or change the time of payment, and/or the manner, place or terms of payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations; and

(b) exchange, release and/or surrender all or any of the Collateral (including the Pledged Collateral), or any part thereof, by whomsoever deposited, that is now or may hereafter be held by the Administrative Agent in connection with all or any of the Secured Obligations; all in such manner and upon such terms as the Administrative Agent may deem proper, and without notice to or further assent from the Pledgor, it being hereby agreed that the Pledgor shall be and remain bound upon this Pledge Agreement, irrespective of the value or condition of any of the Collateral, and notwithstanding any such change, exchange, settlement, compromise, surrender, release, renewal or extension, and notwithstanding also that the Secured Obligations may, at any time, exceed the aggregate principal amount thereof set forth in the Credit Agreement, or any other agreement governing any Secured Obligations.

8.19 Non-Recourse Basis . Any provision herein, or in any document securing the Secured Obligations, or any other document executed or delivered in connection herewith, or in any other agreement or commitment, whether written or oral, expressed or implied, to the contrary notwithstanding, it is understood and agreed that (a) the liability of the Pledgor shall be limited solely to the Collateral now or hereafter pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Pledge Agreement and (b) no money judgment, order or execution shall be sought, taken or entered in any suit, action or proceeding, whether legal or equitable, but that the sole and exclusive recourse against the Pledgor in respect of such Secured Obligations, the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby shall be to realize upon said Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Pledge Agreement and that all rights to such suit, action, proceeding or deficiency are hereby waived by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

NOTICES

9.1 Sending Notices . Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Pledge Agreement shall be sent by United States mail, electronic mail, telecopier, personal delivery or nationally established overnight courier service, and shall be deemed received (i) when received, if sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail notices or (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or telecopier (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), in each case addressed to such party as follows:

(a) in the case of the Administrative Agent, the address provided in Section  10.02 of the Credit Agreement;

(b) in the case of any other Secured Party, the address specified by such Secured Party in writing to the Administrative Agent; and

(c) in the case of the Pledgor, to it at:

c/o Amplify Energy Operating LLC

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700,

Houston, Texas 77002,

Attn: Martyn Willsher, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(email: Martyn.Willsher@amplifyenergy.com)

9.2 Change in Address for Notices . Each of the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties.

ARTICLE X.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Bank of Montreal has been appointed Administrative Agent for the Secured Parties hereunder pursuant to Article IX of the Credit Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Pledge Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Administrative Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Secured Parties to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and that the Administrative Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Administrative Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in such Article IX. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article IX of the Credit Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Administrative Agent hereunder.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent have executed this Pledge Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PLEDGOR:
[MIKE PUBCO], a Delaware corporation,
By:  

 

Name:   Martyn Willsher
Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT :
BANK OF MONTREAL , as administrative agent
By:  

                                              

Name:   [ ]
Title:   [ ]

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

(See Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 4.1 of Pledge Agreement)

NOTICE ADDRESS FOR PLEDGOR

PART I – PLEDGOR INFORMATION

[Mike PubCo]

c/o Amplify Energy Operating LLC

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700]

Houston, Texas 77002]

Attn: Martyn Willsher, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(email: Martyn.Willsher@amplifyenergy.com

INFORMATION AND COLLATERAL LOCATIONS

 

Name of Pledgor

  

Jurisdiction of
Organization and
Type of Entity

  

Organizational
Identification Number

  

Federal
Identification
Number

  

Chief Executive
Office or Principal
Place of Business

  

Former names

[Mike PubCo]    Delaware corporation         

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, Texas 77002

  

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

(See Definition of “Pledged Collateral”)

LIST OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL, SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY

STOCKS / LLC MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Name of

Pledgor

   Issuer   Certificate
Number(s)
   Type of Interest    Percentage
Owned
 

[Mike PubCo]

   [Alpha LLC]      Membership Interests      100

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

(See Section 3.1 of Pledge Agreement)

OFFICES IN WHICH FINANCING STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED

 

Name of Pledgor

  

Filing Office

[Mike PubCo]    Delaware

 

C-1


EXHIBIT D

(See Section 4.2 of Pledge Agreement)

AMENDMENT

This Amendment, dated                     ,      is delivered pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Pledge Agreement referred to below. All defined terms herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto or incorporated by reference in the Pledge Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies that the representations and warranties in Article III of the Pledge Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except that (i) to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, on and as of the date hereof, such representations and warranties continue to be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified earlier date and (ii) to the extent that any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality, such representation and warranty continues to be true and correct in all respects. The undersigned further agrees that this Amendment may be attached to that certain Pledge Agreement, dated [                    ], 2019, between the undersigned, as the Pledgor, and Bank of Montreal, as the Administrative Agent, (the “ Pledge Agreement ”) and that the Collateral listed on Schedule I to this Amendment shall be and become a part of the Collateral referred to in said Pledge Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations referred to in said Pledge Agreement.

 

[ MIKE PUBCO ], a Delaware corporation
By:  
Name:  
Title:  

 

 

D-1


SCHEDULE I TO AMENDMENT

STOCKS/LLC MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Name of

Pledgor

  

Issuer

  

Certificate

Number(s)

  

Number of Shares

  

Class of Stock

  

Percentage of
Outstanding Shares

 

D-2


EXHIBIT N

(See attached)

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST A MENDMENT TO C REDIT A GREEMENT

A MPLIFY E NERGY O PERATING LLC]


EXHIBIT N

[FORM OF] 1

[AMENDED AND RESTATED] NON-RECOURSE INTERMEDIATE PARENT PLEDGE AGREEMENT

THIS [AMENDED AND RESTATED] NON-RECOURSE INTERMEDIATE PARENT PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Pledge Agreement ”) is entered into as of [                    ], 2019 the (“ Effective Date ”), by and between [[Alpha LLC], a Delaware limited liability company,]/[                    ], a [                                        ,] as pledgor (the “ Pledgor ”), and Bank of Montreal, in its capacity as administrative agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Lenders and the other Secured Parties.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Amplify Energy Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “ Borrower ”), the lenders named therein (together with their respective successors and assigns in such capacity, the “ Lenders ”), the Administrative Agent, and the L/C Issuer (as defined in the Credit Agreement);

[WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Non-Recourse Pledge Agreement dated as of November 2, 2018 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “ Existing Pledge Agreement ”) by Pledgor (as successor via merger with Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation) pursuant to which Pledgor granted to the Administrative Agent a security interest in certain of its personal property assets;]

[WHEREAS, Recital to describe corporate structure changes to the Pledgor and the Company once confirmed.]

[WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, Pledgor intends that the Existing Pledge Agreement be amended, restated and superseded, but not terminated or novated by this Pledge Agreement, and that the liens and security interests granted under the Existing Pledge Agreement continue;]

WHEREAS, the Pledgor acknowledges that it is in the best interests of the Pledgor to execute this Pledge Agreement inasmuch as the Pledgor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the Loans made from time to time to the Borrower by the Lenders and Letters of Credit issued from time to time for the account of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, pursuant to the Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Pledgor has a duly authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this Pledge Agreement;

 

 

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The initial Intermediate Parent Pledge Agreement is intended for use by Alpha LLC; placeholders and bracketed alternatives for use if there are any other Intermediate Parents.


ACCORDINGLY, the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Terms Defined in Credit Agreement . All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

1.2 Terms Defined in UCC . Terms defined in the UCC that are not otherwise defined in this Pledge Agreement are used herein as defined in Article 8 or 9 of the UCC, as the context may require.

1.3 Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein . As used in this Pledge Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the introductory paragraph hereto and in the Preliminary Statements, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Article ” means a numbered article of this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced or an article of the UCC is specifically referenced.

Collateral ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.

Company ” means [[Amplify Acquisitionco LLC], a Delaware limited liability company]/ [                    ], a [                    ].

Control ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-106 of Article 9 of the UCC.

Excepted Lien ” means those Liens permitted under Section  7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

Exhibit ” refers to a specific exhibit to this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

General Intangibles ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

Investment Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

Pledged Collateral ” means, collectively the Pledged Equity and all certificates or similar documents representing any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the Securities and other Investment Property set forth on Exhibit B .

Pledged Equity ” means the shares of Equity Interests of the Company owned by the Pledgor.

Proceeds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC and, in any event shall include, without limitation, Stock Rights.

Record ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

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Section ” means a numbered section of this Pledge Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced or a section of the UCC is specifically referenced.

Security ” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.

Stock Rights ” means all dividends, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property that the Pledgor shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Equity Interest constituting Collateral, any right to receive an Equity Interest and any right to receive earnings, in which the Pledgor now have or hereafter acquire any right, issued by an issuer of such Equity Interest.

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Administrative Agent’s or any Secured Party’s Lien on any Collateral.

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

ARTICLE II.

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

As security for the payment and performance in full, when due, of the Secured Obligations, the Pledgor hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the following property, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of the Pledgor (including under any trade name or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, the Pledgor, and regardless of where located (all of which will be collectively referred to as the “ Collateral ”), including:

(i) all Pledged Collateral, including any portion of the Pledged Collateral constituting General Intangibles or Investment Property; and

(ii) Proceeds (including Stock Rights), together with all books and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Pledgor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

3.1 Title, Perfection and Priority . The Pledgor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under

 

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Section  4.1(e) , and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto. When the Pledged Equity described on Exhibit B is delivered to the Administrative Agent, together with a stock power properly executed in blank with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in that Collateral of the Pledgor, subject only to Liens permitted under Section  4.1(e) .

3.2 Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers . As of the as of the Effective Date, the type of entity of the Pledgor, its state of organization, the organizational number issued to it by its state of organization and its federal employer identification number are set forth on Exhibit A .

3.3 Principal Location . As of the Effective Date, the Pledgor’s mailing address and the location of its principal place of business or its chief executive office, are disclosed in Exhibit A .

3.4 Exact Names . As of the Effective Date, the Pledgor’s name in which it has executed this Pledge Agreement is the exact legal name as it appears in the Pledgor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with the Pledgor’s jurisdiction of organization.

3.5 No Financing Statements, Security Agreements . No effective financing statement or security agreement describing all or any portion of the Collateral that has not lapsed or been terminated, or that will be terminated promptly following the Effective Date, naming the Pledgor as debtor has been filed or is of record in any jurisdiction except (a) for financing statements or security agreements naming the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party and (b) as permitted by Section  4.1(e) .

3.6 Taxes . The Pledgor has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed, and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Pledgor has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Pledgor in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Pledgor, adequate under GAAP. No Tax Lien, other than an Excepted Lien, has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Pledgor, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such Tax or other such governmental charge

3.7 Pledged Collateral .

(a) Exhibit B sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of the Effective Date, of all Pledged Collateral owned by the Pledgor. The Pledgor is the direct, sole beneficial owner and sole holder of record of the Pledged Collateral listed on Exhibit B as being owned by it, free and clear of any Liens, except Liens permitted under Section  4.1(e) . The Pledgor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Collateral owned by it constituting an Equity Interest has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized, validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by, as applicable, Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act) and (ii) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Administrative Agent representing an Equity Interest, such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the UCC as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise.

 

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(b) In addition, (i) none of the Pledged Collateral owned by it has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject, (ii) as of the as of the Effective Date, there are existing no options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to such Pledged Collateral or that obligate the issuer of any Equity Interest included in the Pledged Collateral to issue additional Equity Interests, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, or other action by, and no giving of notice, filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required for the pledge by the Pledgor of such Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Pledge Agreement or for the execution, delivery and performance of this Pledge Agreement by the Pledgor, or for the exercise by the Administrative Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Pledge Agreement or for the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Pledge Agreement, except (A) as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally and (B) consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions that have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect.

ARTICLE IV.

COVENANTS

From the date of this Pledge Agreement, and thereafter until this Pledge Agreement is terminated, the Pledgor agrees that:

4.1 General .

(a) [ Reserved ].

(b) Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification . The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file, and if requested will deliver to the Administrative Agent, all financing statements and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to maintain a first priority perfected security interest in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral owned by the Pledgor’s. Any financing statement filed by the Administrative Agent may be filed in any filing office in any relevant UCC jurisdiction and may (i) indicate the Pledgor’s Collateral (A) by describing it in the same manner as described herein, or (B) by any other description that reasonably approximates the description contained in this Pledge Agreement, and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether the Pledgor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to the Pledgor. The Pledgor also agrees to furnish any such information to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request.

 

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(c) Further Assurances . The Pledgor will furnish to the Administrative Agent, as often as the Administrative Agent reasonably requests, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral owned by it and such other reports and information in connection with its Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in such detail as the Administrative Agent may reasonably specify. The Pledgor also agrees to take any and all actions necessary (i) to defend title to the Collateral against all Persons and (ii) to defend the security interest of the Administrative Agent in its Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted hereunder.

(d) Disposition of Collateral . Except as permitted herein and in the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor will not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Pledged Collateral owned by it without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.

(e) Liens . The Pledgor will not create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral owned by it except (i) the security interest created by this Pledge Agreement, and (ii) Liens described in clause (c) of Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

(f) Other Financing Statements . The Pledgor will not authorize the filing of any financing statement naming it as debtor covering all or any portion of the Collateral owned by it, except as permitted by Section  4.1(e) . The Pledgor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement naming the Pledgor as debtor without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, subject to the Pledgor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the UCC.

4.2 Delivery of Instruments and Securities . The Pledgor will (a) deliver to the Administrative Agent immediately upon execution of this Pledge Agreement, the originals of all certificated Securities constituting Collateral owned by it (if any then exist), (b) hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and promptly thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent any such certificated Securities constituting Collateral acquired by it after the Effective Date and (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s request, deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed amendment to this Pledge Agreement, in the form of Exhibit D hereto (the “ Amendment ”), pursuant to which the Pledgor will pledge any additional Collateral. The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to attach each Amendment to this Pledge Agreement and agrees that all additional Collateral owned by it set forth in such Amendments shall be considered to be part of the Collateral.

4.3 Pledged Collateral .

(a) Changes in Capital Structure of Issuers. Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor will not permit or suffer any issuer of Pledged Equity owned by it to dissolve, merge, liquidate, sell or encumber all or substantially all of its assets (except for Liens permitted by Section  7.01 of the Credit Agreement, any dissolution, merger or liquidation permitted by Section  7.04 of the Credit Agreement or sales of Property permitted pursuant to Section  7.05 of the Credit Agreement).

(b) Issuance of Additional Securities . The Pledgor will not permit or suffer the issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral owned by it to issue additional Equity Interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings, except to the Pledgor.

 

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(c) Registration of Pledged Collateral . The Pledgor will permit any registerable Pledged Collateral owned by it to be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default.

(d) Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral .

(i) Until such time thereafter as the Administrative Agent gives written notice of its election to exercise such voting and other consensual rights pursuant to Section  5.1 and without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, the Pledgor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledgor’s Pledged Collateral for all purposes not inconsistent with and not in violation of this Pledge Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided however , that no vote or other right shall be exercised or action taken that would have a material adverse effect on the value of such Pledged Collateral, the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein or the Administrative Agent’s rights and remedies with respect thereto;

(ii) The Pledgor will permit the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, following prior written notice, to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it, including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Equity Interest or Investment Property constituting such Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof;

(iii) The Pledgor shall be entitled to collect and receive for its own use all dividends and distributions paid in respect of the Pledgor’s Pledged Collateral to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement including any of the following distributions and payments (collectively referred to as the “ Excluded Payments ”): dividends and distributions constituting Collateral paid or payable other than in cash in respect of such Pledged Collateral, and instruments and other property constituting Collateral received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; and

(iv) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default following notice from the Administrative Agent, all Excluded Payments and all other non-cash distributions, in each case that constitute Collateral, in respect of any of the Pledgor’s Pledged Collateral, whenever paid or made, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent to hold as Collateral and shall, if received by the Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of the Pledgor, and be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

 

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4.4 [ Reserved .]

4.5 Change of Name or Location; Change of Fiscal Year . The Pledgor will furnish to the Administrative Agent written notice (a) not less than ten (10) days prior to (i) any change to its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or organization, (ii) any change to its state of incorporation or organization, and (iii) any change to the type of entity that it is and (b) promptly, but in any event within 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after, (i) any change to its chief executive office or principal place of business ( provided that any new location shall be in the continental U.S.), and (ii) any change to its organization identification number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or other organization. The Pledgor shall not change its fiscal year that currently ends on December 31.

4.6 Payment of Obligations . The Pledgor will pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities of the Pledgor before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Pledgor has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or result in the seizure or levy of any material Property of the Pledgor.

4.7 Organization Documents . The Pledgor shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify the Organization Documents of the Company, in each case in any manner that would have a material adverse effect to the Lenders.

4.8 [Reserved]

4.9 Designation of Equity Interests as Securities . The Pledgor shall not permit any Equity Interest constituting the Pledgor’s Collateral to at any time constitute a Security or allow the issuer of any such Equity Interest to take any action to have such Equity Interests treated as a Security unless (i) all certificates or other documents constituting such Security have been, or contemporaneously with their issuance will be, delivered to the Administrative Agent and such Security is properly defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise, or (ii) the Administrative Agent has entered into a Securities Account Control Agreement with the issuer of such Security or with a securities intermediary relating to such Security and such Security is defined as such under Article 8 of the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction, whether as a result of actions by the issuer thereof or otherwise.

ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES

5.1 Remedies .

(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, or at the direction of the Majority Lenders, shall, exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:

(i) those rights and remedies provided in this Pledge Agreement, the Credit Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 

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(ii) those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a Pledge Agreement;

(iii) concurrently with written notice to the Pledgor, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, to exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Administrative Agent was the outright owner thereof.

(b) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption, which equity redemption the Pledgor hereby expressly releases.

(d) Until the Administrative Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Administrative Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Secured Party shall be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, the Pledgor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

(f) The Pledgor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (a)  above. The Pledgor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such

 

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sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the Pledgor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the Pledgor and the issuer would agree to do so.

5.2 Pledgor’s Obligations Upon Default . Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after the occurrence of an Event of Default and during its continuation, the Pledgor will:

(a) assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Administrative Agent, whether at the Pledgor’s premises or elsewhere; and

(b) permit the Administrative Agent, by the Administrative Agent’s representatives and agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay the Pledgor for such use and occupancy.

The Pledgor shall not have any obligation to register or qualify any Pledged Collateral whether to enable the Administrative Agent to consummate a public sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral or otherwise.

ARTICLE VI.

ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

6.1 Authorization for Secured Party to Take Certain Action .

(a) The Pledgor irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney in fact (i) to execute on behalf of the Pledgor as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (ii) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral, (iii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Pledge Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Collateral as a financing statement and to file any other financing statement or amendment of a financing statement (that does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (iv) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities that are Pledged Collateral as may be necessary or advisable to give the Administrative Agent Control over such Pledged Collateral, (v) to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Administrative Agent to the Secured Obligations as provided in Section 7.1, (vi) to

 

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discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for such Liens as are specifically permitted hereunder), (vii) to exercise all of the Pledgor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Collateral, and (viii) to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out this Pledge Agreement; and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to seek reimbursement for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with any of the foregoing, to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section  10.04 of the Credit Agreement; provided that, this authorization shall not relieve the Pledgor of any of its obligations under this Pledge Agreement.

(b) All acts of said attorney or designee are hereby ratified and approved. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties, under this Section  6.1 are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent agrees that, except for the powers granted in Section  6.1(a)(i) , (iii) and (iv) , it shall not exercise any power or authority granted to it unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

6.2 Proxy . THE PLEDGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS ITS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.1 ABOVE) WITH RESPECT TO ITS PLEDGED COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND DURING THE CONTINUATION OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT.

6.3 Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty . THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE VI IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.12 . NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NOR ANY SECURED PARTY, NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO THEIR OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; PROVIDED THAT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

COLLECTION AND APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS

7.1 Collection and Application of Collateral Proceeds . If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds of Collateral received by the Pledgor consisting of cash, checks and other near cash items shall be held by the Pledgor in trust for the Secured Parties segregated from other funds of the Pledgor, and shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, forthwith upon receipt by the Pledgor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the Pledgor (duly endorsed by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent, if required). All Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and control. All Proceeds while held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account (or by the Pledgor in trust for the Secured Parties) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided below in this Section. At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the Administrative Agent’s election, the Administrative Agent may apply all or any part of Proceeds of the Pledgor held in any Collateral Account in payment of the Secured Obligations of and in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect in compliance with the Credit Agreement, and any part of such funds that the Administrative Agent elects not so to apply and deems not required as collateral security for such Secured Obligations shall be paid over from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same. Any balance of such Proceeds remaining after the Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full shall be paid over to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

ARTICLE VIII.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1 Waivers . The Pledgor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made. To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to the Pledgor, addressed as set forth in Article IX , at least ten days prior to (a) the date of any such public sale or (b) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Pledgor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except to the extent resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Pledgor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party, any valuation, stay, appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it

 

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may have as a surety now or hereafter existing that, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Pledge Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Pledgor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Pledge Agreement or any Collateral.

8.2 Limitation on Administrative Agent’s and any Secured Party’s Duty with Respect to the Collateral . The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Administrative Agent and each Secured Party shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Administrative Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, the Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Administrative Agent (a) to fail to incur material expenses to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (b) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (c) to exercise collection remedies against Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (d) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (e) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as the Pledgor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (f) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (g) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (h) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Administrative Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Administrative Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (i) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Administrative Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. The Pledgor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section  8.2 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Administrative Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section  8.2 ; provided that the provisions of this Section  8.2 shall not be deemed in any manner to waive or vary the rules and requirements of Article 9 of the UCC that may not be waived or varied pursuant to Section 9.602 of the UCC. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section  8.2 shall be construed to grant any rights to the Pledgor or to impose any duties on the Administrative Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Pledge Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section  8.2 .

 

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8.3 Secured Party Performance of Debtor Obligations . Without having any obligation to do so, after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may perform any obligation that the Pledgor has agreed to perform in this Pledge Agreement and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to seek reimbursement for any amounts paid by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section  10.04 of the Credit Agreement.

8.4 Dispositions Not Authorized . The Pledgor is not authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral and notwithstanding any course of dealing between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent or other conduct of the Administrative Agent, no authorization to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral shall be binding upon the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties unless such authorization is in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the consent or at the direction of the Majority Lenders.

8.5 No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies . No delay or omission of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Pledge Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Except in the case of releases of Collateral in accordance with Section  9.10 of the Credit Agreement, no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Pledge Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the concurrence or at the direction of the Lenders required under Section  10.01 of the Credit Agreement and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All rights and remedies contained in this Pledge Agreement or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties until the termination of the Commitments, the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized (on terms reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank) or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Bank) and payment in cash in full of all Secured Obligations (other than (a) contingent obligations, tax gross-up or yield protection obligations, in each case for which no claim has been made, and (b) obligations and liabilities under Hedge Transactions or Treasury Management Services Agreement as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Lender Counterparty, as applicable, shall have been made).

8.6 Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions . All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Pledge Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Pledge Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Pledge Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. To the extent permitted by law, any provision of this Pledge 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 or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

8.7 Reinstatement . This Pledge Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Pledgor for liquidation or reorganization, should the Pledgor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any

 

14


creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Pledgor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

8.8 Benefit of Agreement . The terms and provisions of this Pledge Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Pledge Agreement), except that the Pledgor shall not have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Pledge Agreement or any interest herein, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. No sales of participations, assignments, transfers, or other dispositions of any agreement governing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, hereunder.

8.9 Survival of Representations . All representations and warranties of the Pledgor contained in this Pledge Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Pledge Agreement.

8.10 [ Reserved ].

8.11 Titles and Captions . Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in this Pledge Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Pledge Agreement.

8.12 Termination; Releases .

(a) This Pledge Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until (i) the Credit Agreement has terminated pursuant to its express terms and (ii) the termination of the Commitments, the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized (on terms reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank) or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Bank) and payment in full in cash of all other Secured Obligations (other than (a) contingent obligations, tax gross-up or yield protection obligations, in each case for which no claim has been made, and (b) obligations and liabilities under Hedge Transactions or Treasury Management Services Agreement as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Lender Counterparty, as applicable, shall have been made).

 

15


(b) The Pledgor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interest granted hereby in the Collateral of the Pledgor shall be automatically released in the event that (i) all the Equity Interests in the Pledgor shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, or (ii) the Pledgor shall dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, as permitted by and in accordance with the terms of that certain Non-Recourse Public Parent Pledge Agreement, dated as of [__], 2019 by and between [Mike PubCo], a Delaware corporation, as pledgor and Bank of Montreal as administrative agent, and so long as, no Default or Change of Control would result therefrom. If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Pledgor pursuant to a sale, transfer or disposition of the Equity Interests in the Pledgor or the dissolution, liquidation or wind-up of the Pledgor, in accordance with this clause (b), the security interest created hereby in any Collateral that is so sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of shall automatically terminate and be released upon the closing of such sale, transfer or other disposition, and such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Lien and security interest created hereby; provided however , that such security interest will continue to attach to all proceeds of such sales or other dispositions. In connection with any of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to the Pledgor or the Pledgor’s designee, at the Pledgor’s expense, all UCC termination statements and similar documents that the Pledgor shall reasonably request from time to time to evidence such termination. Any execution and delivery of termination statements or documents pursuant to this Section  8.12(b) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

8.13 Entire Agreement . This Pledge Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral.

8.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial . The provisions of Section  10.14 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis .

8.15 Expenses and Indemnification . The provisions of Section  10.04 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis .

8.16 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .

(a) This Pledge Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Pledge Agreement constitutes the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Pledge Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Pledge Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Pledge Agreement.

 

16


(b) The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assumption Agreement 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.

8.17 Lien Absolute . All obligations of the Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

(a) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any of the Secured Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise, or any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, or any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of the Secured Obligations;

(b) any lack of validity or enforceability relating to or against Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, for any reason related to the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any Secured Obligations, or any Governmental Requirements purporting to prohibit the payment by Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations of the principal of or interest on the Secured Obligations;

(c) any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document;

(d) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any Secured Obligations, including any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon;

(e) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations, or any of their assets or any resulting release of discharge of any obligation of Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor or any other guarantor or any of the Secured Obligations;

(f) any present or future law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction (whether of right or in fact) or of any agency thereof purporting to reduce, amend, restructure or otherwise affect any term of any Loan Document or Secured Obligations;

(g) any other setoff, defense or counterclaim whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) with respect to the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other agreement or instrument or the transactions contemplated thereby that might constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or discharge of the Pledgor; or

 

17


(h) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Pledgor any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever that might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Pledgor’s obligations hereunder.

8.18 Release . The Pledgor consents and agrees that the Administrative Agent may at any time, or from time to time, in its discretion:

(a) renew, extend or change the time of payment, and/or the manner, place or terms of payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations; and

(b) exchange, release and/or surrender all or any of the Collateral (including the Pledged Collateral), or any part thereof, by whomsoever deposited, that is now or may hereafter be held by the Administrative Agent in connection with all or any of the Secured Obligations; all in such manner and upon such terms as the Administrative Agent may deem proper, and without notice to or further assent from the Pledgor, it being hereby agreed that the Pledgor shall be and remain bound upon this Pledge Agreement, irrespective of the value or condition of any of the Collateral, and notwithstanding any such change, exchange, settlement, compromise, surrender, release, renewal or extension, and notwithstanding also that the Secured Obligations may, at any time, exceed the aggregate principal amount thereof set forth in the Credit Agreement, or any other agreement governing any Secured Obligations.

8.19 Non-Recourse Basis . Any provision herein, or in any document securing the Secured Obligations, or any other document executed or delivered in connection herewith, or in any other agreement or commitment, whether written or oral, expressed or implied, to the contrary notwithstanding, it is understood and agreed that (a) the liability of the Pledgor shall be limited solely to the Collateral now or hereafter pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Pledge Agreement and (b) no money judgment, order or execution shall be sought, taken or entered in any suit, action or proceeding, whether legal or equitable, but that the sole and exclusive recourse against the Pledgor in respect of such Secured Obligations, the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby shall be to realize upon said Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Pledge Agreement and that all rights to such suit, action, proceeding or deficiency are hereby waived by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties.

ARTICLE IX.

NOTICES

9.1 Sending Notices . Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Pledge Agreement shall be sent by United States mail, electronic mail, telecopier, personal delivery or nationally established overnight courier service, and shall be deemed received (i) when received, if sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail notices or (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or telecopier (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), in each case addressed to such party as follows:

 

18


(a) in the case of the Administrative Agent, the address provided in Section  10.02 of the Credit Agreement;

(b) in the case of any other Secured Party, the address specified by such Secured Party in writing to the Administrative Agent; and

(c) in the case of the Pledgor, to it at:

c/o Amplify Energy Operation LLC

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700,

Houston, Texas 77002,

Attn: Martyn Willsher, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(email: Martyn.Willsher@amplifyenergy.com)

9.2 Change in Address for Notices . Each of the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties.

ARTICLE X.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Bank of Montreal has been appointed Administrative Agent for the Secured Parties hereunder pursuant to Article IX of the Credit Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Pledge Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Administrative Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Secured Parties to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and that the Administrative Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Administrative Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in such Article IX. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article IX of the Credit Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Administrative Agent hereunder.

[ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

This Pledge Agreement (a) renews, amends and restates, but does not terminate or novate, the Existing Pledge Agreement in its entirety, effective as of the date first written above, and all of the terms and provisions thereof; and (b) renews, extends and continues, but does not extinguish or release, all “Liens” granted pursuant to the Existing Pledge Agreement as Liens hereunder.]

[Signature Page Follows]

 

19


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent have executed this Pledge Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PLEDGOR :
[[ ALPHA LLC] , a Delaware limited liability company]/[                    ], a [                            ]
By:  

 

Name:   Martyn Willsher
Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT :
BANK OF MONTREAL , as administrative agent
By:  

                                  

Name:   [         ]
Title:   [         ]

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

(See Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 4.1 of Pledge Agreement)

NOTICE ADDRESS FOR PLEDGOR

PART I – PLEDGOR INFORMATION

[Alpha LLC]/[                    ]

c/o Amplify Energy Operating LLC

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Martyn Willsher, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(email: Martyn.Willsher@amplifyenergy.com)

INFORMATION AND COLLATERAL LOCATIONS

 

Name of Pledgor

  

Jurisdiction of
Organization and
Type of Entity

  

Organizational
Identification Number

  

Federal
Identification
Number

  

Chief Executive
Office or Principal
Place of Business

  

Former names

[Alpha LLC]/[            ]    Delaware limited liability company/ [            ] [            ]    [            ]    [                    ]   

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, Texas 77002

   [            ]

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

(See Definition of “Pledged Collateral”)

LIST OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL, SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY

STOCKS / LLC MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Name of

Pledgor

   Issuer   Certificate
Number(s)
  Type of Interest   Percentage
Owned
 

[Alpha LLC]/[            ]

   [Amplify

Acquisitionco
LLC]/[            ]

  [            ]   [Membership
Interests]
    [100 %] 

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

(See Section 3.1 of Pledge Agreement)

OFFICES IN WHICH FINANCING STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED

 

Name of Pledgor

  

Filing Office

[Alpha LLC]/[                    ]    Delaware/[                    ]

 

C-1


EXHIBIT D

(See Section 4.2 of Pledge Agreement)

AMENDMENT

This Amendment, dated                     ,          is delivered pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Pledge Agreement referred to below. All defined terms herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto or incorporated by reference in the Pledge Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies that the representations and warranties in Article III of the Pledge Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except that (i) to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, on and as of the date hereof, such representations and warranties continue to be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified earlier date and (ii) to the extent that any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality, such representation and warranty continues to be true and correct in all respects. The undersigned further agrees that this Amendment may be attached to that certain Pledge Agreement, dated [                    ], 2019, between the undersigned, as the Pledgor, and Bank of Montreal, as the Administrative Agent, (the “ Pledge Agreement ”) and that the Collateral listed on Schedule I to this Amendment shall be and become a part of the Collateral referred to in said Pledge Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations referred to in said Pledge Agreement.

 

[[ ALPHA LLC], a Delaware limited liability company]/[            ], a [                    ]
By:  
Name:  
Title:  

 

 

D-1


SCHEDULE I TO AMENDMENT

STOCKS/LLC MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Name of

Pledgor

  

Issuer

  

Certificate

Number(s)

  

Number of Shares

  

Class of Stock

  

Percentage of
Outstanding Shares

 

D-2

Exhibit 10.2

VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT

This VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 5, 2019 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the undersigned signatories set forth on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Parent Stockholder” (collectively, the “ Parent Stockholder ”). The Company and the Parent Stockholder are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Parent Stockholder is the beneficial or record owner, and has either sole voting power or shared voting power over, such number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (as defined below) (the “ Parent Common Stock ”) as is indicated on Schedule A attached hereto;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), the Company and Midstates Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “ Merger Agreement ”), that provides, among other things, for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation of the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (the “ Merger ”);

WHEREAS, as a condition and an inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Parent Stockholder has agreed to enter into this Agreement with respect to all Parent Common Stock that the Parent Stockholder Beneficially Owns (as defined below), or owns of record; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Parent Stockholder agrees, and the Parent Stockholder is willing to agree, subject to the limitations herein, not to Transfer (as defined below) any of its Subject Securities (as defined below), and to vote its Subject Securities in a manner so as to facilitate consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions . This Agreement is one of the “Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements” as defined the Merger Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section  1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.

 


Beneficially Own ” or “ Beneficial Ownership ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance). For the avoidance of doubt, Beneficially Own and Beneficial Ownership shall also include record ownership of securities.

Beneficial Owners ” shall mean Persons who Beneficially Own the referenced securities.

Expiration Time ” shall mean the earliest to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Article VIII thereof, (c) any material amendment of the Merger Agreement or any amendment to Section 8.1(f) thereof, or (d) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the Parties.

Subject Securities ” shall mean, collectively, shares of Parent Common Stock and New Parent Common Stock.

Transfer ” means (a) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, loan, pledge, grant of a security interest, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, loan, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock (or any security convertible or exchangeable into such capital stock), including in each case through the Transfer of any Person or any interest in any Person or (b) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, to enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that results in an amount of Subject Securities subject to Section  3 of this Agreement that is less than the amount of Subject Securities subject to Section  3 as of the date hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “capital stock” shall include interests in a partnership or limited liability company.

2. Agreement to Retain Subject Securities.

(a) Transfer and Encumbrance of Subject Securities. From the date hereof until the Expiration Time, the Parent Stockholder shall not, with respect to any Subject Securities Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder, (a) Transfer any such Subject Securities or (b)  deposit any such Subject Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to such Subject Securities or grant any proxy (except as otherwise provided herein) or power of attorney with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section  2(a) shall not prohibit a Transfer of any Subject Securities by the Parent Stockholder to an Affiliate of Parent Stockholder; provided , that a Transfer described in this sentence shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Additional Purchases; Adjustments. The Parent Stockholder agrees that any shares of Parent Common Stock and any other shares of capital stock or other equity that the Parent Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires or with respect to which the Parent Stockholder otherwise acquires voting power after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time (the “ New Parent Common Stock ”) shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Parent Common Stock, and the

 

2


Parent Stockholder shall promptly notify the Company of the existence of any New Parent Common Stock. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or the like of the capital stock of Parent affecting the Subject Securities, the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the resulting securities.

(c) Unpermitted Transfers; Involuntary Transfers. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Subject Securities in violation of this Section 2 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be null and void ab initio . If any involuntary Transfer of any of the Parent Stockholder’s Subject Securities shall occur, the transferee (which term, as used herein, shall include any and all transferees and subsequent transferees of the initial transferee) shall take and hold such Subject Securities subject to all of the restrictions, liabilities and rights under this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect until valid termination of this Agreement.

3. Agreement to Vote and Approve . From and after the date hereof until the Expiration Time, at every meeting of the stockholders of Parent called with respect to any of the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of Parent with respect to any of the following matters, the Parent Stockholder shall, and shall cause each holder of record of Subject Securities on any applicable record date to (including via proxy), vote the Subject Securities: (a) in favor of (i)  the approval of the Parent Stock Issuance (unless a Parent Change in Recommendation has occurred), and (ii)  any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting of stockholders of Parent to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Parent Stock Issuance and (b)  against (i) any action or agreement that would reasonably be expected to result in (x)  any condition to the consummation of the Merger set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (y)  any change to the voting rights of any class of shares of capital stock of Parent (including any amendments to Parent’s bylaws or certificate of incorporation), (ii) any Parent Alternative Proposal or any other transaction, proposal, agreement or action made in opposition to adoption of the Merger Agreement or in competition or inconsistent with the Merger and the other transactions or matters contemplated by the Merger Agreement, provided, however, that this clause (ii)  shall not apply to any Parent Alternative Proposal or any other transaction, proposal or action that is the subject of a Parent Change in Recommendation, (iii)  any action, agreement or transaction that is intended, that could reasonably be expected, or the effect of which could reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement provided, however , that this clause (iii)  shall not apply to any action, agreement or transaction that is the subject of a Parent Change in Recommendation and (iv)  any action that may reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Parent in the Merger Agreement or of the Parent Stockholder in this Agreement.

4. Irrevocable Proxy . Upon the request of the Company, the Parent Stockholder shall appoint and constitute the Company, until the Expiration Time (at which time such proxy shall automatically be revoked), with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as the Parent Stockholder’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and proxy (which proxy shall be irrevocable and which appointment is coupled with an interest, including for purposes of Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law), to the fullest extent of the Parent Stockholder’s rights with

 

3


respect to the Subject Securities Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder, to vote such Subject Securities solely with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3 hereof and the Parent Stockholder shall retain the authority to vote its Subject Securities on all other matters. The Parent Stockholder shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the intent of any such proxy. The Parties agree that the Company will use the irrevocable proxy that may be granted by the Parent Stockholder only in accordance with applicable Law and only if the Parent Stockholder fails to comply with Section 3. The Parent Stockholder hereby agrees not to grant any proxy that conflicts or is inconsistent with the proxy that may be granted to the Company in this Agreement.

5. Representations and Warranties of the Parent Stockholder . The Parent Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Due Authority. The Parent Stockholder has the full power and authority to make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Parent Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Parent Stockholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

(b) Ownership of the Parent Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder (i) Beneficially Owns the shares of Parent Common Stock indicated on Schedule A hereto, free and clear of any and all Liens, other than those created by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule B1 , and (ii)  except as set forth on Schedule B2 , has sole voting power over all of the shares of Parent Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder. As of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any capital stock or other securities of the Company other than the shares of Parent Common Stock set forth on Schedule A . As of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any rights to purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock of the Parent except as set forth on Schedule A , or as set forth on Schedule B3 .

(c) No Conflict; Consents.

(i) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parent Stockholder does not, and the performance by the Parent Stockholder of the obligations under this Agreement and the compliance by the Parent Stockholder with any provisions hereof do not and will not: (A) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Parent Stockholder, or (B)  result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on any of the shares of Parent Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Parent Stockholder is a party or by which the Parent Stockholder is bound.

(ii) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any other Person, is required by or with respect to the Parent Stockholder in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by the Parent Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(d) Absence of Litigation. There is no Proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Parent Stockholder, threatened against or affecting, the Parent Stockholder that could reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially adversely affect the ability of the Parent Stockholder to perform the Parent Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

(e) Ownership of Company Common Stock. Except as set forth on Schedule B4 , as of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any shares of Company Common Stock.

6. Termination . This Agreement shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect immediately as of and following the Expiration Time; provided, however , that the covenants and agreements contained in Section  7 and Section  8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and remain in full force and effect until all obligations with respect thereto shall have been fully performed or fully satisfied or shall have been terminated in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this Section  6  and Section  9 shall survive any termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this  Section 6  shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for a breach of this Agreement.

7. Notice of Certain Events. The Parent Stockholder shall notify the Company in writing promptly of (a) any fact, event or circumstance that would cause, or reasonably be expected to cause or constitute, a breach in any material respect of the representations and warranties of the Parent Stockholder under this Agreement and (b) the receipt by the Parent Stockholder of any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with this Agreement; provided , however , that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 7 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to any party.

8. No Ownership Interest . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Company any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Subject Securities. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Securities shall remain vested in and belong to the Parent Stockholder, and the Company shall not have the authority to direct the Parent Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any Subject Securities, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

9. No Solicitation . The Parent Stockholder agrees that it will not, and will cause its Affiliates not to, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, take any of the actions listed in clauses (i)-(vii) in Section 6.5(b) of the Merger Agreement.

10. Waiver of Certain Actions . The Parent Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or successors (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the Closing) or (b) except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, alleging a breach of any duty of the Company Board or Parent Board in connection with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby.

 

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11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

(b) Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 11(b) shall not be deemed to prevent the Company from engaging in any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction.

(c) Amendments and Modifications. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by (i) the Company, and (ii)  the Parent Stockholder. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by applicable Law.

(d) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally (notice deemed given upon receipt), transmitted by email or facsimile (notice deemed given upon confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express (notice deemed given upon receipt of proof of delivery), to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(i) if to the Parent Stockholder, to:

FT SOF IV Holdings, LLC., FT SOF V Holdings, LLC,

Fir Tree E&P Holdings III, LLC

c/o Fir Tree Capital Management LP

55 West 46 th Street, 29 th Floor

New York, New York 10036

Attention: General Counsel

Email: Legalnotices@firtree.com

 

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With a copy (which shall not be considered notice) to:

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

1177 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Thomas T. Janover

Email: tjanover@kramerlevin.com

(ii) if to the Company, to:

Amplify Energy Corp.

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Eric Willis

Email: eric.willis@amplifyenergy.com

With a copy (which shall not be considered notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street, 45th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Doug Bacon, P.C. and Kim Hicks

Email: doug.bacon@kirkland.com

kim.hicks@kirkland.com

Or to such other address as any Party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective upon receipt.

(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

(f) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties agrees that it shall bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if such court declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any Federal court located within the State of Delaware) (the “ Chosen Courts ”) and, solely in connection with such claims, (i)  irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (ii)  waives any objection to the laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in the Chosen Courts, (iii)  waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party and (iv)  agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 11(d) or in such other manner as may be permitted by Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. The consent to jurisdiction set forth in this Section 11(f) shall not constitute a general consent to

 

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service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this Section 11(f) . The Parties agree that a final judgment in any such suit, 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.

(g) Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by the Parties. Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6 , it is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in accordance with this Section 11(g) , this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under the terms of this Agreement at law or in equity.

(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

(i) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A)  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; (B) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11(i) .

(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, including via email in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form transmission, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

(l) No Agreement Until Executed . This Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to evidence a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties unless and until (i) the Merger Agreement is executed and delivered by all parties thereto, and (ii)  this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Parties.

 

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(m) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(n) Action in Parent Stockholder Capacity Only. No Person executing this Agreement (or designee or Representative of such Person) who has been, is or becomes during the term of this Agreement a director or officer of Parent shall be deemed to make any agreement or understanding in this Agreement in such Person’s capacity as a director or officer of Parent. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is entered into by the Parent Stockholder solely in its capacity as the Beneficial Owner of shares of Parent Common Stock and nothing in this Agreement shall (i)  restrict in any respect any actions taken by the Parent Stockholder or its designees or Representatives who are a director or officer of Parent solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Parent or (ii)  be construed to prohibit, limit or restrict the Parent Stockholder from exercising its fiduciary duties as a director or officer of Parent. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 11(n) shall in any way modify, alter or amend any of the terms of the Merger Agreement.

(o) Documentation and Information. The Parent Stockholder shall not make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law including, but not limited to, any necessary filings with respect to the Merger or this Agreement under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to the Company). The Parent Stockholder consents to and hereby authorizes Parent and the Company to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other disclosure document that the Company reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Merger and any transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Parent Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Subject Securities, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of the Parent Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and the Parent Stockholder acknowledges that the Company may, in the Company’s sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Entity, provided , that nothing herein relieves the Company from its obligations under the Merger Agreement, including those obligations set forth in Section 6.7 and Section 6.16 of the Merger Agreement. The Parent Stockholder agrees to promptly give the Company any information it may reasonably require for the preparation of any such disclosure documents, and the Parent Stockholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any required corrections with respect to any written information supplied by the Parent Stockholder specifically for use in any such disclosure document, if and to the extent that any such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect.

(p) Obligation to Update Schedule A. The Parent Stockholder agrees that in connection with any acquisitions or Transfers (to the extent permitted) of Subject Securities by any Parent Stockholder, the Parent Stockholder will, as promptly as practicable following the completion of thereof, notify the Company in writing of such acquisition or Transfer and the Parties will update Schedule A to reflect the effect of such acquisition or Transfer.

 

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(q) Treatment of Parent Registration Rights Agreement . Prior to the Effective Time, to the extent the Parent Stockholder has rights under that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated October 21, 2016, by and between Parent and certain holders of Parent Common Stock party thereto (“ Parent Registration Rights Agreement ”), the Company and the Parent Stockholder shall use reasonable best efforts (which efforts shall include negotiating in good faith with each other and with Parent) to enter into a consolidated registration rights agreement among Parent and the holders of Company Common Stock that are party to the dated May  4, 2017, by and between the Company and certain holders of Company Common Stock party thereto (the “ Company Registration Rights Agreement ”), and the holders of Parent Common Stock that are party to the Parent Registration Rights Agreement.

[ Signature pages follow ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.
By:  

/s/ Kenneth Mariani

Name: Kenneth Mariani
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

[ Signature Page to Voting Agreement ]


PARENT STOCKHOLDER
FT SOF IV HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Brian Meyer

Name:   Brian Meyer
Title:   Authorized Person
FT SOF V HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Brian Meyer

Name:   Brian Meyer
Title:   Authorized Person
FIR TREE E&P HOLDINGS III, LLC
By:  

/s/ Brian Meyer

Name:   Brian Meyer
Title:   Authorized Person

[ Signature Page to Voting Agreement ]

Exhibit 10.3

VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT

This VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 5, 2019 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among Amplify Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the undersigned signatory set forth on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Parent Stockholder” (the “ Parent Stockholder ”). The Company and the Parent Stockholder are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “Parties.”

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Parent Stockholder is the beneficial or record owner, and has either sole voting power or shared voting power over, such number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (as defined below) (the “ Parent Common Stock ”) as is indicated on Schedule A attached hereto;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), the Company and Midstates Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “ Merger Agreement ”), that provides, among other things, for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation of the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (the “ Merger ”);

WHEREAS, as a condition and an inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Parent Stockholder has agreed to enter into this Agreement with respect to all Parent Common Stock that the Parent Stockholder Beneficially Owns (as defined below), or owns of record; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Parent Stockholder agrees, and the Parent Stockholder is willing to agree, subject to the limitations herein, not to Transfer (as defined below) any of its Subject Securities (as defined below), and to vote its Subject Securities in a manner so as to facilitate consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions . This Agreement is one of the “Designated Stockholder Voting Agreements” as defined the Merger Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section  1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.


Beneficially Own ” or “ Beneficial Ownership ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance). For the avoidance of doubt, Beneficially Own and Beneficial Ownership shall also include record ownership of securities.

Beneficial Owners ” shall mean Persons who Beneficially Own the referenced securities.

Expiration Time ” shall mean the earliest to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Article VIII thereof, (c) any material amendment of the Merger Agreement or any amendment to Section 8.1(f) thereof, or (d) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the Parties.

Subject Securities ” shall mean, collectively, shares of Parent Common Stock and New Parent Common Stock.

Transfer ” means (a) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, loan, pledge, grant of a security interest, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, loan, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock (or any security convertible or exchangeable into such capital stock), including in each case through the Transfer of any Person or any interest in any Person or (b) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, to enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that results in an amount of Subject Securities subject to Section 3 of this Agreement that is less than the amount of Subject Securities subject to Section 3 as of the date hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “capital stock” shall include interests in a partnership or limited liability company.

2. Agreement to Retain Subject Securities.

(a) Transfer and Encumbrance of Subject Securities. From the date hereof until the Expiration Time, the Parent Stockholder shall not, with respect to any Subject Securities Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder, (a) Transfer any such Subject Securities or (b)  deposit any such Subject Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to such Subject Securities or grant any proxy (except as otherwise provided herein) or power of attorney with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section  2(a) shall not prohibit a Transfer of any Subject Securities by the Parent Stockholder to an Affiliate of Parent Stockholder; provided, that a Transfer described in this sentence shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Additional Purchases; Adjustments. The Parent Stockholder agrees that any shares of Parent Common Stock and any other shares of capital stock or other equity that the Parent Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires or with respect to which the Parent Stockholder otherwise acquires voting power after the execution of this Agreement and prior to

 

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the Expiration Time (the “ New Parent Common Stock ”) shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Parent Common Stock, and the Parent Stockholder shall promptly notify the Company of the existence of any New Parent Common Stock. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or the like of the capital stock of Parent affecting the Subject Securities, the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the resulting securities.

(c) Unpermitted Transfers; Involuntary Transfers. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Subject Securities in violation of this Section 2 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be null and void ab initio . If any involuntary Transfer of any of the Parent Stockholder’s Subject Securities shall occur, the transferee (which term, as used herein, shall include any and all transferees and subsequent transferees of the initial transferee) shall take and hold such Subject Securities subject to all of the restrictions, liabilities and rights under this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect until valid termination of this Agreement.

3. Agreement to Vote and Approve . From and after the date hereof until the Expiration Time, at every meeting of the stockholders of Parent called with respect to any of the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of Parent with respect to any of the following matters, the Parent Stockholder shall, and shall cause each holder of record of Subject Securities on any applicable record date to (including via proxy), vote the Subject Securities: (a) in favor of (i)  the approval of the Parent Stock Issuance (unless a Parent Change in Recommendation has occurred), and (ii)  any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting of stockholders of Parent to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Parent Stock Issuance and (b)  against (i) any action or agreement that would reasonably be expected to result in (x)  any condition to the consummation of the Merger set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (y)  any change to the voting rights of any class of shares of capital stock of Parent (including any amendments to Parent’s bylaws or certificate of incorporation), (ii) any Parent Alternative Proposal or any other transaction, proposal, agreement or action made in opposition to adoption of the Merger Agreement or in competition or inconsistent with the Merger and the other transactions or matters contemplated by the Merger Agreement, provided, however, that this clause (ii)  shall not apply to any Parent Alternative Proposal or any other transaction, proposal or action that is the subject of a Parent Change in Recommendation, (iii)  any action, agreement or transaction that is intended, that could reasonably be expected, or the effect of which could reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement provided, however, that this clause (iii)  shall not apply to any action, agreement or transaction that is the subject of a Parent Change in Recommendation and (iv)  any action that may reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Parent in the Merger Agreement or of the Parent Stockholder in this Agreement.

4. Irrevocable Proxy . Upon the request of the Company, the Parent Stockholder shall appoint and constitute the Company, until the Expiration Time (at which time such proxy shall automatically be revoked), with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as the Parent Stockholder’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and proxy (which proxy shall be irrevocable and

 

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which appointment is coupled with an interest, including for purposes of Section  212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law), to the fullest extent of the Parent Stockholder’s rights with respect to the Subject Securities Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder, to vote such Subject Securities solely with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3 hereof and the Parent Stockholder shall retain the authority to vote its Subject Securities on all other matters. The Parent Stockholder shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the intent of any such proxy. The Parties agree that the Company will use the irrevocable proxy that may be granted by the Parent Stockholder only in accordance with applicable Law and only if the Parent Stockholder fails to comply with Section  3. The Parent Stockholder hereby agrees not to grant any proxy that conflicts or is inconsistent with the proxy that may be granted to the Company in this Agreement.

5. Representations and Warranties of the Parent Stockholder . The Parent Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Due Authority. The Parent Stockholder has the full power and authority to make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Parent Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Parent Stockholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

(b) Ownership of the Parent Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder (i) Beneficially Owns the shares of Parent Common Stock indicated on Schedule A hereto, free and clear of any and all Liens, other than those created by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule B1 , and (ii)  except as set forth on Schedule B2 , has sole voting power over all of the shares of Parent Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder. As of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any capital stock or other securities of the Company other than the shares of Parent Common Stock set forth on Schedule A . As of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any rights to purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock of the Parent except as set forth on Schedule A, or as set forth on Schedule B3 .

(c) No Conflict; Consents.

(i) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parent Stockholder does not, and the performance by the Parent Stockholder of the obligations under this Agreement and the compliance by the Parent Stockholder with any provisions hereof do not and will not: (A) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Parent Stockholder, or (B)  result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on any of the shares of Parent Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Parent Stockholder pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Parent Stockholder is a party or by which the Parent Stockholder is bound.

(ii) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any other Person, is required by or with respect to the Parent Stockholder in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by the Parent Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(d) Absence of Litigation. There is no Proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Parent Stockholder, threatened against or affecting, the Parent Stockholder that could reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially adversely affect the ability of the Parent Stockholder to perform the Parent Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

(e) Ownership of Company Common Stock. Except as set forth on Schedule B4, as of the date hereof, the Parent Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any shares of Company Common Stock.

6. Termination . This Agreement shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect immediately as of and following the Expiration Time; provided, however, that the covenants and agreements contained in Section 7 and Section  8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and remain in full force and effect until all obligations with respect thereto shall have been fully performed or fully satisfied or shall have been terminated in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,  this Section  6  and Section  9 shall survive any termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this  Section 6  shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for a breach of this Agreement.

7. Notice of Certain Events . The Parent Stockholder shall notify the Company in writing promptly of (a)  any fact, event or circumstance that would cause, or reasonably be expected to cause or constitute, a breach in any material respect of the representations and warranties of the Parent Stockholder under this Agreement and (b)  the receipt by the Parent Stockholder of any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with this Agreement; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 7 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to any party.

8. No Ownership Interest . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Company any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Subject Securities. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Securities shall remain vested in and belong to the Parent Stockholder, and the Company shall not have the authority to direct the Parent Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any Subject Securities, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

9. No Solicitation . The Parent Stockholder agrees that it will not, and will cause its Affiliates not to, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, take any of the actions listed in clauses (i)-(vii) in Section 6.5(b) of the Merger Agreement.

 

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10. Waiver of Certain Actions . The Parent Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or successors (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the Closing) or (b)  except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, alleging a breach of any duty of the Company Board or Parent Board in connection with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

(b) Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 11(b) shall not be deemed to prevent the Company from engaging in any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction.

(c) Amendments and Modifications. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by (i) the Company, and (ii)  the Parent Stockholder. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by applicable Law.

(d) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally (notice deemed given upon receipt), transmitted by email or facsimile (notice deemed given upon confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express (notice deemed given upon receipt of proof of delivery), to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

6


  (i)

if to the Parent Stockholder, to:

Avenue Energy Opportunities Fund, L.P.

399 Park Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Todd Greenbarg

Email: tgreenbarg@avenuecapital.com

With a copy (which shall not be considered notice) to:

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

1177 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Thomas T. Janover

Email: tjanover@kramerlevin.com

 

  (ii)

if to the Company, to:

Amplify Energy Corp.

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Eric Willis

Email: eric.willis@amplifyenergy.com

With a copy (which shall not be considered notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

609 Main Street, 45th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Doug Bacon, P.C. and Kim Hicks

Email: doug.bacon@kirkland.com

kim.hicks@kirkland.com

Or to such other address as any Party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective upon receipt.

(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

(f) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties agrees that it shall bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if such court declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any Federal court located within the State of Delaware) (the “ Chosen Courts ”) and, solely in connection with such claims, (i) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (ii)  waives any objection to the laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in the Chosen

 

7


Courts, (iii) waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party and (iv)  agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 11(d) or in such other manner as may be permitted by Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. The consent to jurisdiction set forth in this Section 11(f) shall not constitute a general consent to service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this Section 11(f) . The Parties agree that a final judgment in any such suit, 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.

(g) Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by the Parties. Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6 , it is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in accordance with this Section 11(g) , this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under the terms of this Agreement at law or in equity.

(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

(i) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) 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; (B)  SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (C)  SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D)  SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11(i).

(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, including via email in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form transmission, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

8


(l) No Agreement Until Executed. This Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to evidence a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties unless and until (i) the Merger Agreement is executed and delivered by all parties thereto, and (ii) this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Parties.

(m) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(n) Action in Parent Stockholder Capacity Only. No Person executing this Agreement (or designee or Representative of such Person) who has been, is or becomes during the term of this Agreement a director or officer of Parent shall be deemed to make any agreement or understanding in this Agreement in such Person’s capacity as a director or officer of Parent. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is entered into by the Parent Stockholder solely in its capacity as the Beneficial Owner of shares of Parent Common Stock and nothing in this Agreement shall (i)  restrict in any respect any actions taken by the Parent Stockholder or its designees or Representatives who are a director or officer of Parent solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Parent or (ii)  be construed to prohibit, limit or restrict the Parent Stockholder from exercising its fiduciary duties as a director or officer of Parent. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 11(n) shall in any way modify, alter or amend any of the terms of the Merger Agreement.

(o) Documentation and Information. The Parent Stockholder shall not make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law including, but not limited to, any necessary filings with respect to the Merger or this Agreement under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to the Company). The Parent Stockholder consents to and hereby authorizes Parent and the Company to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other disclosure document that the Company reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Merger and any transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Parent Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Subject Securities, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of the Parent Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and the Parent Stockholder acknowledges that the Company may, in the Company’s sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Entity, provided, that nothing herein relieves the Company from its obligations under the Merger Agreement, including those obligations set forth in Section 6.7 and Section  6.16 of the Merger Agreement. The Parent Stockholder agrees to promptly give the Company any information it may reasonably require for the preparation of any such disclosure documents, and the Parent Stockholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any required corrections with respect to any written information supplied by the Parent Stockholder specifically for use in any such disclosure document, if and to the extent that any such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect.

 

9


(p) Obligation to Update Schedule A. The Parent Stockholder agrees that in connection with any acquisitions or Transfers (to the extent permitted) of Subject Securities by any Parent Stockholder, the Parent Stockholder will, as promptly as practicable following the completion of thereof, notify the Company in writing of such acquisition or Transfer and the Parties will update Schedule A to reflect the effect of such acquisition or Transfer.

(q) Treatment of Parent Registration Rights Agreement. Prior to the Effective Time, to the extent the Parent Stockholder has rights under that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated October 21, 2016, by and between Parent and certain holders of Parent Common Stock party thereto (“Parent Registration Rights Agreement”), the Company and the Parent Stockholder shall use reasonable best efforts (which efforts shall include negotiating in good faith with each other and with Parent) to enter into a consolidated registration rights agreement among Parent and the holders of Company Common Stock that are party to the dated May  4, 2017, by and between the Company and certain holders of Company Common Stock party thereto (the “Company Registration Rights Agreement”), and the holders of Parent Common Stock that are party to the Parent Registration Rights Agreement.

[Signature pages follow]

 

10


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
AMPLIFY ENERGY CORP.
By:  

/s/ Kenneth Mariani

Name: Kenneth Mariani
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

[ Signature Page to Voting Agreement ]


PARENT STOCKHOLDER
AVENUE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.

BY: AVENUE ENERGY

OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERS, LLC, ITS GENERAL PARTNER

BY: GL ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES

PARTNERS, LLC, ITS MANAGING MEMBER,

By:  

/s/ Sonia Gardner

Name: Sonia Gardner
Title: Authorized Person

[ Signature Page to Voting Agreement ]

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO    LOGO

Amplify Energy and Midstates Petroleum Announce Merger-of-Equals

HOUSTON, May 6, 2019—Amplify Energy Corp. (OTCQX: AMPY) (“Amplify”) and Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. (NYSE: MPO) (“Midstates”) announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Amplify will merge with a subsidiary of Midstates in an all-stock merger-of-equals. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Amplify stockholders will receive 0.933 shares of newly issued Midstates common stock for each Amplify share of common stock. The merger is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019, at which time Amplify and Midstates stockholders will each own 50% of the outstanding shares of the combined company.

The combined company will be headquartered in Houston and trade on the NYSE under the ticker AMPY. Amplify’s President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Mariani will lead the combined company. The new Board of Directors will include members who currently serve on the Amplify and Midstates Boards. A detailed presentation describing the rationale and merits of the merger can be found at www.amplifyenergy.com or www.midstatespetroleum.com .

Transaction Highlights

 

   

Achieves benefits of scale by combining two PDP-weighted independent producers

 

   

Pro forma total enterprise value >$720 million and market capitalization >$430 million 1

 

   

Pro forma 4Q18 production of ~40 MBoe/d

 

   

Pro forma 4Q18 Annualized Adjusted EBITDA of ~$241 million

 

   

Strong balance sheet and liquidity that will allow for acceleration of capital return programs

 

   

Low-decline assets expected to generate 2019E levered free cash flow of at least $65 million, which results in a top-tier pro forma free cash flow yield >15% 2

 

   

Maintains low-leverage with pro-forma leverage ratio of 1.2x 3

 

   

Expected annual G&A synergies of at least $20 million creates top-tier pro-forma G&A efficiency

 

   

Combined company current enterprise value of $729 million before synergies is a significant discount to substantial proved developed reserve value of $960 million 4

 

   

Greater than 50% of Amplify and approximately 36% of Midstates’ stockholders have committed to vote their shares in favor of the merger, pursuant to support agreements entered into in connection with the merger agreement

 

 

1  

As of May 3, 2019

2

2019E levered free cash flow yield = (2019E adjusted EBITDA – 2019E capital expenditures – 2019E interest expense) / market capitalization as of 5/3/19

3

Combined net debt as of March 31, 2019 divided by annualized fourth quarter 2018 EBITDA

4

Reflects the pro forma combined proved developed PV-10 value based on April 30, 2019 strip pricing


Mr. Mariani stated, “Amplify and Midstates are both well positioned to generate significant free cash flow from proved developed producing assets, and we believe that stockholders of both companies will benefit from the reduced costs and enhanced scale achieved by this transaction. The combined company’s strong balance sheet, liquidity and free cash flow create additional capacity to return capital to stockholders and supports improved market performance. In addition, we believe that there are significant benefits in continuing to increase scale in this market, and moving forward we intend to consider other opportunistic combinations and acquisitions that create value through cost synergies and free cash flow accretion.”

David Sambrooks, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midstates, stated “This merger-of-equals with Amplify is exactly the type of value maximizing transaction we hunted for when we announced our strategic review process earlier this year. The stock-for-stock combination provides for substantial value enhancing synergies and the potential to accelerate additional capital returns moving forward, creating significant value for shareholders of both Midstates and Amplify. Ken and the Amplify management team have a demonstrated focus on capital discipline and capital returns to stockholders while operating safely and efficiently and are well suited to run the combined Company.”

Transaction Details

The merger agreement was unanimously approved by the participating directors of both boards. The Midstates Board of Directors has recommended that the Midstates stockholders vote their shares in favor of the issuance of Midstates common stock to Amplify stockholders in connection with the merger and the Amplify Board of Directors has recommended that the Amplify stockholders vote their shares in favor of the merger.

The transaction is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, including holders of a majority of Midstates stock present at the special meeting having voted in favor of the stock issuance, holders of a majority of Amplify stock having voted in favor of the merger, the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Act having expired or been terminated early, the Midstates stock being issued to Amplify stockholders in connection with the merger being listed on the NYSE and other customary conditions. Amplify sought, and has received, a technical consent from the lenders in its existing credit facility permitting the consummation of the merger.

Advisors

Amplify’s financial advisor is UBS Investment Bank and its legal advisor is Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Midstates’ financial advisor is Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. and its legal advisor is Latham & Watkins LLP.

Conference Call/Webcast

Amplify and Midstates will conduct a conference call to discuss the proposed transaction on May 6, 2019 at 7:30 a.m. CT. Interested parties are invited to participate in the conference call by dialing (833) 883-4379 (Conference ID: 6827856) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available by phone at 855-859-2056 (Conference ID: 6827856) for a fourteen day period following the call.

 

 

2


About Amplify

Amplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and production of oil and natural gas properties. Amplify’s operations are focused in the Rockies, offshore California, East Texas / North Louisiana and South Texas. For more information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com.

About Midstates

Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. is an independent exploration and production company focused on the application of modern drilling and completion techniques in oil- and liquids-rich basins in the onshore U.S. Midstates’ operations are currently focused on oilfields in the Mississippian Lime play in Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.midstatespetroleum.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Amplify and Midstates expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “potential,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Amplify believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, but such assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such statements are also subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Amplify, Midstates or the combined company, which may cause Amplify’s, Midstates’ or the combined company’s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Please read Amplify’s and Midstates’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in both companies’ Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and if applicable, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other public filings and press releases for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Amplify and Midstates undertake no obligation and do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

 

3


Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer will not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction.

In connection with the proposed transaction between Amplify and Midstates, it is expected that Midstates will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will constitute a Proxy Statement and Prospectus of Midstates and that will also constitute an Information Statement of Amplify (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement”). Amplify and Midstates plan to mail to their respective stockholders the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement in connection with the transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPLIFY AND MIDSTATES ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS/INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AMPLIFY, MIDSTATES, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Amplify and Midstates through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free of charge copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Amplify on Amplify’s website at www.amplifyenergy.com or by contacting Amplify’s Corporate Secretary. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free of charge copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Midstates on Midstates’ website at www.midstatespetroleum.com or by contacting Midstates’ Investor Relations.

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

Amplify, Midstates and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Amplify and Midstates in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement described above when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding Amplify’s directors and executive officers is also included in Amplify’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2019. Additional information regarding Midstates’ directors and executive officers is also included in Midstates’ Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

 

4


Contacts

Amplify Energy Corp.

Martyn Willsher – Chief Financial Officer

(713) 588-8346

martyn.willsher@amplifyenergy.com

Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.

Jason McGlynn – Vice President - Strategic Planning, Investor Relations & Treasury

(918) 947-4614

jason.mcglynn@midstatespetroleum.com

 

5

Exhibit 99.2 Amplify Energy and Midstates Petroleum Announce a Merger-of-Equals May 6, 2019Exhibit 99.2 Amplify Energy and Midstates Petroleum Announce a Merger-of-Equals May 6, 2019


Transaction Highlights Strategic All Stock Merger-of-Equals Unlocks Substantial Value Through Cost Synergies Establishes a Peer-Leading Free Cash Flow Profile Additional Capacity to Accelerate Capital Return Programs Potential for Opportunistic Consolidation of PDP-Weighted Assets Enhanced Scale Drives Lower Cost of Capital and Operating Expenses 1Transaction Highlights Strategic All Stock Merger-of-Equals Unlocks Substantial Value Through Cost Synergies Establishes a Peer-Leading Free Cash Flow Profile Additional Capacity to Accelerate Capital Return Programs Potential for Opportunistic Consolidation of PDP-Weighted Assets Enhanced Scale Drives Lower Cost of Capital and Operating Expenses 1


Transaction Details 100% stock combination of Amplify Energy Corp. ( Amplify or AMPY ) and Midstates Petroleum Company Inc. ( Midstates or MPO ) Amplify stockholders will receive 0.933 shares of common stock of newly-issued Midstates 1 shares for each share they currently own Combined company will trade on NYSE under the ticker AMPY and be named Amplify Energy Overview Additional capacity to accelerate capital return programs Low-decline assets expected to generate top-tier pro forma free cash flow, with 2019E FCF yield >15% Attractive pro forma leverage expected to be 1.2x (Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA) All stock merger-of-equals (pro forma ownership: Amplify 50% and Midstates 50%) Amplify’s senior management team will run the combined company Pro Forma Ownership Combined board will include the following Amplify and Midstates current board members: and Corporate ‒ David Proman (Chairman), David Dunn, Christopher Hamm, Scott Hoffman, Randal Klein, Evan Governance Lederman, Ken Mariani and Todd Snyder Headquarters in Houston, Texas Unanimously approved by participating board members of Amplify and Midstates ‒ Approval in place from >50% of Amplify and 36% of Midstates' stockholders Key Conditions and Timing Subject to customary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions Expected closing in 3Q19 2 1 Based on fully-diluted shares of common stock outstanding for AMPY and MPO of 22.9 MM and 21.3 MM, respectively; pro forma company to have ~42.7 MM total shares of common stock outstandingTransaction Details 100% stock combination of Amplify Energy Corp. ( Amplify or AMPY ) and Midstates Petroleum Company Inc. ( Midstates or MPO ) Amplify stockholders will receive 0.933 shares of common stock of newly-issued Midstates 1 shares for each share they currently own Combined company will trade on NYSE under the ticker AMPY and be named Amplify Energy Overview Additional capacity to accelerate capital return programs Low-decline assets expected to generate top-tier pro forma free cash flow, with 2019E FCF yield >15% Attractive pro forma leverage expected to be 1.2x (Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA) All stock merger-of-equals (pro forma ownership: Amplify 50% and Midstates 50%) Amplify’s senior management team will run the combined company Pro Forma Ownership Combined board will include the following Amplify and Midstates current board members: and Corporate ‒ David Proman (Chairman), David Dunn, Christopher Hamm, Scott Hoffman, Randal Klein, Evan Governance Lederman, Ken Mariani and Todd Snyder Headquarters in Houston, Texas Unanimously approved by participating board members of Amplify and Midstates ‒ Approval in place from >50% of Amplify and 36% of Midstates' stockholders Key Conditions and Timing Subject to customary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions Expected closing in 3Q19 2 1 Based on fully-diluted shares of common stock outstanding for AMPY and MPO of 22.9 MM and 21.3 MM, respectively; pro forma company to have ~42.7 MM total shares of common stock outstanding


Asset Overview Robust platform of long-life, shallow decline assets – ~50/50 liquids and gas production mix 4 – Gas production receives attractive pricing in the Gulf Coast Combined company enterprise value of $729 MM is a significant discount to substantial proved developed (PD) 1 1 reserve value of $960 MM 3 Liquidity and balance sheet provide flexibility to sustain volatile price cycles 2 Sizeable inventory of development opportunities 5 Pro Forma ($ in MM) SEC Strip Strip Net $397 $332 $729 Enterprise Value (as of 5/3/19) Asset PD PV-10 PD PV-10 1P PV-10 Production 2 1 1 3 ($ MM) ($ MM) ($ MM) (Mboe/d) Market Capitalization (as of 5/3/19) 159 273 432 Miss Lime $433 $350 $444 16.4 1 Cash (as of 3/31/19) $31 $1 $32 270 59 329 Total Debt (as of 3/31/19) ETX / NLA $294 $230 $236 15.5 2 Net Debt (as of 3/31/19) 239 58 297 California $257 $187 $270 3.1 3 Offshore Memo: Net Debt / 4Q18A 1.8x 0.5x 1.2x Adjusted EBITDA Rockies CO $253 $151 $194 4.1 4 2 23.8 16.4 40.1 4Q18 Production (Mboe/d) Eagle Ford $50 $42 $70 1.1 5 4Q18A Adjusted EBITDA $130 $111 $241 Pro Forma $1,288 $960 $1,214 ~40.1 Source: FactSet as of 5/3/19, company filings 1 Based on year-end reserve report at strip pricing as of 4/30/19. Price Deck (WTI, HH): 2019: $63.68, $2.68; 2020: $60.73, $2.70; 2021: $57.29, $2.66; 2022: $55.20, $2.67; 2023+: $54.22, $2.74 2 Based on year-end reserve report at pricing used in annual reserve report filed with the SEC as of 12/31/18. Price Deck (WTI, HH): 2019+: 3 $65.56, $3.10 3 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18Asset Overview Robust platform of long-life, shallow decline assets – ~50/50 liquids and gas production mix 4 – Gas production receives attractive pricing in the Gulf Coast Combined company enterprise value of $729 MM is a significant discount to substantial proved developed (PD) 1 1 reserve value of $960 MM 3 Liquidity and balance sheet provide flexibility to sustain volatile price cycles 2 Sizeable inventory of development opportunities 5 Pro Forma ($ in MM) SEC Strip Strip Net $397 $332 $729 Enterprise Value (as of 5/3/19) Asset PD PV-10 PD PV-10 1P PV-10 Production 2 1 1 3 ($ MM) ($ MM) ($ MM) (Mboe/d) Market Capitalization (as of 5/3/19) 159 273 432 Miss Lime $433 $350 $444 16.4 1 Cash (as of 3/31/19) $31 $1 $32 270 59 329 Total Debt (as of 3/31/19) ETX / NLA $294 $230 $236 15.5 2 Net Debt (as of 3/31/19) 239 58 297 California $257 $187 $270 3.1 3 Offshore Memo: Net Debt / 4Q18A 1.8x 0.5x 1.2x Adjusted EBITDA Rockies CO $253 $151 $194 4.1 4 2 23.8 16.4 40.1 4Q18 Production (Mboe/d) Eagle Ford $50 $42 $70 1.1 5 4Q18A Adjusted EBITDA $130 $111 $241 Pro Forma $1,288 $960 $1,214 ~40.1 Source: FactSet as of 5/3/19, company filings 1 Based on year-end reserve report at strip pricing as of 4/30/19. Price Deck (WTI, HH): 2019: $63.68, $2.68; 2020: $60.73, $2.70; 2021: $57.29, $2.66; 2022: $55.20, $2.67; 2023+: $54.22, $2.74 2 Based on year-end reserve report at pricing used in annual reserve report filed with the SEC as of 12/31/18. Price Deck (WTI, HH): 2019+: 3 $65.56, $3.10 3 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18


Transaction Rationale G&A rationalization; preliminary estimates of at least $20 MM annual G&A reduction Realize G&A Synergies Opportunity to move down the cost curve by spreading fixed costs over more production 3 Achieves benefits of scale by combining two PDP-weighted independent producers 1 ‒ Pro forma total enterprise value >$720 MM and market capitalization >$430 MM Benefits of Scale ‒ PF 4Q18 production of ~40 Mboe/day 3 ‒ PF 4Q18A Adjusted EBITDA of ~$241 MM Stock-for-stock transaction Strong Balance Strong balance sheet and liquidity that will allow for acceleration of capital return programs Sheet 3 Estimated 1.2x pro forma leverage (Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA) Combined company to trade on NYSE under the ticker AMPY Capital Markets Improved trading liquidity and Wall Street equity research coverage over time Benefits 3 Lowers cost of capital through enhanced scale, asset diversification and trading liquidity Enhances ability to return capital to stockholders Capital Discipline Multiple uncorrelated asset areas with ample new drilling inventory to be exploited 3 4 1 Based on 5/3/19 prices of $6.95 for AMPY and $12.81 for MPOTransaction Rationale G&A rationalization; preliminary estimates of at least $20 MM annual G&A reduction Realize G&A Synergies Opportunity to move down the cost curve by spreading fixed costs over more production 3 Achieves benefits of scale by combining two PDP-weighted independent producers 1 ‒ Pro forma total enterprise value >$720 MM and market capitalization >$430 MM Benefits of Scale ‒ PF 4Q18 production of ~40 Mboe/day 3 ‒ PF 4Q18A Adjusted EBITDA of ~$241 MM Stock-for-stock transaction Strong Balance Strong balance sheet and liquidity that will allow for acceleration of capital return programs Sheet 3 Estimated 1.2x pro forma leverage (Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA) Combined company to trade on NYSE under the ticker AMPY Capital Markets Improved trading liquidity and Wall Street equity research coverage over time Benefits 3 Lowers cost of capital through enhanced scale, asset diversification and trading liquidity Enhances ability to return capital to stockholders Capital Discipline Multiple uncorrelated asset areas with ample new drilling inventory to be exploited 3 4 1 Based on 5/3/19 prices of $6.95 for AMPY and $12.81 for MPO


Combination Unlocks Value for All Stockholders Pro Forma Free Cash Flow 33 3 Asset Diversification 373 LOE and G&A Synergies 773 Float 773 Leverage & Liquidity 33 3 5Combination Unlocks Value for All Stockholders Pro Forma Free Cash Flow 33 3 Asset Diversification 373 LOE and G&A Synergies 773 Float 773 Leverage & Liquidity 33 3 5


Top-Tier Free Cash Flow Generation Substantial low decline asset base yields sustainable sector-leading FCF generation U.S. publicly listed E&Ps 40 with market cap between Pro Forma $0.3 – $5 BN 7 Companies with FCF Pro Forma 1,2 yield > 10% Pro Forma 2 Companies with 1,2 FCF yield > 10% & leverage <2.0x Source: FactSet as of 5/3/19, company filings 1 Based on 2019E levered FCF yield; refer to page 9 6 2 2019E levered FCF yield = (2019E Adjusted EBITDA – 2019E Capital Expenditures – 2019E Interest Expense) / Market Capitalization as of 5/3/19Top-Tier Free Cash Flow Generation Substantial low decline asset base yields sustainable sector-leading FCF generation U.S. publicly listed E&Ps 40 with market cap between Pro Forma $0.3 – $5 BN 7 Companies with FCF Pro Forma 1,2 yield > 10% Pro Forma 2 Companies with 1,2 FCF yield > 10% & leverage <2.0x Source: FactSet as of 5/3/19, company filings 1 Based on 2019E levered FCF yield; refer to page 9 6 2 2019E levered FCF yield = (2019E Adjusted EBITDA – 2019E Capital Expenditures – 2019E Interest Expense) / Market Capitalization as of 5/3/19


Path to Value Creation and Upside ~$230 MM Value Gap ‒ Enterprise Value is ~24% less than PD PV-10 ‒ Equity has ~54% upside based on PD PV-10 only Synergy Realization A 3 Further Value Enhancement $960 MM Improved Market Visibility and Trading B $729 MM 3 Liquidity Reinvestment Projects C 3 Further Value Enhancement D Through Opportunistic M&A 3 1 Current PD PV-10 Pro Forma EV Combined company enterprise value of $729 MM is ~$230 MM less than its PD reserve value of $960 MM 7 Source: FactSet as of 5/3/19 1 Based on year-end reserve report at strip pricing as of 4/30/19Path to Value Creation and Upside ~$230 MM Value Gap ‒ Enterprise Value is ~24% less than PD PV-10 ‒ Equity has ~54% upside based on PD PV-10 only Synergy Realization A 3 Further Value Enhancement $960 MM Improved Market Visibility and Trading B $729 MM 3 Liquidity Reinvestment Projects C 3 Further Value Enhancement D Through Opportunistic M&A 3 1 Current PD PV-10 Pro Forma EV Combined company enterprise value of $729 MM is ~$230 MM less than its PD reserve value of $960 MM 7 Source: FactSet as of 5/3/19 1 Based on year-end reserve report at strip pricing as of 4/30/19


Merger Creates a Peer Group Leader 1 4Q18 Production (Mboe/d) 4Q18A Levered Free Cash Flow ($ MM) $165 40 Peer Average: 38 Peer Average: ($17) $94 24 $71 16 4Q18 4Q18A Pro Forma Pro Forma 2018 Cash G&A Expense ($/Boe) Net Debt / 4Q18A Adjusted EBITDA 1.8x Peer Average: $3.48 Peer Average: 1.6x $3.21 1.2x $2.32 $1.64 0.5x 2018A 4Q18A 2 Pro Forma Pro Forma Source: Company filings Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY (Cash G&A/Boe includes successor period only), PVAC, SBOW, WTI 8 1 Levered Free Cash Flow defined as Adjusted EBITDA – capex – cash interest expense 2 Assumes Pro Forma G&A of $27 MM/yearMerger Creates a Peer Group Leader 1 4Q18 Production (Mboe/d) 4Q18A Levered Free Cash Flow ($ MM) $165 40 Peer Average: 38 Peer Average: ($17) $94 24 $71 16 4Q18 4Q18A Pro Forma Pro Forma 2018 Cash G&A Expense ($/Boe) Net Debt / 4Q18A Adjusted EBITDA 1.8x Peer Average: $3.48 Peer Average: 1.6x $3.21 1.2x $2.32 $1.64 0.5x 2018A 4Q18A 2 Pro Forma Pro Forma Source: Company filings Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY (Cash G&A/Boe includes successor period only), PVAC, SBOW, WTI 8 1 Levered Free Cash Flow defined as Adjusted EBITDA – capex – cash interest expense 2 Assumes Pro Forma G&A of $27 MM/year


Top-Tier Free Cash Flow Generation 1 2019E Levered Free Cash Flow Yield Pro Forma Amplify, 2019E Levered Free Cash Flow Yield: 15%-25% 27.1% 25.0% 16.7% 15.0% 8.4% 6.8% 5.1% Peer Average: (0.2%) (4.9%) (11.3%) (15.1%) (34.7%) Source: Company filings, FactSet as of 5/3/19 Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY, PVAC, SBOW, WTI 9 1 2019E Levered Free Cash Flow Yield = (2019E Adjusted EBITDA – 2019E Capital Expenditures – 2019E Interest Expense) / Market Capitalization as of 5/3/19 Peer G AMPY PF Peer B Peer F Peer E Peer C Peer I Peer A Peer H Peer DTop-Tier Free Cash Flow Generation 1 2019E Levered Free Cash Flow Yield Pro Forma Amplify, 2019E Levered Free Cash Flow Yield: 15%-25% 27.1% 25.0% 16.7% 15.0% 8.4% 6.8% 5.1% Peer Average: (0.2%) (4.9%) (11.3%) (15.1%) (34.7%) Source: Company filings, FactSet as of 5/3/19 Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY, PVAC, SBOW, WTI 9 1 2019E Levered Free Cash Flow Yield = (2019E Adjusted EBITDA – 2019E Capital Expenditures – 2019E Interest Expense) / Market Capitalization as of 5/3/19 Peer G AMPY PF Peer B Peer F Peer E Peer C Peer I Peer A Peer H Peer D


Scale and Synergies Enable Top-Tier G&A Efficiency 2018 Cash G&A Expense ($/Boe) $5.81 $5.47 $4.80 $4.25 Peer Average: $3.48 ($/Boe) $3.21 $2.90 $2.70 $2.70 $2.32 $1.64 $1.47 $1.20 Source: Company filings 10 Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY (includes successor period only), PVAC, SBOW, WTI 1 Assumes pro forma G&A of $27 MM/year Peer H Peer I Peer C Peer B AMPY Peer F Peer G Peer E MPO 1 AMPY PF Peer D Peer AScale and Synergies Enable Top-Tier G&A Efficiency 2018 Cash G&A Expense ($/Boe) $5.81 $5.47 $4.80 $4.25 Peer Average: $3.48 ($/Boe) $3.21 $2.90 $2.70 $2.70 $2.32 $1.64 $1.47 $1.20 Source: Company filings 10 Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY (includes successor period only), PVAC, SBOW, WTI 1 Assumes pro forma G&A of $27 MM/year Peer H Peer I Peer C Peer B AMPY Peer F Peer G Peer E MPO 1 AMPY PF Peer D Peer A


Substantial Synergy Realization Cash G&A Bridge ($ MM) 2 $47 ($20) $15 1 $31 ~43% $27 reduction AMPY 2018 MPO 2018 Pro Forma Synergies AMPY PF 2018 G&A Overview AMPY to be headquartered in Houston, Texas, and will utilize AMPY's existing platform to eliminate redundancies and reduce overhead costs Opportunity to achieve additional synergies via LOE savings driven by superior scale and purchasing power Merger is anticipated to reduce cost-of-capital for the pro forma company Implementation of systems integration and cost reduction initiatives will begin immediately after close, with full integration expected by 2020 11 1 Based on Amplify 2018 G&A Expense less Stock Based Compensation less Severance Payments 2 Based on Midstates 2018 Adjusted Cash G&A ExpenseSubstantial Synergy Realization Cash G&A Bridge ($ MM) 2 $47 ($20) $15 1 $31 ~43% $27 reduction AMPY 2018 MPO 2018 Pro Forma Synergies AMPY PF 2018 G&A Overview AMPY to be headquartered in Houston, Texas, and will utilize AMPY's existing platform to eliminate redundancies and reduce overhead costs Opportunity to achieve additional synergies via LOE savings driven by superior scale and purchasing power Merger is anticipated to reduce cost-of-capital for the pro forma company Implementation of systems integration and cost reduction initiatives will begin immediately after close, with full integration expected by 2020 11 1 Based on Amplify 2018 G&A Expense less Stock Based Compensation less Severance Payments 2 Based on Midstates 2018 Adjusted Cash G&A Expense


Strong Balance Sheet and Liquidity Attractive PF 4Q18A leverage expected to be 1.2x; Pro Forma Capitalization ($ in MM, as of 3/31/19) below peer group average of 1.6x Cash and Cash Equivalents $32 Simple capital structure with 100% of debt from revolving credit facility Revolving Credit Facility 329 1 As of 3/31/19, combined borrowing base of $595 MM Net Debt 297 Credit Statistics Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA 1.2x 4.8x Net Debt / 4Q18 Production ($/Boe/d) $7,403 Net Debt / YE2018 Proved Reserves ($/Boe) $1.40 Liquidity 1 AMPY Borrowing Base $425 2.7x 1 (+) MPO Borrowing Base 170 1.8x 1.7x (+) Cash and Cash Equivalents 32 Peer Average: 1.6x 1.4x 1.2x (-) Borrowings (329) 1.0x 0.8x (-) Letters of Credit (4) 0.3x 0.2x Combined Liquidity $295 Source: Company filings 12 Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY, PVAC, SBOW, WTI 1 Based on AMPY and MPO borrowing bases as of 3/31/19; pro forma borrowing base TBD Peer G Peer A Peer B Peer D Peer E AMPY PF Peer C Peer H Peer F Peer IStrong Balance Sheet and Liquidity Attractive PF 4Q18A leverage expected to be 1.2x; Pro Forma Capitalization ($ in MM, as of 3/31/19) below peer group average of 1.6x Cash and Cash Equivalents $32 Simple capital structure with 100% of debt from revolving credit facility Revolving Credit Facility 329 1 As of 3/31/19, combined borrowing base of $595 MM Net Debt 297 Credit Statistics Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA Net Debt / 4Q18A EBITDA 1.2x 4.8x Net Debt / 4Q18 Production ($/Boe/d) $7,403 Net Debt / YE2018 Proved Reserves ($/Boe) $1.40 Liquidity 1 AMPY Borrowing Base $425 2.7x 1 (+) MPO Borrowing Base 170 1.8x 1.7x (+) Cash and Cash Equivalents 32 Peer Average: 1.6x 1.4x 1.2x (-) Borrowings (329) 1.0x 0.8x (-) Letters of Credit (4) 0.3x 0.2x Combined Liquidity $295 Source: Company filings 12 Note: Peers include: BCEI, BRY, CRK, DNR, ESTE, MGY, PVAC, SBOW, WTI 1 Based on AMPY and MPO borrowing bases as of 3/31/19; pro forma borrowing base TBD Peer G Peer A Peer B Peer D Peer E AMPY PF Peer C Peer H Peer F Peer I


Capital Return Programs Both Amplify and Midstates have been actively returning capital to stockholders and the pro forma combined company will be positioned to accelerate allocation of capital to this strategy Recent Capital Return Initiatives ($ in MM) Future Return of Capital Share Buyback - Remaining Authorized $25 $110 Share Buyback - Completed $50 C Tender Offer B $35 A Future Return % Market 1 2 3 ~19% ~21% ~12% Cap Capital Return Details A Amplify Tender Offer ‒ Returned $35 MM to stockholders; purchased 2.9 MM shares of its common stock at $12.00/share B Midstates Tender Offer ‒ Returned $50 MM to stockholders; purchased 5.0 MM shares of its common stock at $10.00/share Amplify Buyback C ‒ In December 2018, the Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase program of up to $25 MM of outstanding shares of common stock; repurchases began on or after January 9, 2019 1 Based on AMPY market cap as of 12/21/18 13 2 Based on MPO market cap as of 2/15/19 3 Based on AMPY market cap as of 1/9/19Capital Return Programs Both Amplify and Midstates have been actively returning capital to stockholders and the pro forma combined company will be positioned to accelerate allocation of capital to this strategy Recent Capital Return Initiatives ($ in MM) Future Return of Capital Share Buyback - Remaining Authorized $25 $110 Share Buyback - Completed $50 C Tender Offer B $35 A Future Return % Market 1 2 3 ~19% ~21% ~12% Cap Capital Return Details A Amplify Tender Offer ‒ Returned $35 MM to stockholders; purchased 2.9 MM shares of its common stock at $12.00/share B Midstates Tender Offer ‒ Returned $50 MM to stockholders; purchased 5.0 MM shares of its common stock at $10.00/share Amplify Buyback C ‒ In December 2018, the Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase program of up to $25 MM of outstanding shares of common stock; repurchases began on or after January 9, 2019 1 Based on AMPY market cap as of 12/21/18 13 2 Based on MPO market cap as of 2/15/19 3 Based on AMPY market cap as of 1/9/19


Expected Combination Highlights Highly-efficient operator with best-in-class free cash flow profile 1 Substantial value creation through immediate synergies resulting in top-tier G&A metrics 2 Attractive leverage profile and liquidity 3 Unlocks optionality for accelerated capital returns 4 14Expected Combination Highlights Highly-efficient operator with best-in-class free cash flow profile 1 Substantial value creation through immediate synergies resulting in top-tier G&A metrics 2 Attractive leverage profile and liquidity 3 Unlocks optionality for accelerated capital returns 4 14


AppendixAppendix


Miss Lime Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Other PF Amplify Assets Miss Lime Key Stats Net Acres (ML): ~100,000 acres ‒ Operatorship: ~83% ‒ Average WI: ~76% ‒ HBP: ~92% 1 Net Production: 16.4 MBoe/d 1 Liquids Mix: ~53% 2 PD PV-10: $350 MM 2 PD Reserves: 48 MMBoe 3 PD R/P: ~8 years Key Highlights Generates substantial levered free cash flow (~$94 MM per year based on annualized 4Q18) Highly successful 2018 workover program proves up base declines and OpEx Best-in-class salt water disposal / handling system 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 16 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily productionMiss Lime Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Other PF Amplify Assets Miss Lime Key Stats Net Acres (ML): ~100,000 acres ‒ Operatorship: ~83% ‒ Average WI: ~76% ‒ HBP: ~92% 1 Net Production: 16.4 MBoe/d 1 Liquids Mix: ~53% 2 PD PV-10: $350 MM 2 PD Reserves: 48 MMBoe 3 PD R/P: ~8 years Key Highlights Generates substantial levered free cash flow (~$94 MM per year based on annualized 4Q18) Highly successful 2018 workover program proves up base declines and OpEx Best-in-class salt water disposal / handling system 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 16 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily production


East Texas / North Louisiana Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Other PF Amplify Assets ETX / NLA Key Stats Net Acres (CV): ~93,300 acres ‒ Average WI: ~87% ‒ HBP 100% Net Acres (HSVL): ~21,200 acres ‒ Average WI: ~69% ‒ HBP 100% 1 Net Production: 15.5 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $230 MM 2 PD Reserves: 48 MMBoe 3 PD R/P: ~9 years Key Highlights ~1,400 vertical and horizontal wells, mostly Cotton Valley Quality inventory of proved Hz new drill opportunities with active offset operators achieving significant uplift using modern completions Inventory of low-risk behind pipe uphole recompletions 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 17 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily productionEast Texas / North Louisiana Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Other PF Amplify Assets ETX / NLA Key Stats Net Acres (CV): ~93,300 acres ‒ Average WI: ~87% ‒ HBP 100% Net Acres (HSVL): ~21,200 acres ‒ Average WI: ~69% ‒ HBP 100% 1 Net Production: 15.5 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $230 MM 2 PD Reserves: 48 MMBoe 3 PD R/P: ~9 years Key Highlights ~1,400 vertical and horizontal wells, mostly Cotton Valley Quality inventory of proved Hz new drill opportunities with active offset operators achieving significant uplift using modern completions Inventory of low-risk behind pipe uphole recompletions 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 17 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily production


California Beta Field Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Other PF Amplify Assets California Beta Key Stats Net Acres: 17,000 acres ‒ WI %: 100% ‒ HBP %: 100% 1 Net Production: 3.1 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $187 MM 2 PD Reserves: 16 MMBoe Amplify Leasehold Crude Oil: 100% 3 Beta Field PD R/P: ~14 years P&A obligation supported by $90 MM of cash / $71.3 Platform MM of Surety Bonds Pump Station Substantial infrastructure assets: ‒ 2 wellhead production platforms (w/ rigs) Eureka Platform Ellen Platform Elly Platform ‒ 1 processing and treating platform ‒ 17.5 mile pipeline (16”) to onshore facility Key Highlights Approximately 10% of original oil-in-place (OOIP) recovered to date, comparable offsetting fields have exhibited 20-40% recovery rates Amplify well (A36 ST-1) demonstrated development potential of asset (>200% IRR) 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 18 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily productionCalifornia Beta Field Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Other PF Amplify Assets California Beta Key Stats Net Acres: 17,000 acres ‒ WI %: 100% ‒ HBP %: 100% 1 Net Production: 3.1 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $187 MM 2 PD Reserves: 16 MMBoe Amplify Leasehold Crude Oil: 100% 3 Beta Field PD R/P: ~14 years P&A obligation supported by $90 MM of cash / $71.3 Platform MM of Surety Bonds Pump Station Substantial infrastructure assets: ‒ 2 wellhead production platforms (w/ rigs) Eureka Platform Ellen Platform Elly Platform ‒ 1 processing and treating platform ‒ 17.5 mile pipeline (16”) to onshore facility Key Highlights Approximately 10% of original oil-in-place (OOIP) recovered to date, comparable offsetting fields have exhibited 20-40% recovery rates Amplify well (A36 ST-1) demonstrated development potential of asset (>200% IRR) 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 18 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily production


Rockies CO Asset Overview 2 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Amplify Leasehold Fremont Carbon Other PF Amplify Assets Rockies CO 2 Sweetwater Key Stats Net Acres: 7,000 acres ‒ WI%: 100% ‒ HBP%: 100% 1 Net Production: 4.1 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $151 MM N. Dakota 2 PD Reserves: 33 MMBoe Montana Liquids: 100% 3 PD R/P: ~22 years S. Dakota Key Highlights Wyoming Long life, low decline oil weighted production from two established water and CO flood fields 2 Newly acquired 2016 seismic changed previous Idaho interpretation and revealed unswept oil to underpin quality new drill opportunities Nebraska Majority of current production from Tensleep and Madison intervals Highly economic plant expansion to enable Active Floods Utah significant uptick in oil rates by bringing online shut-in Developing Fields wells; expected to be online in 4Q18 Planned Fields Colorado Primary CO Sources 2 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 19 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily productionRockies CO Asset Overview 2 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) Amplify Leasehold Fremont Carbon Other PF Amplify Assets Rockies CO 2 Sweetwater Key Stats Net Acres: 7,000 acres ‒ WI%: 100% ‒ HBP%: 100% 1 Net Production: 4.1 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $151 MM N. Dakota 2 PD Reserves: 33 MMBoe Montana Liquids: 100% 3 PD R/P: ~22 years S. Dakota Key Highlights Wyoming Long life, low decline oil weighted production from two established water and CO flood fields 2 Newly acquired 2016 seismic changed previous Idaho interpretation and revealed unswept oil to underpin quality new drill opportunities Nebraska Majority of current production from Tensleep and Madison intervals Highly economic plant expansion to enable Active Floods Utah significant uptick in oil rates by bringing online shut-in Developing Fields wells; expected to be online in 4Q18 Planned Fields Colorado Primary CO Sources 2 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 19 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily production


Eagle Ford Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) DeWitt Other PF Amplify Assets Eagle Ford Karnes Key Stats Net Acres: ~750 acres ‒ WI %: ~5% ‒ HBP %: ~100% 1 Net Production: 1.1 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $42 MM 2 PD Reserves: 2 MMBoe Liquids: ~89% 3 PD R/P: ~6 years Key Highlights 100% Non-Op position, operated mostly by Murphy in Louisiana Texas core Eagle Ford – Karnes County Positive cash flow generating asset 350+ gross locations targeting the Austin Chalk, Upper Eagle Ford and Lower Eagle Ford More than 250 currently producing wells 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 20 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily productionEagle Ford Asset Overview 4Q18 Production PD PV-10 (Mboe/d) ($ MM) DeWitt Other PF Amplify Assets Eagle Ford Karnes Key Stats Net Acres: ~750 acres ‒ WI %: ~5% ‒ HBP %: ~100% 1 Net Production: 1.1 MBoe/d 2 PD PV-10: $42 MM 2 PD Reserves: 2 MMBoe Liquids: ~89% 3 PD R/P: ~6 years Key Highlights 100% Non-Op position, operated mostly by Murphy in Louisiana Texas core Eagle Ford – Karnes County Positive cash flow generating asset 350+ gross locations targeting the Austin Chalk, Upper Eagle Ford and Lower Eagle Ford More than 250 currently producing wells 1 Based on the average daily volume for 4Q18 20 2 YE database at 4/30/19 strip prices 3 PD Reserves / 4Q18A net daily production


Experienced Management Team Amplify’s senior management team will operate the combined business The Amplify team, on average, has >23 years of experience successfully operating companies with diverse asset bases Name Position Prior Experience Years in Industry Ken Mariani CEO and President 36+ Martyn Willsher SVP and CFO 17+ SVP and Chief Administrative Polly Schott 24+ Officer Richard Smiley VP Operations 40+ Tony Lopez VP Corporate Engineering 15+ Eric Willis VP and General Counsel 11+ 21Experienced Management Team Amplify’s senior management team will operate the combined business The Amplify team, on average, has >23 years of experience successfully operating companies with diverse asset bases Name Position Prior Experience Years in Industry Ken Mariani CEO and President 36+ Martyn Willsher SVP and CFO 17+ SVP and Chief Administrative Polly Schott 24+ Officer Richard Smiley VP Operations 40+ Tony Lopez VP Corporate Engineering 15+ Eric Willis VP and General Counsel 11+ 21


Forward Looking Statements This presentation and the oral statements made in connection therewith contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this presentation or made in connection therewith that address activities, events or developments that Amplify Energy Corp. (“AMPY” or “Amplify”) and Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. (“MPO” or “Midstates”) expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “on track,” “potential,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about estimates of AMPY’s and MPO’s oil and natural gas reserves, AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), expectations regarding future cash flows, and expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of AMPY, MPO and the combined company, including as to production, lease operating expenses, hedging activities, commodity price realizations, capital expenditure levels and other guidance included in this presentation. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by AMPY and MPO based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances, but such assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such statements are also subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of AMPY, MPO, or the combined company which may cause AMPY’s, MPO’s or the combined company’s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, the ability to improve AMPY’s or MPO’s financial results and profitability following their emergences from bankruptcy; AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s efforts to reduce leverage and their levels of indebtedness, including their abilities to satisfy their debt obligations; the uncertainty inherent in the development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids and in estimating reserves; risks associated with drilling activities; risks related to AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to generate sufficient cash flow to make payments on their debt obligations and to execute their business plans; AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to access funds on acceptable terms, if at all, because of the terms and conditions governing AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s indebtedness or otherwise; AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties following their emergences from bankruptcy; potential difficulties in the marketing of, and volatility in the prices for, oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, including a further or extended decline in commodity prices; competition in the oil and natural gas industry; potential failure or shortages of, or increased costs for, drilling and production equipment and supply materials for production; risks related to acquisitions, including AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to integrate acquired properties or entities; and the risk that AMPY’s, MPO’s or the combined company’s hedging strategies may be ineffective or may reduce their income. In addition to these business-related risks, there are are certain risks related to the proposed business combination transaction (the “Transaction) between AMPY and MPO. These risks include, but are not limited to, the timing of closing the Transaction, expectation that closing conditions, including stockholder approvals and regulatory approvals, will be satisfied, anticipated benefits from the Transaction, including synergies therefrom, and anticipated production and commodity mix as a result of the Transaction. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. All forward-looking statements included in this presentation or made in connection therewith are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Please read AMPY’s and MPO’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in AMPY’s and MPO’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, AMPY’s and MPO’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on AMPY’s and MPO’s Investor Relations websites at http://investor.amplifyenergy.com/sec.cfm and midstatespetroleum.com, respectively, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, AMPY and MPO undertake no obligation and do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise. Important Additional Information This communication relates to the Transaction between Amplify and Midstates. This communication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this document in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. 22Forward Looking Statements This presentation and the oral statements made in connection therewith contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this presentation or made in connection therewith that address activities, events or developments that Amplify Energy Corp. (“AMPY” or “Amplify”) and Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. (“MPO” or “Midstates”) expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “on track,” “potential,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about estimates of AMPY’s and MPO’s oil and natural gas reserves, AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), expectations regarding future cash flows, and expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of AMPY, MPO and the combined company, including as to production, lease operating expenses, hedging activities, commodity price realizations, capital expenditure levels and other guidance included in this presentation. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by AMPY and MPO based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances, but such assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such statements are also subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of AMPY, MPO, or the combined company which may cause AMPY’s, MPO’s or the combined company’s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, the ability to improve AMPY’s or MPO’s financial results and profitability following their emergences from bankruptcy; AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s efforts to reduce leverage and their levels of indebtedness, including their abilities to satisfy their debt obligations; the uncertainty inherent in the development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids and in estimating reserves; risks associated with drilling activities; risks related to AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to generate sufficient cash flow to make payments on their debt obligations and to execute their business plans; AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to access funds on acceptable terms, if at all, because of the terms and conditions governing AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s indebtedness or otherwise; AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties following their emergences from bankruptcy; potential difficulties in the marketing of, and volatility in the prices for, oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, including a further or extended decline in commodity prices; competition in the oil and natural gas industry; potential failure or shortages of, or increased costs for, drilling and production equipment and supply materials for production; risks related to acquisitions, including AMPY’s, MPO’s and the combined company’s abilities to integrate acquired properties or entities; and the risk that AMPY’s, MPO’s or the combined company’s hedging strategies may be ineffective or may reduce their income. In addition to these business-related risks, there are are certain risks related to the proposed business combination transaction (the “Transaction) between AMPY and MPO. These risks include, but are not limited to, the timing of closing the Transaction, expectation that closing conditions, including stockholder approvals and regulatory approvals, will be satisfied, anticipated benefits from the Transaction, including synergies therefrom, and anticipated production and commodity mix as a result of the Transaction. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. All forward-looking statements included in this presentation or made in connection therewith are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Please read AMPY’s and MPO’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in AMPY’s and MPO’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, AMPY’s and MPO’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on AMPY’s and MPO’s Investor Relations websites at http://investor.amplifyenergy.com/sec.cfm and midstatespetroleum.com, respectively, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, AMPY and MPO undertake no obligation and do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise. Important Additional Information This communication relates to the Transaction between Amplify and Midstates. This communication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this document in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. 22


Important Additional Information (Cont'd) Important Additional Information (Continued). In connection with the proposed transaction between Amplify and Midstates, it is expected that Midstates will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will constitute a Proxy Statement and Prospectus of Midstates and that will also constitute an Information Statement of Amplify (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement”). Amplify and Midstates plan to mail to their respective stockholders the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement in connection with the transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPLIFY AND MIDSTATES ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS/INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AMPLIFY, MIDSTATES, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Amplify and Midstates through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free of charge copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Amplify on Amplify’s website at www.amplifyenergy.com or by contacting Amplify’s Corporate Secretary. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free of charge copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Midstates on Midstates’ website at www.midstatespetroleum.com or by contacting Midstates’ Investor Relations. Participants in the Merger Solicitation. Amplify, Midstates and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Amplify and Midstates in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement described above when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding Amplify’s directors and executive officers is also included in Amplify’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2019. Additional information regarding Midstates’ directors and executive officers is also included in Midstates’ Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019. These documents are available free of charge as described above. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Amplify uses the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow. Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, net cash flows provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as Amplify does. Adjusted EBITDA. For purposes of this presentation, Amplify defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss, plus interest expense; income tax expense; depreciation, depletion and amortization; impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets; accretion of asset retirement obligations; losses on commodity derivative instruments; cash settlements received on expired commodity derivative instruments; losses on sale of assets; unit-based compensation expenses; exploration costs; acquisition and divestiture related expenses; amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives, bad debt expense; and other non-routine items, less interest income; gain on extinguishment of debt; income tax benefit; gains on commodity derivative instruments; cash settlements paid on expired commodity derivative instruments; gains on sale of assets and other, net; and other non-routine items. Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as a supplemental financial measure by management and external users of Amplify’s financial statements, such as investors, research analysts and rating agencies, to assess: (1) its operating performance as compared to other companies in Amplify’s industry without regard to financing methods, capital structures or historical cost basis; (2) the ability of its assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest and support Amplify’s indebtedness; and (3) the viability of projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities. Since Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income or loss and because these measures may vary among other companies, the Adjusted EBITDA data presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net cash provided by operating activities. Free Cash Flow. For purposes of this presentation, Amplify defines Free Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA, less capital expenditures and cash interest expense. Free cash flow is an important non-GAAP financial measure for Amplify’s investors since it serves as an indicator of the Company’s success in providing a cash return on investment. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to distributable cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities. 23Important Additional Information (Cont'd) Important Additional Information (Continued). In connection with the proposed transaction between Amplify and Midstates, it is expected that Midstates will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will constitute a Proxy Statement and Prospectus of Midstates and that will also constitute an Information Statement of Amplify (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement”). Amplify and Midstates plan to mail to their respective stockholders the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement in connection with the transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPLIFY AND MIDSTATES ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS/INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AMPLIFY, MIDSTATES, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Amplify and Midstates through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free of charge copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Amplify on Amplify’s website at www.amplifyenergy.com or by contacting Amplify’s Corporate Secretary. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free of charge copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Midstates on Midstates’ website at www.midstatespetroleum.com or by contacting Midstates’ Investor Relations. Participants in the Merger Solicitation. Amplify, Midstates and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Amplify and Midstates in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus/Information Statement described above when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding Amplify’s directors and executive officers is also included in Amplify’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2019. Additional information regarding Midstates’ directors and executive officers is also included in Midstates’ Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019. These documents are available free of charge as described above. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Amplify uses the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow. Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, net cash flows provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as Amplify does. Adjusted EBITDA. For purposes of this presentation, Amplify defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss, plus interest expense; income tax expense; depreciation, depletion and amortization; impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets; accretion of asset retirement obligations; losses on commodity derivative instruments; cash settlements received on expired commodity derivative instruments; losses on sale of assets; unit-based compensation expenses; exploration costs; acquisition and divestiture related expenses; amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives, bad debt expense; and other non-routine items, less interest income; gain on extinguishment of debt; income tax benefit; gains on commodity derivative instruments; cash settlements paid on expired commodity derivative instruments; gains on sale of assets and other, net; and other non-routine items. Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as a supplemental financial measure by management and external users of Amplify’s financial statements, such as investors, research analysts and rating agencies, to assess: (1) its operating performance as compared to other companies in Amplify’s industry without regard to financing methods, capital structures or historical cost basis; (2) the ability of its assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest and support Amplify’s indebtedness; and (3) the viability of projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities. Since Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income or loss and because these measures may vary among other companies, the Adjusted EBITDA data presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net cash provided by operating activities. Free Cash Flow. For purposes of this presentation, Amplify defines Free Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA, less capital expenditures and cash interest expense. Free cash flow is an important non-GAAP financial measure for Amplify’s investors since it serves as an indicator of the Company’s success in providing a cash return on investment. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to distributable cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities. 23

Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 1

 

Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

May 06, 2019

7:30 a.m. CT

 

OPERATOR:

This is Conference #6827856

 

Operator:

Welcome to the Amplify Energy and Midstates Petroleum merger announcement call. Earlier today, Amplify and Midstates issued a joint press release and merger presentation announcing the transaction, which are available on Amplify’s website at www.amplifyenergy.com and Midstates’s website at www.midstatespetroleum.com.

During this call, all participants will be placed in a listen-only mode. After the prepared remarks, management teams of Amplify and Midstates will take questions from participants.

Today’s call is being recorded and a replay of the call will be available until Monday, May 20 by dialing 855-859-2056 and then entering the conference ID number 6827856. And now I’d like to turn the conference to Martyn Willsher, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Amplify Energy Corp.

 

Martyn Willsher:

Good morning, and welcome to the Amplify and Midstates teleconference to discuss the announced merger of equals.

Amplify and Midstates issued a press release this morning announcing the merger and transaction details and also posted the supplemental presentation which we encourage stock holders of both companies and potential investors to review.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 2

 

Ken Mariani, Amplify’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and David Sambrooks, Midstates’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide highlights regarding the strategic and financial benefits of the transaction. After which, we will take questions from the investor community.

Before I turn the call over to Ken, I’d like to remind you that some of our remarks may contain forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and expectations of the Amplify and Midstates management teams. These remarks reflect management’s current view with regard to future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions.

Although both management teams believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking are reasonable, they can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and takes no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this call except as required by applicable law.

Please refer to the Amplify and Midstates SEC filings for a list of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement made during this call except as required by applicable law.

In addition, please note that this merger transaction is subject to the terms and condition set forth in the merger agreement, including the required approvals by both Amplify and Midstates stockholders, the waiting period on the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Act having expired or been terminated early, and other customary conditions. With this in mind, I will now turn the call over to Ken Mariani. Ken?

 

Ken Mariani:

Thank you, Martyn. I appreciate the stockholders of both Amplify and Midstates joining us for today’s exciting announcement of Amplify Energy and Midstates Petroleum having entered into a definitive merger agreement to pursue a strategic all stock combination.

This transaction is a merger of equals, and as such following the closing of the merger Amplify and Midstates stockholders will each own 50 percent of the outstanding stock of the combined company. The merger has been unanimously approved by participating directors of both the Amplify and Midstates boards.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 3

 

After the merger closes, the combined company will utilize the current Midstates New York Stock Exchange listing, but operate under the Amplify brand and trade under the ticker AMPY.

David Proman will remain Chairman of the combined company board of directors which will consist of eight members who currently serve on Amplify and Midstates boards. This strategic merger has many substantial advantages for the stockholders of both companies.

The combination improves each company’s asset base with the diversified platform of long life, shallow decline assets and initial identified cost synergies of approximately $20 million will provide immediate value operative to the combined company.

In addition, the combined company will have a low-risk PDP-focused platform with a peer leading, free cash flow profile. The free cash flow profile in low leverage of the combined entity will provide additional capacity to accelerate capital returns and will position us for further potential market consolidation opportunities.

As a management team, we remain committed to creating shareholder value and look forward to executing on this outstanding opportunity. I will now turn over the call to David Sambrooks for his remarks.

David Sambrooks. Thank you, Ken, and good morning, everyone. As Ken pointed out in his remarks, this transaction is a tremendous opportunity for both companies. I believe the new company is well positioned with significant scale, the diversified asset base, a strong balance sheet, and a robust free cash flow generation.

When we announced our intention to review strategic alternatives for Midstates, we believed that the value maximizing alternatives could include a stock-for-stock transaction with significant potential for synergies.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 4

 

We wanted to leverage our proven record of peer-leading operating efficiency, capital discipline, and free cash flow generation to identify a counterpart with a similar track record and focus on creating value for our shareholders.

The combination with Amplify presents a unique opportunity to realize these goals and deliver on the market-focused strategy. Ken and the rest of his Amplify management team have demonstrated – have a demonstrated focus on capital discipline and return of capital to shareholders while operating safely and efficiently.

This transaction is a terrific opportunity for our shareholders, and we look forward to partnering with the Amplify team. With that, I’ll turn the call back over to Ken to provide some additional details on the transaction.

 

Ken Mariani:

Thank you, David. I would like to reiterate to our investors some of the strengths of the combined company that were highlighted in the posted presentation. This merger of equals will unlock substantial value by combining the high quality, low decline assets across several diverse plays.

The enhanced scale of the merged entity couple with significant cost synergies will establish a peer group leading, operational efficiency, and free cash flow profile. The combined company strong balance sheet and liquidity will allow additional capacity to accelerate capital return programs and consider future opportunistic M&A activity.

The merge entity’s current pro forma enterprise value of $729 million is approximately $230 million less than its pro forma, proved developed reserve value of $960 million which will enable significant future upside to shareholders.

We believe that the combination of significant synergy realization, consolidation of cash flow generating assets, and quality reinvestment opportunities will lead to further value enhancement and close the disconnect between our assets reserved value and the combined company’s enterprise value.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 5

 

The transaction achieves benefits of scale through improvements through our production, EBITDA, and free cash flow. On a combined fourth quarter 2018 annualized basis, our two companies generated 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production, $241 million of adjusted EBITDA, and $165 million of free cash flow.

Our emphasis moving forward will remain on strong free cash flow generation as we forecast at least $65 million of combined levered free cash flow in 2019. Our 2019 forecast results in a top tier levered free cash flow yield of 15 percent to 25 percent based on our pro forma market cap.

Transaction is also expected to result in significant cost synergy realization of approximately $20 million in annual G&A synergies and potential LOE savings to create a premiere cost efficient operator.

When considering fiscal year 2018, our pro forma cash G&A expense will decrease significantly for the combined company to $1.64 per BOE which is less than the average of our pair group.

This combination will give us the opportunity to move farther down the cost curve by spreading fixed costs over more production and is anticipated to reduce our cost of capital.

Additionally, the combined company will be headquartered in Houston and will increase efficiencies by leveraging Amplify’s existing platform. These cost reduction initiatives will begin immediately after close with full integration expected by 2020.

Furthermore, the combination of the two companies will result in a stronger balance sheet with a leverage ratio of approximately 1.2x on a fourth quarter 2018 annualized basis, which is significantly below our selected pair group average of 1.6x.

The combined company will be almost unique in its ability to achieve greater than 10 percent free cash flow while maintaining leverage less than 2.0x.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 6

 

Preserving a strong balance sheet and favorable liquidity position enables us to manage commodity price volatility and deliver competitive corporate returns regardless of where we are in the market cycle.

Due to the significant benefits of this transaction for both companies, greater than 50 percent of Amplify stockholders and approximately 36 percent of the Midstates stockholders have committed to both their shares in favor of the merger.

As we move through this process, we will continue to update stockholders of both companies on important milestones on our path to closing this exciting transaction.

This concludes our prepared remarks for the call, and we would like to now invite our stakeholders to ask any questions they have for the management teams. Operator, we’d like to open up the line for any questions.

 

Operator:

Certainly. If you’d like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, press the pound key. We’ll pause for approximately 30 seconds to compile the Q&A roster.

Thank you for your patience. Again, that is star one to ask a question by phone. Your first question comes from the line Ron Mills with Johnson Rice. Your line is open.

 

Ron Mills:

Good morning, guys, and congrats on the announcement. Ken, you mentioned something about this transaction. Given the trading of a lot of the particularly of the smaller cap names, there seems to be a lot of opportunities to put companies together and have G&A savings.

You mentioned potential for additional transactions over time. That lead in is for – to come to this from an asset standpoint provides diversification but not a whole lot of operational synergies.

Is it fair to assume this is – there’s a lot of financial synergies and you look at opportunities that have both companies kind of trading probably below PDP and generating free cash flow? And is this – do you think it’s a strategy you continue to pursue here and have identified potential other opportunities like this?


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

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Ken Mariani:

Thank you for the question, Ron, and the question about do I think there’s other opportunities to pursue similar to this, obviously with the $20 million a year of annual G&A synergies relative to 2018, we feel this combination will unlock significant value for all of the pro forma shareholders going forward.

And obviously in the marketplace, you feel it’s a very fragmented EMP sector right now especially with regards to companies this sizes. So yes, we believe there’s other opportunities to pursue as we go forward.

 

Ron Mills:

And given the diverse asset base that you now have, what is the outlook for your capital program in terms of where’s capital allocated? Is it going to continue to be designed to generate free cash flow and potentially return additional capital to shareholders in the form of buybacks or tender offers like both companies have already executed to date?

 

Martyn Willsher:

Ron, hi. This is Martyn Willsher. I’ll take that. Yes, so obviously we’ll be working together on a combined capital program for – to execute post closing.

Both companies have already executed on capital return programs in the past and I think obviously part of the rationale for this combination is that we’re both generating significant free cash flow both now and in the future, and that allows us a lot of flexibility on how we return capital to shareholders in the future.

And so, I think you’ll see a capital program from us as a combined entity that keeps that in mind and is obviously based on continuing to return capital to shareholders in the future.

 

Ken Mariani:

Yes, and Martyn, I would just add one more comment to that is obviously the focus of both companies has been capital discipline.

So as we go forward although the number of opportunities we have has grown significantly with the pro forma company, again, capital discipline is going to be – continued to be emphasized as well as returning capital to our shareholders.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 8

 

Ron Mills:

And then the last one is more mechanical. I’m not – I don’t know your shareholder base at Amplify. I know that at Midstates it’s fairly concentrated and one of the things you talk about is increased float.

When we think about the deal upon closing, what does the shareholder base look like and how much of that is true float outside of kind of more concentrated shareholders? Or does this merger kind of make that concentration less of an ownership? I guess less of an ownership concentration?

 

Martyn Willsher:

Yes, Ron. Yes, this is Martyn again. I think Amplify is obviously even more closely held than Midstates currently.

And so, on a combined basis obviously uptiering, or from our perspective, uptiering to Midstates ticker on the NYC is going to help our – the liquidity of our stock and also the additional kind of shares or what should help the float of the Midstates shareholders as well.

So on a combined basis, we’re obviously looking at this as a benefit to the combined company in terms of the availability of shares to trade on the open market which has obviously been an issue for us specifically, but also Midstates has limited float as well. So combined, I think this will be a benefit to both companies.

 

Ken Mariani:

And I would just add again I think the combination of the two companies obviously and the ability to unlock additional value through the synergies we discussed in out posted presentation, that in of itself I think will attract additional investors.

 

Ron Mills:

All right, guys. Congrats again and thanks for your time.

 

Ken Mariani:

Thank you, Ron.


Amplify Energy

Moderator: Ken Mariani

05-06-19/7:30 a.m. CT

Confirmation # 6827856

Page 9

 

Operator:

Again, if you’d like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. There are no further questions at this time. I would now like to turn the call back over to Ken Mariani for closing remarks.

 

Ken Mariani:

In closing, I’d like to thank the Midstates team and our advisors for the great work in bringing this merger together. I’d also like to thank both companies’ hardworking employees and respected board of directors for having a vision to make this merger possible.

Finally, I’d like to thank all of our stockholders. You have been patient as both companies have thrived to add value to their investment.

We believe the combination will create significant value for all of our investors and we appreciate your support as we finalize the process. This concludes our call. Thank you for joining us today. And as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any additional questions. Thank you.

 

Operator:

This concludes the Amplify Energy and Midstates Petroleum merger announcement call. We thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.

END