WHITING PETROLEUM CORP (Form: 8-K, Received: 09/16/2019 06:08:58)

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Date: September 16, 2019

/s/ Bruce R. DeBoer

Bruce R. DeBoer

Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary

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): September 13, 2019

Whiting Petroleum Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

1-31899

20-0098515

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

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

(Address of principal executive offices, including ZIP code)

(303) 837-1661

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

WLL

New York Stock Exchange

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

Emerging growth company ☐

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

Item 2.03.

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

On September 13, 2019, Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) and its subsidiary Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation (“Whiting Oil and Gas”) entered into a First Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2018 (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Whiting Oil and Gas, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.

The Amendment amends the Credit Agreement to, among other things, permit the repurchase, redemption, prepayment, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Senior Notes (as defined in the Credit Agreement) if (a) such transaction is for a price not greater than an amount equal to par plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees and any applicable make-whole premium, (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, there is unused availability under the facility of not less than the greater of $100 million or 15% of the then effective total commitments, and (c) the Company’s ratio of consolidated total debt as of the date of such transaction (upon giving effect thereto) to EBITDAX (as defined in the Credit Agreement) during the last four quarters is not greater than 3.25 to 1.0.

The foregoing description of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment, a copy of which the Company is filing as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable

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

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Description

	(4.1)	First Amendment to Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 13, 2019, among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.

	(104)	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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.

-3-

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

FIRST AMENDMENT

SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

AMONG

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION,

as Parent Guarantor,

WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION,

as Borrower,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

and

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO

FIRST AMENDMENT TO SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This First Amendment to Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this “First Amendment”), dated as of September 13, 2019, is among Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Parent Guarantor”), each Lender party hereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “Administrative Agent”).

RECITALS

A. The Borrower, the Parent Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and the banks and other financial institutions from time to time party thereto (together with their respective successors and assigns in such capacity, each a “Lender”) have entered into that certain Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 12, 2018 (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).

B. The Borrower has requested and the Majority Lenders have agreed to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

C. NOW, THEREFORE, to induce the Majority Lenders to enter into this First Amendment and 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. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined in this First Amendment, each capitalized term used in this First Amendment has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, all section references in this First Amendment refer to sections of the Credit Agreement.

Section 2. Amendments to Credit Agreement.

2.1 Amendments to Section 1.02. Section 1.02 is hereby amended by inserting the following defined terms in their entirety where alphabetically appropriate:

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate’ (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i)

a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii)

a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii)

a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.21.

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.21.

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.21.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.21.

2.2 Amendment to Section 9.04(b). Clause (i) of Section 9.04(b) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(i) Redeem any Senior Notes unless (A) such Redemption is for a price not greater than an amount equal to par plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees and the make-whole premium as set forth in the instrument evidencing such Senior Notes, (B) immediately after giving effect to such Redemption, the Borrower has unused availability under the Facility of not less than the greater of (1) $100,000,000 or (2) fifteen percent (15%) of the then effective total Commitments and (C) the Parent Guarantor’s ratio of Total Debt as of the date of such Redemption (upon giving effect to such Redemption and any concurrent borrowings used to fund such Redemption) to EBITDAX for the four fiscal quarter period ending on the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall not be greater than 3.25 to 1.0; or

2.3 Amendment to Article XII. Article XII is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 12.21 in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 12.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

Section 3. Effectiveness. This First Amendment shall become effective on the first date on which each of the conditions set forth in this Section 3 is satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 12.02 of the Credit Agreement (the “Effective Date”):

3.1 The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of this First Amendment from the Borrower, the Parent Guarantor and the Majority Lenders.

3.2 The Borrower shall have paid all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date to the extent invoiced reasonably in advance of the Effective Date, including all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses so invoiced and required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement.

3.3 No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the date hereof, after giving effect to the terms of this First Amendment.

The Administrative Agent shall promptly provide written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the occurrence of the Effective Date, which notice shall be conclusive and binding.

Section 4. Governing Law. THIS FIRST AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 5. Miscellaneous.

5.1 Confirmation. The provisions of the Credit Agreement, as amended by this First Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect following the effectiveness of this First Amendment.

5.2 Ratification and Affirmation; Representations and Warranties. Each of the Borrower and the Parent Guarantor hereby (a) acknowledges the terms of this First Amendment; (b) ratifies and affirms its obligations under, and acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under, each Loan Document to which it is a party and agrees that each Loan Document to which it is a party remains in full force and effect, except as expressly amended or modified hereby, notwithstanding the amendments contained herein; (c) confirms that the Security Instruments and all of the collateral described therein do and shall continue to secure the payment of all the Debt of the Credit Parties under the Loan Documents (subject to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Loan Documents), in each case, as amended by this First Amendment; and (d) represents and warrants to the Lenders that as of the date hereof, after giving effect to the terms of this First Amendment: (i) all of the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document to which it is a party are true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers), except to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers) as of such specified earlier date and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

5.3 No Waiver; Loan Document. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this First Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents. This First Amendment shall for all purposes constitute a Loan Document as defined and described in the Credit Agreement.

5.4 Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of this First Amendment by facsimile or electronic transmission in portable document format (.pdf) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

5.5 NO ORAL AGREEMENT. THIS FIRST AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH AND THEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. AS OF THE DATE OF THIS FIRST AMENDMENT, THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

5.6 Severability. Any provision of this First Amendment which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

5.7 Credit Agreement. On and after the Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to “the Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.

[Signature Pages Follow]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to be executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.


BORROWER:	WHITING OIL AND GAS CORPORATION

	By:	/s/ Correne Loeffler
	Name:	Correne Loeffler
	Title:	CFO

PARENT GUARANTOR:	WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

	By:	/s/ Correne Loeffler
	Name:	Correne Loeffler
	Title:	CFO

Signature Page